Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups

Viren Swami; Stefan Stieger; Martin Voracek; Toivo Aavik; Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar; Sulaiman Olanrewaju Adebayo; Reza Afhami; Oli Ahmed; Annie Aimé; Marwan Akel; Hussam Al Halbusi; George Alexias; Khawla F Ali; Nursel Alp-Dal; Anas B Alsalhani; Sara Álvarez-Solas; Ana Carolina Soares Amaral; Sonny Andrianto; Trefor Aspden; Marios Argyrides; John Jamir Benzon R Aruta; Stephen Atkin; Olusola Ayandele; Migle Baceviciene; Radvan Bahbouh; Andrea Ballesio; David Barron; Ashleigh Bellard; Sóley Sesselja Bender; Kerime Derya Beydag; Gorana Birovljevic; Marie-Ève Blackburn; Teresita Borja-Alvarez; Joanna Borowiec; Miroslava Bozogánová; Solfrid Bratland-Sanda; Matthew H E M Browning; Anna Brytek-Matera; Marina Burakova; Yeliz Çakir-Koçak; Pablo Camacho; Vittorio Emanuele Camilleri; Valentina Cazzato; Silvia Cerea; Apitchaya Chaiwutikornwanich; Trawin Chaleeraktrakoon; Tim Chambers; Qing-Wei Chen; Xin Chen; Chin-Lung Chien; Karlijn Massar; Gill A. ten Hoor; Et al.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0313107

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups

Viren Swami^*, Stefan Stieger, Martin Voracek, Toivo Aavik, Hamed Abdollahpour Ranjbar, Sulaiman Olanrewaju Adebayo, Reza Afhami, Oli Ahmed, Annie Aimé, Marwan Akel, Hussam Al Halbusi, George Alexias, Khawla F Ali, Nursel Alp-Dal, Anas B Alsalhani, Sara Álvarez-Solas, Ana Carolina Soares Amaral, Sonny Andrianto, Trefor Aspden, Marios ArgyridesJohn Jamir Benzon R Aruta, Stephen Atkin, Olusola Ayandele, Migle Baceviciene, Radvan Bahbouh, Andrea Ballesio, David Barron, Ashleigh Bellard, Sóley Sesselja Bender, Kerime Derya Beydag, Gorana Birovljevic, Marie-Ève Blackburn, Teresita Borja-Alvarez, Joanna Borowiec, Miroslava Bozogánová, Solfrid Bratland-Sanda, Matthew H E M Browning, Anna Brytek-Matera, Marina Burakova, Yeliz Çakir-Koçak, Pablo Camacho, Vittorio Emanuele Camilleri, Valentina Cazzato, Silvia Cerea, Apitchaya Chaiwutikornwanich, Trawin Chaleeraktrakoon, Tim Chambers, Qing-Wei Chen, Xin Chen, Chin-Lung Chien, Karlijn Massar, Gill A. ten Hoor, Et al.

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that configural and metric invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional SWLS model has universal applicability. Full scalar invariance was achieved across gender identities and age groups. Based on alignment optimisation methods, partial scalar invariance was achieved across all but three national groups and across all languages represented in the BINS. There were large differences in latent SWLS means across nations and languages, but negligible-to-small differences across gender identities and age groups. Across nations, greater life satisfaction was significantly associated with greater financial security and being in a committed relationship or married. The results of this study suggest that the SWLS largely assesses a common unidimensional construct of life satisfaction irrespective of respondent characteristics (i.e., national group, gender identities, and age group) or survey presentation (i.e., survey language). This has important implications for the assessment of life satisfaction across nations and provides information that will be useful for practitioners aiming to promote subjective well-being internationally.

Original language	English
Article number	e0313107
Pages (from-to)	0313107
Journal	PLOS ONE
Volume	20
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313107
Publication status	Published - 22 Jan 2025

Keywords

Humans
Personal Satisfaction
Female
Male
Adult
Middle Aged
Gender Identity
Young Adult
Language
Aged
Surveys and Questionnaires
Adolescent
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Self Report
Psychometrics/methods
Age Factors
Quality of Life

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Cite this

Swami, V., Stieger, S., Voracek, M., Aavik, T., Abdollahpour Ranjbar, H., Adebayo, S. O., Afhami, R., Ahmed, O., Aimé, A., Akel, M., Al Halbusi, H., Alexias, G., Ali, K. F., Alp-Dal, N., Alsalhani, A. B., Álvarez-Solas, S., Amaral, A. C. S., Andrianto, S., Aspden, T., ... Et al. (2025). Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. PLOS ONE, 20(1), 0313107. Article e0313107. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313107

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title = "Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups",

abstract = "The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that configural and metric invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional SWLS model has universal applicability. Full scalar invariance was achieved across gender identities and age groups. Based on alignment optimisation methods, partial scalar invariance was achieved across all but three national groups and across all languages represented in the BINS. There were large differences in latent SWLS means across nations and languages, but negligible-to-small differences across gender identities and age groups. Across nations, greater life satisfaction was significantly associated with greater financial security and being in a committed relationship or married. The results of this study suggest that the SWLS largely assesses a common unidimensional construct of life satisfaction irrespective of respondent characteristics (i.e., national group, gender identities, and age group) or survey presentation (i.e., survey language). This has important implications for the assessment of life satisfaction across nations and provides information that will be useful for practitioners aiming to promote subjective well-being internationally.",

keywords = "Humans, Personal Satisfaction, Female, Male, Adult, Middle Aged, Gender Identity, Young Adult, Language, Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Adolescent, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Self Report, Psychometrics/methods, Age Factors, Quality of Life",

author = "Viren Swami and Stefan Stieger and Martin Voracek and Toivo Aavik and {Abdollahpour Ranjbar}, Hamed and Adebayo, {Sulaiman Olanrewaju} and Reza Afhami and Oli Ahmed and Annie Aim{\'e} and Marwan Akel and {Al Halbusi}, Hussam and George Alexias and Ali, {Khawla F} and Nursel Alp-Dal and Alsalhani, {Anas B} and Sara {\'A}lvarez-Solas and Amaral, {Ana Carolina Soares} and Sonny Andrianto and Trefor Aspden and Marios Argyrides and Aruta, {John Jamir Benzon R} and Stephen Atkin and Olusola Ayandele and Migle Baceviciene and Radvan Bahbouh and Andrea Ballesio and David Barron and Ashleigh Bellard and Bender, {S{\'o}ley Sesselja} and Beydag, {Kerime Derya} and Gorana Birovljevic and Marie-{\`E}ve Blackburn and Teresita Borja-Alvarez and Joanna Borowiec and Miroslava Bozog{\'a}nov{\'a} and Solfrid Bratland-Sanda and Browning, {Matthew H E M} and Anna Brytek-Matera and Marina Burakova and Yeliz {\c C}akir-Ko{\c c}ak and Pablo Camacho and Camilleri, {Vittorio Emanuele} and Valentina Cazzato and Silvia Cerea and Apitchaya Chaiwutikornwanich and Trawin Chaleeraktrakoon and Tim Chambers and Qing-Wei Chen and Xin Chen and Chin-Lung Chien and Karlijn Massar and {ten Hoor}, {Gill A.} and {Et al.}",

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Swami, V, Stieger, S, Voracek, M, Aavik, T, Abdollahpour Ranjbar, H, Adebayo, SO, Afhami, R, Ahmed, O, Aimé, A, Akel, M, Al Halbusi, H, Alexias, G, Ali, KF, Alp-Dal, N, Alsalhani, AB, Álvarez-Solas, S, Amaral, ACS, Andrianto, S, Aspden, T, Argyrides, M, Aruta, JJBR, Atkin, S, Ayandele, O, Baceviciene, M, Bahbouh, R, Ballesio, A, Barron, D, Bellard, A, Bender, SS, Beydag, KD, Birovljevic, G, Blackburn, M-È, Borja-Alvarez, T, Borowiec, J, Bozogánová, M, Bratland-Sanda, S, Browning, MHEM, Brytek-Matera, A, Burakova, M, Çakir-Koçak, Y, Camacho, P, Camilleri, VE, Cazzato, V, Cerea, S, Chaiwutikornwanich, A, Chaleeraktrakoon, T, Chambers, T, Chen, Q-W, Chen, X, Chien, C-L, Massar, K , ten Hoor, GA & Et al. 2025, 'Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups', PLOS ONE, vol. 20, no. 1, e0313107, pp. 0313107. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313107

