Preliminary Evidence for the Reliability and Validity of Two Brief Measures of Life Satisfaction with Italian Children

The main aim of our study was to develop Italian versions of the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) and of the Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS). We assessed aspects of the reliability and validity of the self-report measures among primary-school children. A sample of 156 Italian primary-school children (Mage = 9.59, SD = 1.00) was administered self-report measures of life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Moreover, teachers reported on students’ emotional symptoms, peer problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention and prosocial behaviour. The expected one-factor model was confirmed for both the SLSS and the BMSLSS. The SLSS and the BMSLSS total scores were intercorrelated (r = .58, p < .001), and the two scales showed Cronbach’s α values of .77 and .70, respectively. The SLSS and the BMSLSS total scores correlated significantly and meaningfully with measures of prosocial behaviour and peer problems. Finally, the SLSS (but not the BMLSS) total score was associated with a hyperactivity measure (r = −.24, p = .003). Moreover, both the SLSS and BMLSS total life satisfaction scores significantly and moderately related to a measure of depressive symptoms. Finally, as evidence of discriminant validity, the scores on most of the anxiety measures related significantly to scores on both life satisfaction measures, but to a lesser extent than the scores on the depressive symptom measure. Our research adds to the growing literature addressing life satisfaction among Italian children. The results provide preliminary evidence for the use of the SLSS and the BMSLSS with Italian primary-school children.