Validity and reliability of the multidimensional students' life satisfaction scale with Canadian children

The aim of this study was to further assess the psychometric properties of the recently developed Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS; Huebner, 1994). The MSLSS and a global rating of life satisfaction (GLS) were administered to 314 children in grades 3 through 8. Subsamples completed a retest and the Behavior Assessment System for Children: Self-Report of Personality (BASC-SRP; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 1992). Teachers completed the BASC: Teacher Rating Scales (BASC-TRS) on a subsample and a rating of child adjustment (RCA). Results of the factor analysis supported a five-factor structure. Retest stability was acceptable for the five factors. Virtually all relationships between the MSLSS, BASC-SRP, and GLS supported the validity of the MSLSS. However, several hypothesized relationships between the MSLSS, BASC-TRS, and RCA were not supported. These results offer further evidence for the reliability and validity of the MSLSS, except for teacher-provided data.