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. / Swami, Viren; Stieger, Stefan; Voracek, Martin et al.
In: PLOS ONE, Vol. 20, No. 1, e0313107, 22.01.2025, p. 0313107.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Life satisfaction around the world

T2 - Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups

AU - Swami, Viren

AU - Stieger, Stefan

AU - Voracek, Martin

AU - Aavik, Toivo

AU - Abdollahpour Ranjbar, Hamed

AU - Adebayo, Sulaiman Olanrewaju

AU - Afhami, Reza

AU - Ahmed, Oli

AU - Aimé, Annie

AU - Akel, Marwan

AU - Al Halbusi, Hussam

AU - Alexias, George

AU - Ali, Khawla F

AU - Alp-Dal, Nursel

AU - Alsalhani, Anas B

AU - Álvarez-Solas, Sara

AU - Amaral, Ana Carolina Soares

AU - Andrianto, Sonny

AU - Aspden, Trefor

AU - Argyrides, Marios

AU - Aruta, John Jamir Benzon R

AU - Atkin, Stephen

AU - Ayandele, Olusola

AU - Baceviciene, Migle

AU - Bahbouh, Radvan

AU - Ballesio, Andrea

AU - Barron, David

AU - Bellard, Ashleigh

AU - Bender, Sóley Sesselja

AU - Beydag, Kerime Derya

AU - Birovljevic, Gorana

AU - Blackburn, Marie-Ève

AU - Borja-Alvarez, Teresita

AU - Borowiec, Joanna

AU - Bozogánová, Miroslava

AU - Bratland-Sanda, Solfrid

AU - Browning, Matthew H E M

AU - Brytek-Matera, Anna

AU - Burakova, Marina

AU - Çakir-Koçak, Yeliz

AU - Camacho, Pablo

AU - Camilleri, Vittorio Emanuele

AU - Cazzato, Valentina

AU - Cerea, Silvia

AU - Chaiwutikornwanich, Apitchaya

AU - Chaleeraktrakoon, Trawin

AU - Chambers, Tim

AU - Chen, Qing-Wei

AU - Chen, Xin

AU - Chien, Chin-Lung

AU - Massar, Karlijn

AU - ten Hoor, Gill A.

AU - Et al.

PY - 2025/1/22

Y1 - 2025/1/22

N2 - The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that configural and metric invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional SWLS model has universal applicability. Full scalar invariance was achieved across gender identities and age groups. Based on alignment optimisation methods, partial scalar invariance was achieved across all but three national groups and across all languages represented in the BINS. There were large differences in latent SWLS means across nations and languages, but negligible-to-small differences across gender identities and age groups. Across nations, greater life satisfaction was significantly associated with greater financial security and being in a committed relationship or married. The results of this study suggest that the SWLS largely assesses a common unidimensional construct of life satisfaction irrespective of respondent characteristics (i.e., national group, gender identities, and age group) or survey presentation (i.e., survey language). This has important implications for the assessment of life satisfaction across nations and provides information that will be useful for practitioners aiming to promote subjective well-being internationally.

AB - The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that configural and metric invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional SWLS model has universal applicability. Full scalar invariance was achieved across gender identities and age groups. Based on alignment optimisation methods, partial scalar invariance was achieved across all but three national groups and across all languages represented in the BINS. There were large differences in latent SWLS means across nations and languages, but negligible-to-small differences across gender identities and age groups. Across nations, greater life satisfaction was significantly associated with greater financial security and being in a committed relationship or married. The results of this study suggest that the SWLS largely assesses a common unidimensional construct of life satisfaction irrespective of respondent characteristics (i.e., national group, gender identities, and age group) or survey presentation (i.e., survey language). This has important implications for the assessment of life satisfaction across nations and provides information that will be useful for practitioners aiming to promote subjective well-being internationally.

KW - Humans

KW - Personal Satisfaction

KW - Female

KW - Male

KW - Adult

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Gender Identity

KW - Young Adult

KW - Language

KW - Aged

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Adolescent

KW - Factor Analysis, Statistical

KW - Self Report

KW - Psychometrics/methods

KW - Age Factors

KW - Quality of Life

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0313107

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0313107

M3 - Article

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 20

SP - 0313107

JO - PLOS ONE

JF - PLOS ONE

IS - 1

M1 - e0313107

ER -

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups

Abstract

Keywords

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