APA Dictionary of Psychology

a five-item self-report measure developed to assess subjective well-being. It consists of global statements (e.g., “In most ways my life is close to my ideal”) rated on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The range of possible scores is 5 to 35, with higher scores signifying greater life satisfaction. [developed in 1985 by U.S. psychologist Edward F. Diener (1946–  ) and colleagues]