Psychometric Evaluation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in the Students of Kashan Nursing & Midwifery Faculty, Kashan, Iran

Life satisfaction is one of the most important indicators for evaluation of mental health status in general population including university students. In this field, the appropriate tool is necessary. So, this study was carried out in order to assess the reliability and validity of the SWLS in the students of Kashan Nursing & Midwifery Faculty (KNMF), Kashan, Iran, in 2008. In this descriptive study, the SWLS English version was translated into Persian; then, the subjects were selected using random stratified method in KNMF (n=161). Reliability was determined via stability and internal consistency. Validity was determined via construct and concurrent validity. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, Intra-class correlation coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha, Spearman-Brown, Guttman, independent t-test and exploratory factorial analysis. In 5-35 scale, the life satisfaction score was 22.15±6.18 (95%CLM=21.19-23.11). The questionnaire reliability coefficient was calculated to be 0.85-0.9. Item-total correlation and test re-test confirmed its reliability too. Its correlation with Q-LES-QSF and one item life satisfaction scale was reported to be 0.7 and 0.78, respectively (p<0.0001). The known-groups approach also revealed this tool was valid (p<0.0001). The factorial analysis extracted one main factor whose Eigen value was 3/24; the mentioned factor can explain greater than 64% of the total variance. SWLS Persian version for evaluation of life satisfaction in the university students is valid and reliable.