Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)

## Summary: The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a concise instrument designed to measure a person's overall sense of satisfaction with their life. The scale allows individuals to evaluate their life as a whole, rather than in specific domains. It consists of five questions and employs a 7-point Likert scale for responses. The SWLS is useful for its correlation with mental health indicators and its ability to predict future behaviors, such as suicide attempts. Regular administration is suggested every four weeks to track changes over time.

## Instructions for Use: Administer the SWLS by presenting the five statements to the respondent. Ask them to indicate their agreement using the 1-7 scale provided, ensuring they respond honestly. The scale should be self-administered, with the clinician ensuring that the respondent understands each statement.

## Scoring Methodology: Calculate the total SWLS score by summing the numeric responses to all five items. The total score will range from 5 to 35. Interpret the scores using the provided benchmarks 5-9 = extreme dissatisfaction 10-14 = Dissatisfied 15-19 = Slightly dissatisfied 20 = Neutral 21-25 = Slightly Satisfied 26-30 = Satisfied 31-35 indicating extreme satisfaction with life.

## Citation(s) and/or Authors: Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75.