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	Contact John D. Corrigan, PhD, Ohio State University at
	Citation Corrigan, J. (2013). Satisfaction With Life Scale. The Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury. http://www.tbims.org/ combi/swls ( accessed ).* *Note: This citation is for the COMBI web material. Dr. Corrigan is not the scale author for the SWLS.

SWLS Syllabus

The SWLS consists of 5-items that are completed by the individual whose life satisfaction is being measured. Each item requires a rating on a 7-point Likert scale anchored by the extent of agreement with each statement. Administration is brief––rarely more than a minute or two––and can be completed by interview (including phone) or paper and pencil response. The instrument should not be completed by a proxy, though a proxy can ask questions to the individual and convey answers to an interviewer (for instance, if the respondent can not be interviewed directly by phone).

Items of the SWLS are summed to create a total score that can range from 5 to 35. In the general population, the following ranges can be interpreted (for more information see Diener's description of score ranges (Diener, 2006)):

5-9 Extremely dissatisfied with life

10-14 Dissatisfied with life

15-19 Slightly below average in life satisfaction

20-24 Average life satisfaction

25-29 High satisfaction with life

30-35 Very highly satisfied with life

The SWLS is in the public domain. Permission is not needed to use it. Further information regarding the use and interpretation of the SWLS can be found at the author's website <http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~ediener/SWLS.html>. The website also includes links to translations of the scale into 27 languages.

Satisfaction With Life Scale
Diener, E., Emmons, R., Larsen, J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. J Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.

Below are five statements with which you may agree or disagree. Using the 1-7 scale below, indicate your agreement with each item by placing the appropriate number on the line preceding that item. Please be open and honest in your responding. The 7-point scale is as follows:

1 = strongly disagree

2 = disagree

3 = slightly disagree

4 = neither agree nor disagree

5 = slightly agree

6 = agree

7 = strongly 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 in life.

__ 5. If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.

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