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Satisfaction%20with%20Life%20Scale-Child%20(SWLS-C)
Availability
The instrument is freely available here: Satisfaction with Life Scale - Child (SWLS-C)
The official citation that should be used when referencing this material is:
Gadermann AM, Schonert-Reich KA, Zumbo BD. Investigating validity evidence of the Satisfaction with Life Scale adapted for Children. Social Indicators Research. 2012; 96(2):229-247.
Classification
Supplemental: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)-Pediatric (ages 10 and over)
Short Description of Instrument

The SWLS-C measures the respondents overall satisfaction with life. It consists of 5 questions answered on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree. Advantages are that it's quick and easy, and also allows for a lifespan perspective as one could easily transition to the adult version when needed. Of note, the child version is not very different from the adult version, and incorporates one slight wording change.

Scoring

Total score ranges from 5-25. Higher scores indicate better satisfaction with life.

Rationale/Justification
The Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) was adapted for children by Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl and her research team at the University of British Columbia. The SWLS-C is currently used at a population level in several school districts in British Columbia, Canada, as part of the Middle-Years Development Instrument (MDI), a self-report questionnaire for children ages 10 and above.
References
Diener E, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin, S. The Satisfaction With Life Scale J Pers Assess. 1985;49(1): 71-75.
 
Gadermann AM, Guhn M, Zumbo BD. Investigating the Substantive Aspect of Construct Validity for the Satisfaction with Life Scale Adapted for Children: A Focus on Cognitive Processes. Soc Indic Res. 2011;100(1): 37-60.
 
Gadermann AM, Schonert-Reichl KA, Zumbo BD. Investigating validity evidence of the Satisfaction with Life Scale adapted for Children. Social Indicators Research. 2012; 96(2):229-247.

 

Document last updated April 2020