title: Psychometric evaluation of the Danish and Swedish Satisfaction with Life Scale in first episode psychosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To psychometrically evaluate the Satisfaction with Life Scale in two cohorts of first-episode psychosis patients in the Danish National Schizophrenia Project and in the Swedish Parachute Project.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale were examined in the Danish cohort (explorative investigation) and then confirmed in the Swedish cohort: (1) the factor structure; (2) correlations between subscales; (3) internal consistencies of subscales; and (4) main tendencies (arithmetic means) and variations (standard deviations) of subscales. The relations between the Satisfaction with Life Scale and various life conditions were investigated in the Swedish cohort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For both samples, the analysis indicated that the obtained four-dimensional 11-item scale had satisfactory properties. Moderately high scores were obtained in the four subscales: "living," "social relationships," "self and present life" and "work." They correlated positively with each other, the internal consistencies of the subscales were acceptable and the means for the subscales indicated no apparent floor or ceiling effects. The four dimensions obtained seem relevant and presented good face validity. The dimensions were confirmed in the Swedish sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Satisfaction with Life Scale shows satisfactory psychometric properties and seems valid and useful among first-episode psychosis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hochwälder
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattsson
authors.forename: Ragnhild
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holmqvist
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cullberg
authors.forename: Bent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013548:Sweden