PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SATISFACTION WITH THE LIFE OF THE ELDERLY: CONTRIBUTION TO THE VALIDATION OF SATISFACTION WITH LIFE SCALE (SWLS) IN THE PORTUGUESE POPULATION

Abstract

Raul Antunes, Nuno Couto, Anabela Vitorino, Diogo Monteiro, João Moutão, Daniel Marinho, Luis Cid

The concept of satisfaction with life is about the process of cognitive judgment that someone does in every moment of life. The main goal of this study consists on the validation of the measurement model by Satisfaction With Life Scale, translated to Portuguese) for a sample of Portuguese elderly (n=311), older than 60 years old (M = 68.53; DP = 6.69) that practice physical activity, using a confirmatory factor analysis. About the results, we can conclude that the measurement model of the Portuguese version of Satisfaction with Life Scale (one factor/five items) has qualities to evaluate the satisfaction with life in Portuguese elderly. It was also concluded elderly who practice more physical activity perceive higher levels of satisfaction with life