The Subjective Well-Being Construct: A Test of Its Convergent, Discriminant, and Factorial Validity

• Published in: Social indicators research Vol. 74; no. 3; pp. 445 - 476
• Main Authors: Arthaud-Day, Marne L., Rode, Joseph C., Mooney, Christine H., Near, Janet P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-12-2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Affective Behavior; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive models; Cognitive Processes; Construct Validity; Data sampling; Discriminant Validity; Discriminants; Emotions; Empirical tests; Error of Measurement; Factor analysis; Factor Structure; General studies; Happiness; History, theory and methodology; Information Processing; Job Satisfaction; Life Satisfaction; Measurement Techniques; Methodology; Modeling; Personality psychology; Psychological Patterns; Psychometrics; Research methods; Researchers; Resistance (Psychology); Social Indicators; Social psychology; Social research; Sociology; Structural analysis; Structural equation modeling; Structural Equation Models; Studies; Subjectivity; Validity; Welfare economics; Well Being; Wellbeing; Validity; Happiness; Well-being; Methodology; Affectivity; Self evaluation; Satisfaction; Subjectivity; Psychometrics; Cognitive psychology
• ISSN: 0303-8300; 1573-0921
• DOI: 10.1007/s11205-004-8209-6

Using structural equation modeling, we found empirical support for the prevailing theory that subjective well-being consists of three domains: (1) cognitive evaluations of one's life (i.e., life satisfaction or happiness); (2) positive affect; and (3) negative affect. Multiple indicators of satisfaction/happiness were shown to have strong convergent validity as well as discriminant validity from positive and negative affect. Positive and negative affect likewise exhibited discriminant validity from one another. At both the item and scale levels of analysis, we obtained an intercorrelated three-factor solution corresponding to the three proposed subjective well-being domains.