Chapter 1. Satisfaction With Life Scale

Introduction

Satisfaction With Life Scale

Life is bittersweet. We experience joy when we succeed and sadness when we fail. As Psychology in Everyday Life explains, these emotional ups and downs can affect our satisfaction with life. But so can our genes and our environment. To assess your life satisfaction, answer these questions written by Ed Diener, Robert Emmons, Randy Larsen, and Sharon Griffith.

Source:

Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larson, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75.

Assessment

Below are five statements that you may agree or disagree with. Using the 1–7 scale provided, indicate your agreement with each item. Please be open and honest in your responding.

Question 1.1

tUf9HAEAp0wWH3IhDbx8RRC1EPguT5RBEMvr74trf85ptBXzvRMw1t4oEr5vqicasYhjTDfcUOsPtK7MRQ0+2Gg74HqwR+huc0guabWZyjpL8sE6f8aabsIAve00eJAk8JSRR2tPMo31Z+K7vvmNkgbY7TiDgO+M3W4/phGrb7fOwJCr6J1tsqKfgNpzrwqLn4AnEA== 1. In most ways my life is close to my ideal.

{true} setModel("q1", qqMC1)

{true} setModel("q2", qqMC2)

{true} setModel("q3", qqMC3)

{true} setModel("q4", qqMC4)

{true} setModel("q5", qqMC5)

{true} setModel("total", qqMC1 + qqMC2 + qqMC3 + qqMC4 + qqMC5 + 5)

Your Score

Your score was: {model.total}

Scores can range from 5 to 35 with higher scores reflecting greater satisfaction with life. The mean (average) score for a large sample of undergraduate students was 23.5.

Build This Strength

There are many ways to increase your satisfaction with life, including the following:

• Take control of your time. Don’t let the clock dominate you. Break up your goals into small, manageable chunks. Rather than trying to do everything at once, try to complete a small task each day. You’ll feel less overwhelmed and get more accomplished.

• Put a smile on your face. If you aren’t feeling happy, trick your mind into thinking you are by putting on a smile. As you read in Psychology in Everyday Life, people who were manipulated into making a smiling expression actually felt better.

• Get in the flow. Try to incorporate into your day-to-day life activities that use your skills and interests. If you like running, make it a part of your routine. If you like computer programming, incorporate creative code in key projects. The more a task absorbs your mind—a state psychologists call flow—the happier you’ll be.

• Get off the couch. Sound minds reside in sound bodies. Focus on moving your body through space, whether it’s by walking, cycling, swimming, or some other physical activity. Each day we face decisions to become more or less active. We might try skipping the elevator in favor of taking the stairs.

• Get connected. Positive relationships increase positive moods. Strengthen your social connections by investing your time and energy in others. Don’t take your loved ones for granted. Your investment will pay off by improving your life satisfaction.

• Count your blessings. Grateful people are happy people. When we experience gratitude, we feel good because someone or something improved our lives. Make a list of the five things for which you are most grateful. Next, write a letter thanking someone who made you feel grateful. Even if you never send the letter, you might realize that life is better than you realized. Keeping a daily gratitude journal also improves life satisfaction.

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