five postulated components of life satisfaction. A panel of experts provided support for the content validity of
the items. Five domain scores and a total score are created by summing the related item responses (15 items are
reverse keyed).
Sample
Barrett and Murk (2006) reported data from 654 participants, all of whom were 50 years of age or older. These
adults, all within their ‘third age’ (i.e., seniors), were Midwestern US adults acquired at third age learning events,
retirement centers, church events, community centers, and from the general public. In this sample, the five
domains exhibited mean scores for zest vs. apathy ( M530.5, SD55.2), resolution and fortitude ( M539.4,
SD54.8), congruence of goals ( M522.2, SD53.0), self-concept ( M525.2, SD53.3), and mood tone ( M532.9,
SD56.3) as well as the total score ( M5151.0, SD519.5) ( Barrett, 2006 ).
Reliability
Internal Consistency
Barrett and Murk (2006) reported Cronbach alpha coefficients ranging from α5.56 to α5.84 for the five
domains. The LSITA total score yielded an alpha coefficient of α5.93.
Test/C0Retest
No test /C0retest reliability coefficients have been reported to-date.
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
The LSITA scores correlate positively with the Salamon-Conte Life Satisfaction in the Elderly Scale (SCLSES;
Salamon & Conte, 1984 ). For example, Barrett and Murk (2006) reported a correlation of r5.78 between the total
scores of the LSITA and SCLSES. The corresponding domain scores showed correlations between r5.56 (LSITA
congruence of goals /C0SCLSES goals) and r5.75 (LSITA zest vs. apathy /C0SCLSES daily activities). The correla-
tion between the LSITA and the SWLS ( Diener et al., 1985 ) also exceeded r5.50 (Barrett & Murk, 2006 ).
Divergent/Discriminant
No discriminant validity coefficients have been reported to-date.
Construct/Factor Analytic
A confirmatory factor analysis of the LSITA was carried out at the domain level and showed that the five
domains were well represented in a one-factor solution (e.g., CFI 5.94, NFI 5.94) ( Barrett & Murk, 2006 ).
Loadings ranged from .68 (congruence of goals) to .89 (mood tone).
Criterion/Predictive
Criterion validity evidence for the LSITA has been reported in Barrett and Murk (2006) .
Location
Barrett, A. J., & Murk, P. J. (2006). Life Satisfaction Index for the Third Age (LSITA): A measurement of suc-
cessful aging. In E. P. Isaac (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2006 Midwest Research-to-Practice Conference in Adult,
Continuing, Extension, and Community Education: Impacting adult learners near and far (pp. 7/C012). St. Louis, MO:
University of Missouri, St. Louis.
Results and Comments
Although Barrett and Murk (2006) devised 15 new items that reflected each of the five postulated components
of life satisfaction, the LSITA appears to be a unidimensional measure of life satisfaction for elderly people.
Including the aspects of zest vs. apathy suggests that the LSITA is not strictly a measure of life satisfaction, but
also incorporates affective components. The preliminary results of the LSITA reported by Barrett and Murk
(2006) indicated good item homogeneity for the total LSITA, and the domains (except for the self-concept
domain). Although there is evidence for the convergent validity of the LSITA total and domain subscales in
elderly samples, the research base for the LSITA is limited. Future studies are needed to assess its test /C0retest
reliability, factor structure at the item level, and validity.119 OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURES
II. EMOTIONAL DISPOSITIONS