Validation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in Japan: A Large Sample Study

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of life satisfaction. Across four high-powered samples (total N = 14,913; age 18-79 years), we examined the construct validity of the Japanese version of the SWLS. The SWLS formed a single factor, with a mean score of 17.52. The SWLS achieved full strict measurement invariance across gender, age, and regional groups, while the scale showed partial strict measurement invariance across translated versions. Internal consistency coefficients of the SWLS were .90 or higher, and six-week test-retest reliability coefficients of the scale were .80 or higher. SWLS scores were strongly correlated with neuroticism, self-esteem, and spouse-report SWLS scores, moderately correlated with extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness, and weakly correlated with agreeableness (rs = .19-.59). Our findings not only increase confidence in previous work using the measure but also encourage further research on Japanese life satisfaction.