levensvoldoening

Levansvoldoening is the cognitive evaluation of one’s life as a whole. It is a central component of subjectief welzijn and refers to the overall judgment of life quality, as opposed to momentary moods or specific life domains. Levensvoldoening captures a person’s sense that their life meets personally chosen standards and goals.

Measurement of levensvoldoening is commonly based on the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) developed by Diener and colleagues. The SWLS consists of five statements rated on a seven-point scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Scores typically range from 5 to 35, with higher scores indicating greater life satisfaction. Other instruments exist, but the SWLS remains the most widely used standard in research.

Levensvoldoening is part of the broader concept of subjectief welzijn, which also includes affective components such as positive and negative emotions. It represents a global, reflective assessment rather than day-to-day feelings, and can remain relatively stable over time while still being influenced by significant life events and changes in circumstances.

Determinants of levensvoldoening are multifaceted. Health, income, education, employment, social relationships, and housing conditions all correlate with life satisfaction. Personality traits, such as extraversion and emotional stability, also play a role. Although it tends to show a degree of stability, levensvoldoening can shift in response to major life changes, adaptation processes, and cultural context.

In research and policy, levensvoldoening is used to monitor well-being trends and to assess the impact of programs on quality of life. Cross-cultural studies emphasize the need for translation accuracy and measurement invariance to allow valid comparisons across populations.