Life Satisfaction Assessment
Satisfaction With Life Scale
The most widely used measure of global life satisfaction. This 5-item scale by Ed Diener and colleagues helps you evaluate how content you feel with your life as a whole.
Research-based tool · Original SWLS (Diener et al., 1985), used with permission for non-commercial purposes
What Is Life Satisfaction?
Life satisfaction is your conscious, evaluative judgment of your life as a whole. Unlike momentary happiness or mood, it reflects how you assess your life according to your own standards and criteria. The SWLS measures this global judgment.
Since 1985: The SWLS has been translated into dozens of languages and used in thousands of studies worldwide, making it one of the most validated measures in positive psychology.
How to answer: For each statement, choose how much you agree or disagree on a 7-point scale. Answer based on your overall judgment of your life, not your current mood.
Your Life Satisfaction Score
Based on your responses to the SWLS
Where You Fall on the Spectrum
Score Interpretation Bands
Understanding Your Score
- Global evaluation: This score reflects your overall judgment of your life, not specific areas like health, finances, or relationships individually.
- Your own standards: The SWLS lets you decide what "the good life" means. Two people with similar circumstances might score differently based on their personal criteria.
- A snapshot: Life satisfaction can change over time based on circumstances and perspective. This score reflects how you feel right now.
The Science Behind the SWLS
From the Research
"The SWLS is designed around the idea that one must ask subjects for an overall judgment of their life in order to measure the concept of life satisfaction."
— Diener, E., Emmons, R.A., Larsen, R.J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale . Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.
What Makes Life Satisfaction Different
The Satisfaction With Life Scale measures life satisfaction as one component of subjective well-being. Unlike measures of positive or negative affect (how often you feel good or bad), life satisfaction captures your cognitive evaluation of your life.
The Three Pillars of Well-being
How often you feel pleasant emotions
How often you feel unpleasant emotions
Your overall judgment of your life (SWLS)
Source: Pavot & Diener (2008). The Satisfaction With Life Scale and the emerging construct of life satisfaction. Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(2), 137-152.
Psychometric Properties
The SWLS shows strong reliability and validity across populations. The original study and subsequent research consistently demonstrate the scale measures what it claims to measure.
From the Research
"The SWLS showed strong internal reliability and moderate temporal stability. Coefficient alpha was .87 and the 2-month test-retest coefficient was .82."
— Diener, E., Emmons, R.A., Larsen, R.J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale . Journal of Personality Assessment.
Global Usage
The SWLS has been validated across numerous cultures and languages. Research consistently finds a single-factor structure, meaning all five items measure the same underlying construct.
From the Research
"Since its introduction, the SWLS has been translated into numerous languages and used in thousands of studies across many countries."
— Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (2008). The Satisfaction With Life Scale and the emerging construct of life satisfaction . Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(2), 137-152.
What Research Shows
- Life satisfaction is distinct from positive and negative affect but related to both
- Scores tend to be relatively stable over time but can change with major life events
- Cross-cultural research confirms the scale works across different populations
- Life satisfaction correlates with health outcomes, relationships, and productivity
How Scoring Works
The SWLS contains 5 statements. You rate each on a 7-point scale from "Strongly Disagree" (1) to "Strongly Agree" (7). Your total score is the sum of all five responses, ranging from 5 to 35.
| Score Range | Category |
|---|---|
| 31-35 | Extremely Satisfied |
| 26-30 | Satisfied |
| 21-25 | Slightly Satisfied |
| 20 | Neutral |
| 15-19 | Slightly Dissatisfied |
| 10-14 | Dissatisfied |
| 5-9 | Extremely Dissatisfied |
Source: Diener, E. (2006). Understanding Scores on the Satisfaction with Life Scale.
Interpretation Guidelines
According to Diener's interpretation guidelines, a score of 20 represents the neutral point. Most people score somewhat above this, indicating that general satisfaction is common. Scores in the satisfied range (26-30) suggest that while there may be areas for improvement, the person generally likes their life.
Permissions
The SWLS is copyrighted but freely available for non-commercial use with proper attribution. According to the Ed Diener website: "The scale is copyrighted but is free to use without permission or charge by researchers as long as credit is given."
What Different Scores Mean
Here's how Diener and colleagues describe what different score ranges typically indicate about life satisfaction.
| Score | What It Typically Means |
|---|---|
| 31-35 | You love your life and feel things are going very well. You're not complacent though. Having high satisfaction doesn't mean you've stopped growing. |
| 26-30 | You like your life and feel things are going well in most areas. There may be room for improvement, but overall you're content. |
| 21-25 | You're generally satisfied but have identified significant areas where you'd like improvement. Most people fall into this range or above. |
| 20 | The neutral point. You're not clearly satisfied or dissatisfied with your life overall. |
| 15-19 | You have some dissatisfaction with your life. There may be several areas causing concern that could benefit from attention. |
| 10-14 | You're substantially dissatisfied with your current life. Multiple areas may need significant attention or change. |
| 5-9 | You're extremely dissatisfied. This might indicate a crisis period or suggest that professional support could be helpful. |
Adapted from Diener (2006). Understanding Scores on the Satisfaction with Life Scale.
About This Assessment
Original Scale, Proper Attribution
This assessment uses the original 5-item Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985). The scale is copyrighted but freely available for non-commercial use with attribution. We reproduce the items exactly as published for educational purposes.
Self-Reflection, Not Diagnosis
- Educational tool: This scale helps you reflect on your overall life satisfaction. It is not a diagnostic instrument.
- Not a clinical measure: Low scores do not diagnose depression or any mental health condition. High scores do not guarantee well-being.
- Context matters: Life circumstances, recent events, and current mood can all affect your score.
When to Seek Support
If you're persistently dissatisfied with your life or experiencing distress, consider speaking with a mental health professional. Life satisfaction is related to but distinct from clinical conditions like depression.