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Validation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale to Brazilians: Evidences of Measurement Noninvariance Across Brazil and US

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  • Cristian Zanon
  • Marucia Bardagi
  • Kristin Layous
  • Claudio Hutz

Abstract

Satisfaction with life is one of three hallmarks of subjective well-being, along with frequent positive emotions and infrequent negative emotions (Diener et al. in Psychol Bull 125:276–302, 1999 ), and the satisfaction with life scale (SWLS; Diener et al. in J Pers Assess 49:91–95, 1985 ) has been used worldwide to evaluate it. The current study seeks to (a) adapt and gather evidence of validity and reliability of the SWLS for a Brazilian sample, (b) evaluate gender equivalence on Brazilian university students, and (c) test for invariance between Brazilian and US samples. Participants were US (N = 241), and Brazilian (N = 1,388) undergraduates. Results from the Brazilian sample, based on confirmatory factor analyses and measurement invariance tests, showed: (a) evidence of validity of the scale, (b) scalar invariance across gender, (c) scalar invariance within group. However, nonequivalence between Brazil and US samples was found. Such results suggest that within comparisons can be conducted with Brazilian undergraduates, but comparisons between Brazil and the US might be misleading due to lack of invariance. Similar findings have already been reported in other cultures and raise questions about cross cultural studies with this scale. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Cristian Zanon & Marucia Bardagi & Kristin Layous & Claudio Hutz, 2014. "Validation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale to Brazilians: Evidences of Measurement Noninvariance Across Brazil and US," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(1), pages 443-453, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:119:y:2014:i:1:p:443-453
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-013-0478-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Valdiney Gouveia & Taciano Milfont & Patrícia Fonseca & Jorge Coelho, 2009. "Life Satisfaction in Brazil: Testing the Psychometric Properties of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) in Five Brazilian Samples," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 90(2), pages 267-277, January.
    2. Yukiko Uchida & Vinai Norasakkunkit & Shinobu Kitayama, 2004. "Cultural constructions of happiness: theory and emprical evidence," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 223-239, September.
    3. Kari Tucker & Daniel Ozer & Sonja Lyubomirsky & Julia Boehm, 2006. "Testing for Measurement Invariance in the Satisfaction with Life Scale: A Comparison of Russians and North Americans," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 78(2), pages 341-360, September.
    4. David Dorn & Justina Fischer & Gebhard Kirchgässner & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2007. "Is It Culture or Democracy? The Impact of Democracy and Culture on Happiness," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 82(3), pages 505-526, July.
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    2. Laura Delgado-Lobete & Rebeca Montes-Montes & Alba Vila-Paz & Miguel-Ángel Talavera-Valverde & José-Manuel Cruz-Valiño & Berta Gándara-Gafo & Adriana Ávila-Álvarez & Sergio Santos-del-Riego, 2020. "Subjective Well-Being in Higher Education: Psychometric Properties of the Satisfaction with Life and Subjective Vitality Scales in Spanish University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, March.
    3. James B. Hittner & Rhonda Swickert & N. Clayton Silver & Krisztina Hevesi & Zsuzsanna Kövi, 2018. "Examining the Cross-National Measurement Invariance of the Extended Satisfaction with Life Scale in the United States and Hungary," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(3), pages 527-544, September.
    4. Chris B. Agala & Bruce J. Fried & James C. Thomas & Heidi W. Reynolds & Kristen Hassmiller Lich & Kathryn Whetten & Catherine Zimmer & Joseph P. Morrissey, 2021. "Reliability, Validity and Measurement Invariance of the WHO’s Quality of Life Scale among Women of Reproductive Age Living with HIV in Ethiopia - a Quasi-Experimental Study," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1785-1812, August.

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