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Studies

Vitterso et al. (2002): study ZZ World samples 1995

Publication

Author(s):
Vitterso, J.; Diener, E.; Roysamb, E.
Title:
The Concept of Life Satisfaction Across Cultures: Exploring its Diverse Meaning and Relation to Economic Wealth.
Source:
Gullone, E.;Cummins, R.A.;Eds.: "The Universality of Subjective Wellbeing Indicators", Kluwer, 2002, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 81 - 103

Investigation

Public
College students, 41 countries, 1995-96
Sample
Non-probability chunk sample
Respondents
N = 6949
Non Response
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on single question:

In most ways my life is close to ideal
1  strongly disagree
2
3
4
5
6
7  strongly agree

Item in Diener's Satisfaction with life Scale (SWLS)
Classification:
C-CI-u-sq-n-7-a
Author's label:
SWLS-1
Page in publication:
8
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
4.50 5.83
SD:
0.44 0.73
Full text:
Self report on single question:

The conditions of my life are excellent
1  strongly disagree
2
3
4
5
6
7  strongly agree

Item in Diener's Satisfaction with life Scale (SWLS)
Classification:
O-SLC-u-sq-n-7-a
Author's label:
SWLS-2
Page in publication:
8
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
4.40 5.67
SD:
0.51 0.85
Full text:
Self report on single question:

I am satisfied with my life.
1 strongly disagree
2
3
4
5
6
7 strongly agree

Item in Diener's Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)
Classification:
O-SLu-u-sq-n-7-a
Author's label:
SWLS-3
Page in publication:
8
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 1 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
4.80 6.33
SD:
0.46 0.77
Full text:
Self report on single question:

So far, I have achieved most important things I want in my life
1  strongly disagree
2
3
4
5
6
7  strongly agree

Item in Diener's Satisfaction with life Scale (SWLS)
Classification:
C-RA-h-sq-n-7-a
Author's label:
SWLS-4
Page in publication:
8
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 0 - 7 On range 0-10
Mean:
4.40 5.67
SD:
0.63 1.05
Full text:
Self report on four questions:

Using the 1-7 scale below, indicate your agreement with each of the items by placing the appropriate number on the line preceding that item. Please be open and honest in your responding.
A  In most ways my life is close to ideal
B  The conditions of my life are excellent
C  I am satisfied with my life
D  So far, I have gotten the important things I want in life

Answers rated:
7  strongly agree
6  agree
5  slightly agree
4  neither agree nor disagree
3  slightly disagree
2  disagree
1  strongly disagree

Computation: A+B+C+D

Name: Shortened Diener's Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS-4)
(In the original scale item 5 reads: 'If I could live my life over, I would change nothing'. This item is left out in this selection because a positive answer to this question does not necessarily mean that the respondent doesn't like the life he/she actually lives.)
Classification:
O-Sum-u-mq-v-7-a
Author's label:
Satisfaction with Life Scale
Remarks:
Means and standard deviations in each of separate nations are reported in the section on 'Distributional Findings in Nations' of this 'World Database of Happiness'
Page in publication:
8
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range 4 - 28 On range 0-10
Mean:
18.10 5.85
SD:
2.04 0.85

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Satisfaction with life