Scale Overview
The Components of Satisfaction Scale was developed by Hadley Cantril (1965). It is designed to measure Subjective Well-Being. The scale is intended for use with General adult population.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 9 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Self-Evaluation and Control, Life Circumstances and Freedom, Vulnerability and Stress.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Self-Evaluation and Control |
2,3,4,7 |
4 |
| Life Circumstances and Freedom |
1,5,6 |
3 |
| Vulnerability and Stress |
8,9 |
2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = 1 (Bottom of the ladder), 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = 7, 8 = 8, 9 = 9, 10 = 10 (Top of the ladder).
The scale includes 2 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 1 to 10. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Satisfaction / High Distress: 1 – 4
- Moderate Satisfaction: 5 – 7
- High Satisfaction / Low Distress: 8 – 10
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not reported in the source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.