Does the Spanish version of the SWLS measure the same in Spain and Peru?

Patricia Sancho; Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez; José Ventura-León; José M Tomás; Mario Reyes-Bossio

doi:10.1016/j.regg.2019.04.003

Does the Spanish version of the SWLS measure the same in Spain and Peru?

Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol. 2019 Nov-Dec;54(6):329-333. doi: 10.1016/j.regg.2019.04.003. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Authors

Patricia Sancho¹, Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez², José Ventura-León², José M Tomás³, Mario Reyes-Bossio⁴

Affiliations

¹ Developmental and Educational Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: patricia.sancho@uv.es.
² Psychology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Private University of the North, Trujillo, Peru.
³ Behavioral Sciences Methodology Department, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
⁴ Psychology Department, Faculty of Psychology, Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, Lima, Peru.

PMID: 31303343
DOI: 10.1016/j.regg.2019.04.003

Abstract

Aim: Satisfaction with life is a measure of protection in older adults. There lies the importance of providing quality instruments. The aim of the study was to evaluate the invariance of the life satisfaction scale (SWLS) in two samples of older adults in Spain and Peru.

Method: The participants were 857 older adults in Spain (mean age=68.23 years, SD=5.93) and 336 older adults in Peru (average age=72.42, SD=7.07). All multi-group confirmatory factor analyzes were estimated in Mplus 8.0.

Results: The results indicate the presence of a strict invariance of the one-dimensional structure of the SWLS in samples of older adults in Spain and Peru, which allows for meaningful comparisons of latent means and covariances. Comparison of latent means showed small differences in the construct between the cultural groups.

Conclusions: The SWLS is a valid instrument for intercultural comparisons between Spanish and Peruvian population. The measurement invariance assessment contributes to a better understanding of life satisfaction in populations from different cultural contexts.

Keywords: Adultos mayores; Calidad de vida; Evaluación de la invarianza; Life satisfaction; Measurement invariance; Older adults; Quality of life; Satisfacción de vida.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Cultural Comparison*
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Humans
Language*
Male
Marital Status
Middle Aged
Personal Satisfaction*
Peru
Quality of Life / psychology*
Sex Factors
Spain