Theories, measurement and correlates of life satisfaction

Abstract

Satisfaction with life is a very often used term, in psychology and the other sciences. After the sixties many researchers have tried to define that term, and to find one appropriate theory. But in opposition to many scientific works and papers no one appropriate theory was carried out. The available literature deals with measurement and defines satisfaction with life in the larger context of subjective well-being. This concept includes: 1. satisfaction with life, as a cognitive component; 2. positive, and 3. negative affects, as affective components. Some new results indicate that the cognitive component (i.e. satisfaction with life) has a greater influence on subjective well-being than affective components (i.e. positive and negative affects). With the aim of measuring the satisfaction with life researchers used a great number of scales and questionnaires. Some of them were developed to assess satisfaction with life as a whole, while others seemed to reflect both life satisfaction and affect balance. Widely used correlates of life satisfaction tended to be represented in these scales and questionnaires. But in some new researches authors have indicated certain personality dimensions as best predictors of satisfaction with life. In the future, the concept of satisfaction with life offers the opportunity of further investigation with the aim to form a unique theory of satisfaction with life.