Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SWBI) in a nationally representative sample in Korea. A total of 1200 people completed the semi-structured, self-reported questionnaire, which included five items from the SWLS and 14 items from the SWBI. All items and the total score of both the SWLS and the SWBI showed high internal consistency (with Cronbach’s alphas of 0.886 and 0.946, respectively). The item-total correlation values for both measures were in the ranges of 0.71–0.75 and 0.65–0.80, respectively. There were positive correlations between the SWLS and SWBI (r = 0.59, p = 0.01). The SWLS, SWBI and global well-being (GWB) scores were positively correlated with the McGill Quality of Life subscales (p = 0.01) but negatively correlated with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (p = 0.01). Participants under 50 years old (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00–1.69) and those in rural areas (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.28–2.07) had higher scores on the SWLS than other participant groups. Participants who were under 50 years old (aOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.12–1.92), were male (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.04–1.71), were married (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.13–2.01), lived in rural areas (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.35–3.91), or had higher incomes (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.02–1.65) showed higher SWBI scores. This study showed that the SLWS and SWBI have good psychometric properties and could be applicable to Korea.
Highlights
Systematic tracking of subjective well-being (SWB) at both the individual and national levels could give policy-makers and governments useful information for monitoring the positive effects of public assistance programs and improving societies in areas beyond economic development [1,2]
Participants who were under 50 years old, were male, were married, lived in rural areas, or had higher incomes showed higher Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SWBI) scores
This study showed that the SLWS and SWBI have good psychometric properties and could be applicable to Korea
Summary
Systematic tracking of subjective well-being (SWB) at both the individual and national levels could give policy-makers and governments useful information for monitoring the positive effects of public assistance programs and improving societies in areas beyond economic development [1,2]. SWB is defined as people’s evaluation of their lives, including positive emotion, engagement, satisfaction, and meaning [3,4]. A substantial amount of evidence supports the conclusion that high SWB is generally beneficial to health and longevity, productivity, and social relationships [5,6,7,8]. Economics plays a critical role in policy decisions, there is only a small association between national economics and human happiness. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1538; doi:10.3390/ijerph16091538 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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