Further Validation of the Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale

Abstract

The psychometric properties of a children's life satisfaction measure (MSLSS; Huebner, 1994) were assessed with a middle school sample of 291 students. Similar to findings with elementary school students, the MSLSS demonstrated preliminary evidence of reliability and validity for research purposes. The results of confirmatory factor analyses supported the five satisfaction domains identified in previous research with younger students, along with a single higher-order general life satisfaction factor. Relationships among life satisfaction domains, demographic variables, and social desirability responses were discussed. Potential uses of the MSLSS and future research needs were also discussed.

Youth Life Satisfaction: A Review of the Literature

“…However, the correlations between LS and the other personality dimensions measured remained largely unaltered after partialing out the effects of social desirability (Heaven 1989). Comparatively, a study by Huebner et al (1998) showed that the relationship between reports of LS and social desirability varied across the domains of the MSLSS, indicating the importance of social desirability as a determinant of LS (Gilman and Barry 2003;Huebner et al 1998); results which contradict the notion that a correlation between the total scores of LS and a social desirability measures reflects bias in measures of SWB (see McCrae and Costa 1983).…”

“…Several studies, however, have noted specific relationships between demographic variables and youth LS. For example, Huebner et al (1998) found that age (M = 12.89) was weakly correlated with students' scores on the MSLSS domains. Ash and Huebner (2001) found that SES was positively related to LS (i.e.…”

“…LS) has traditionally been a matter of concern due to the moderate correlation between them (Diener 1994). However, social desirability has recently been demonstrated to be a personality characteristic that is an important determinant of well-being (Diener 1994;Huebner et al 1998). For example, in two studies of Australian adolescents, Heaven (1989) found a significant correlation between the Lie subscale of the Eysenck and Eysenck (1975) Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and LS, as measured by the SWLS, which indicated that respondents attempted to look favourable by 'faking good'.…”

“…Adelman et al 1989;Dew and Huebner 1994;Huebner 1991aHuebner , 1995Huebner and Alderman 1993;Huebner and Dew 1996), the Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS: Huebner 1994) (e.g. Adelman et al 1989;Gilman and Huebner 1997;Huebner 1994;Huebner et al 1998), the Brief Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS: Seligson et al 2003) (e.g. Funk et al 2006;Huebner et al 2000aHuebner et al , 2005Seligson et al 2005), and the Perceived Life Satisfaction Scale (PLSS: Adelman et al 1989) (e.g.…”

The role of positive psychology constructs in predicting life satisfaction in adolescents with and without cognitive disabilities: An exploratory study

“…To measure life satisfaction, multiple measures were used, including the Satisfaction With Life scale (SWL; Diener et al, 1985) and the Self and Global subscales of the Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS; Huebner, 1994;Huebner, Laughlin, Ash, & Gilman, 1998). The SWL scale consists of five questions; total scores can range from 5 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction with life.…”