Life satisfaction decreases during adolescence.
OBJECTIVE
Adolescence is a developmental phase associated with significant somatic and psychosocial changes. So far there are few studies on developmental aspects of life satisfaction. This cross-sectional study examines the effects of age and gender on adolescent's life satisfaction.


METHODS
1,274 German adolescents (aged 11-16 years) participated in a school-based survey study. They completed the adolescent version of the Questions on Life Satisfaction (FLZ(M) - Fragen zur Lebenszufriedenheit), a multidimensional instrument measuring the subjective importance and satisfaction with eight domains of general and eight domains of health-related life satisfaction. Effects of gender and age were analysed using ANOVAs.


RESULTS
Girls reported significantly lower general (F = 5.0; p = .025) and health-related life satisfaction (F = 25.3; p < .001) compared to boys. In both genders and across nearly all life domains, there was a significant decrease in general (F = 14.8; p < .001) and health-related life satisfaction (F = 8.0; p < .001) between 11 and 16 years. Satisfaction with friends remained on a high level, whereas satisfaction with family relations decreased. Only satisfaction with partnership/sexuality increased slightly, however this effect cannot compensate the general loss of satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreasing life satisfaction has to be considered as a developmental phenomenon. Associations with the increasing prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation during adolescence are discussed. Life satisfaction should be considered a relevant aspect of adolescent's well-being and functioning.
Goldbeck
Lutz
L
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, 89075 Ulm, Germany. lutz.goldbeck@uniklinik-ulm.de
Schmitz
Tim G
TG
Besier
Tanja
T
Herschbach
Peter
P
Henrich
Gerhard
G
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012423:Rural Health; D012572:School Health Services; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology; D014504:Urban Health