Measuring Life Satisfaction in Algeria: Psychometric Validation and Measurement Invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) [Data, Code, and Documentation]

Though widely recognized globally as a tool for assessing life satisfaction, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) has yet to be thoroughly evaluated in Algeria, leaving its psychometric properties in this context largely unexamined. This study aimed to validate the SWLS among 891 Algerian adults. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability tests, and measurement invariance analysis, we evaluated the SWLS’s psychometric properties. Results confirmed the SWLS’s unidimensional structure with excellent fit (χ²(5) = 13.202, CFI = .998, TLI = 0.996; RMSEA = .046, SRMR = .013). Strong internal consistency supported high reliability (ωₜ = .89; α = .83), while significant associations with the Flourishing Scale evidenced convergent validity. Full configural, metric, and scalar invariance was established across gender and employment groups, ensuring the scale’s equivalence across demographics. These findings affirm the SWLS as a reliable and valid measure of life satisfaction in Algeria, supporting its application in research and practice and advancing the understanding of well-being in diverse cultural contexts.