Understanding the Structure of Subjective Well-Being: A Study with Brazilian Adults

The interest of researchers in the areas of human sciences and health in subjective well-being (SWB) is growing. However, in the Brazilian context, there is still a shortage of scientific evidence that ensures the use of a measurement instrument for assessing this construct. The present study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the measurement of SWB composed of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), by testing the different factorial models described in the literature. The sample was composed of 1896 participants (77.8% female). Through confirmatory factor analysis, the fit indices of the single-factor, three-factor correlated (positive affections, negative affections, and life satisfaction), and bifactor models were compared. The results demonstrate better fits for the correlated multifactor model and invariance of the measurement model between groups according to gender and geographic region of the country. It was concluded that the Brazilian versions of the SWLS and PANAS compose an adequate measure of SWB, corresponding to the tripartite theoretical proposal that gave rise to the construct.