Abstract
The present research describes the adaptation and initial validation of a brief measure of global life satisfaction, the Students’ Life Satisfactions Scale (SLSS), for German-speaking children and adolescents aged 10–17 years. Study 1 investigated the responses of 286 Swiss students (aged 12–17 years) administered paper-pencil questionnaires (e.g., Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire) during class on two occasions (interval 4 months). Study 2 investigated the responses of a heterogeneous sample composed of 3,407 Austrian, German, and Swiss students (aged 10–17 years), administered questionnaires online (e.g., Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale). The SLSS showed unidimensionality, explaining approximately 60% of variance, an internal consistency coefficient of α = .88, and a stability coefficient of .55 over a 4-month interval. Study 1 found a moderate association between life satisfaction and social desirability (.20), and theoretically meaningful correlations with temperamental variables (–.16 with Psychoticism, .29 with Extraversion, –.48 with Neuroticism). Study 2 found no gender differences, but small age effects. Differences among Austrian, German, and Swiss students were also identified. Study 2 found correlations between SLSS and domain-specific satisfaction (e.g., satisfaction with the self). The two studies support the usefulness of the German SLSS and provide preliminary norms for comparison purposes for subsequent research.
Weber, Marco