self exhibited the strongest correlations with the RSE and the Self-Deception Subscale of the BIDR, with coeffi-
cients of r5.59 and r5.49, respectively. The other subscales showed correlation coefficients between r5.12 (job)
and r5.48 (general life) with the RSE, and between r5.11 (job) and r5.35 (social life) with the Self-Deception
Subscale of the BIDR.
Divergent/Discriminant
The Impression Management (IM) subscale of the BIDR and the Agreement Response Scale (ARS; Couch &
Keniston, 1960 ) were utilized as measures for social desirability and acquiescence, respectively. The ESWLS sub-
scales were only modestly related to IM with correlation coefficients ranging between r5.09 (physical appear-
ance) and r5.31 (school). The ARS was not related to the ESWLS subscales (coefficients ranged between r52.16
and r5.14).
Construct/Factor Analytic
In a principal components analysis (with direct oblimin rotation) of the intercorrelations of 40 items of the
ESWLS (i.e., without the job subscale), Alfonso et al. (1996) extracted eight components that explained 77% of
the variance. In a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), indices indicated a modest fit, with NFI 5.79, AGFI 5.69,
and RMSR 5.06. Correlations among the components ranged from r5.00 (physical appearance /C0school) to
r5.46 (general life /C0social life), with a median of r5.26. Correlations among the CFA latent traits ranged from
r5.07 (physical appearance /C0school life) to r5.75 (general life /C0self) with a median of r5.34.
Criterion/Predictive
Evidence for criterion and predictive validity has been provided by Pavot and Diener (1993) , as well as
Morden and Ostiguy (2005) .
Location
Alfonso, V. C., Allison, D. B., Rader, D. E., & Gorman, B. S. (1996). The Extended Satisfaction with Life Scale:
Development and psychometric properties. Social Indicators Research ,38,2 7 5/C0301.
Results and Comments
The ESWLS is one of the few multidimensional measures of life satisfaction for adults that contain multiple
items for each domain. While the research base for the ESWLS is relatively sparse, the findings are promising.
The preliminary results for the ESWLS suggested satisfactory internal consistency and test /C0retest reliability as
well as evidence of validity in a sample of college students. The ESWLS is a measure that can potentially be used
in various age groups, ranging from adolescents to elderly. The authors of the ESWLS indicated that an individ-
ual should have a reading level of at least the seventh grade to be able to understand the ESWLS. However, stud-
ies of the psychometric properties of the measure with different populations (e.g., older adults, psychiatric
patients) are needed to assess its range of applicability.
EXTENDED SATISFACTION WITH LIFE SCALE
Below are some statements with which you may agree
or disagree. Use the scale below to show your agreement
with each item. Place the number on the line for that item.
Please be open and honest in your answers.
1/C0Strongly disagree; 2 /C0Disagree; 3 /C0Slightly dis-
agree; 4 /C0Neither agree nor disagree; 5 /C0Slightly agree;
6/C0Agree; 7 /C0Strongly agree
1.In most ways my life is close to my ideal.
2.The conditions of my life are excellent.
3.I am satisfied with my life.
4.So far I have gotten the important things I want
from life.
5.I am generally pleased with the life I lead.
6.In most ways my social life is close to my ideal.7.The conditions of my social life are excellent.
8.I am satisfied with my social life.
9.So far I have gotten the important things I want
from my social life.
10.I am generally pleased with the social life I lead.
11.In most ways my sex life is close to my ideal.
12.The conditions of my sex life are excellent.
13.I am satisfied with my sex life.
14.So far I have gotten the important things I want
from my sex life.
15.I am generally pleased with the quality of my
sex life.
16.In most ways my actual self is close to my ideal self.
17.As an individual I consider myself excellent.114 5. MEASURES OF LIFE SATISFACTION ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
II. EMOTIONAL DISPOSITIONS