Examining the measurement invariance of the satisfaction with life scale across different age groups

Hatice Kumandas Ozturk

Artvin Coruh University, Faculty of Education, Artvin, Turkey.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3636-3690

Esra Calik Var

Ankara Yildirım Beyazit University, Department of Social Work, Ankara, Turkey.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6025-0576

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20448/edu.v10i2.5756

Keywords: Configural invariance, Measurement invariance in different age groups, Metric invariance, Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis, Satisfaction with life scale, Scalar invariance, Strict invariance.


Abstract

Measurement invariance allows for the comparison and interpretation of scores obtained from the same scales at different times. In this respect, the purpose of this research is to examine the measurement invariance of the satisfaction with life scale applied to different age groups. The study employs the survey model, a type of quantitative research. The purposive sampling method was used in the research. This method is one of the non-random sampling types. This method collected data from 120 individuals under the age of 25 and 120 individuals over the age of 60 who resided in Ankara. The collected data were divided into two groups according to age: young and old. Measurement invariance was examined in four separate stages by performing Multiple Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis. These are configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance. The data were examined to determine the configural, metric, and scalar invariance across different age groups by using multiple group confirmatory factor analysis. As a result, configural (χ²/df=0.84;p>0.05), metric (χ²/df=1.26; p>0.01), scalar (χ²/df=1.38;p>0.05), and strict (χ²/df=1.43;p>0.05) invariance are provided that the satisfaction with life scale has invariance properties for two different age levels. This research's application of the satisfaction with life scale scores to various age groups demonstrates measurement invariance and yields results with a similar structure.

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