title: Psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS): secondary analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) has been widely used and has proven to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing satisfaction with life in diverse population groups, however, research on satisfaction with life and validation of different measuring instruments in Mexican adults is still lacking. The objective was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in a representative sample of Mexican adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a methodological study to evaluate a satisfaction with life scale in a sample of 13,220 Mexican adults 50 years of age or older from the 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study. The scale's reliability (internal consistency) was analysed using Cronbach's alpha and inter-item correlations. An exploratory factor analysis was also performed. Known-groups validity was evaluated comparing good-health and bad-health participants. Comorbidity, perceived financial situation, self-reported general health, depression symptoms, and social support were included to evaluate the validity between these measures and the total score of the scale using Spearman's correlations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of the scale's reliability showed good internal consistency (α = 0.74). The exploratory factor analysis confirmed the existence of a unique factor structure that explained 54% of the variance. SWLS was related to depression, perceived health, financial situation, and social support, and these relations were all statistically significant (P < .01). There was significant difference in life satisfaction between the good- and bad-health groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results show good internal consistency and construct validity of the SWLS. These results are comparable with results from previous studies. Meeting the study's objective to validate the scale, the results show that the Spanish version of the SWLS is a reliable and valid measure of satisfaction with life in the Mexican context.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Geriatrics, National Institutes of Health, Mexico, Periférico Sur 2767; San Jerónimo Lidice, México City, 10200, Mexico. mariana.lopez@salud.gob.mx.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Ortega
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Geriatrics, National Institutes of Health, Mexico, Periférico Sur 2767; San Jerónimo Lidice, México City, 10200, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres-Castro
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Geriatrics, National Institutes of Health, Mexico, Periférico Sur 2767; San Jerónimo Lidice, México City, 10200, Mexico.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rosas-Carrasco
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014177:Translations
keywords: Adults; Mexico; Psychometric properties; Satisfaction with life