Authors: Goldbeck, Lutz; Schmitz, Tim; Besier, Tanja; Herschbach, Peter; Henrich, Gerhard

Source: Quality of Life Research, Volume 16, Number 6, August 2007 , pp. 969-979(11)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Adolescence is a developmental phase associated with significant somatic and psychosocial changes. So far there are few studies on developmental aspects of life satisfaction. This cross-sectional study examines the effects of age and gender on adolescent's life satisfaction.

1,274 German adolescents (aged 11-16 years) participated in a school-based survey study. They completed the adolescent version of the Questions on Life Satisfaction (FLZ^M - Fragen zur Lebenszufriedenheit), a multidimensional instrument measuring the subjective importance and satisfaction with eight domains of general and eight domains of health-related life satisfaction. Effects of gender and age were analysed using ANOVAs.

Girls reported significantly lower general (F = 5.0; p = .025) and health-related life satisfaction (F = 25.3; p < .001) compared to boys. In both genders and across nearly all life domains, there was a significant decrease in general (F = 14.8; p < .001) and health-related life satisfaction (F = 8.0; p < .001) between 11 and 16 years. Satisfaction with friends remained on a high level, whereas satisfaction with family relations decreased. Only satisfaction with partnership/sexuality increased slightly, however this effect cannot compensate the general loss of satisfaction.

Decreasing life satisfaction has to be considered as a developmental phenomenon. Associations with the increasing prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation during adolescence are discussed. Life satisfaction should be considered a relevant aspect of adolescent's well-being and functioning.

Keywords: Adolescence; Age effects; Gender effects; Life satisfaction; Quality of life

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9205-5

Affiliations: 1: Email: lutz.goldbeck@uniklinik-ulm.de

Publication date: 2007-08-01

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