Description

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS-5) is a self-report scale developed to assess an individual’s overall level of satisfaction with their life. It consists of 5 questions that focus on the subjective evaluations of the individual’s life as a whole. It is a simple and effective tool widely used in psychology to assess well-being and quality of life.

Analysis and Use of Data

The SWLS-5 is used to evaluate overall well-being in clinical and non-clinical samples. Participants respond to each question using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly disagree, 7 = Strongly agree), reflecting their degree of life satisfaction. Higher scores indicate greater life satisfaction.

Purpose

The aim of the SWLS-5 is to assess subjective life satisfaction, which is a key factor in psychological well-being. The scale allows researchers and clinicians to understand participants’ quality of life and identify areas where intervention or improvement may be needed.

Scoring

The SWLS-5 is scored by summing the responses to the 5 items. The total scores range from 5 to 35. Based on the total score, the results are categorized as follows:
31-35: Very high satisfaction
26-30: High satisfaction
21-25: Moderate satisfaction
20: Neutral satisfaction
15-19: Slight dissatisfaction
10-14: Dissatisfaction
5-9: Very high dissatisfaction

Bibliography

Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.
Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). Review of the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Psychological Assessment, 5(2), 164-172.
Diener, E. (2006). Guidelines for national indicators of subjective well-being and ill-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 1(2), 151-157.