Development and validation of a life satisfaction scale for Chinese elders

This study reports the development and validation of a culturally sensitive, domain-specific measure of life satisfaction for Chinese Elders - The Life Satisfaction Scale - Chinese (LSS-C). The LSS-C was administered to 1,502 randomly-selected older Chinese persons in three newly developed towns in Mainland China. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a conceptually meaningful two-factor model - one of instrumental needs of daily life and one of social and relational needs. Criterion-related validity was satisfactory when positively correlated with a single-item global life satisfaction measure and the Life Satisfaction Index A, and negatively correlated with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The reliability of the eightitem scale was satisfactory, with the internal consistency coefficient equal to .78 and the split half coefficient equal to .81. LSS-C was direct and easy to administer, and it is recommended for use on Chinese elders. © 2008, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex