Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale - Short Version

The MSLSS survey consists of 40 items designed to assess children's life satisfaction across five key domains: Family, Friends, School, Living Environment, and Self. Each item presents a statement about various aspects of the student's life within these domains. Students rate their agreement with each statement using a 4-point scale: Never = 1, Sometimes = 2, Often = 3, Almost Always = 4. Some items are reverse-scored, meaning that higher scores indicate lower satisfaction.

Additionally, an alternative 6-point agreement scale can be used: Strongly Disagree = 1, Moderately Disagree = 2, Mildly Disagree = 3, Mildly Agree = 4, Moderately Agree = 5, Strongly Agree = 6.

‍

The scoring of the MSLSS survey provides a detailed profile of students' life satisfaction across multiple dimensions. By calculating scores within each domain (Family, Friends, School, Living Environment, and Self), schools can gain insights into which areas contribute positively to students' life satisfaction and where there may be areas of concern or dissatisfaction. These scores offer a holistic view of students' overall wellbeing beyond just academic performance.

The MSLSS survey results offer valuable insights that schools can utilise in various ways:

• Focused Interventions: Schools can identify specific domains where students are reporting lower satisfaction, such as School or Living Environment, and develop targeted interventions to address these concerns.
• Student Support: Results can guide schools in offering individualised support to students. For instance, if a student scores low in the "Friends" domain, the school might consider implementing social skills workshops or peer support programmes.
• Programme Enhancement: Schools can evaluate existing programmes based on student feedback. Positive scores in certain domains can validate the effectiveness of initiatives, while low scores might indicate areas for programme enhancement.
• Policy Decisions: Schools can make informed policy decisions by considering areas of high and low satisfaction. For example, if the "School" domain receives consistently low scores, it might prompt discussions about changes in the learning environment or teaching practices.

‍

The MSLSS survey offers several advantages for schools:

• Holistic Wellbeing: It provides a comprehensive view of students' wellbeing beyond academic achievements, fostering a holistic approach to education that nurtures their emotional and social development.
• Informed Decision-Making: Schools can base their strategies, interventions, and policies on concrete data rather than assumptions. This data-driven approach increases the likelihood of successful outcomes.
• Customised Support: The survey results enable schools to tailor support programmes to the unique needs of their student population, resulting in more effective and impactful interventions.
• Measurable Impact: Schools can track changes in domain scores over time to gauge the impact of their efforts on students' life satisfaction and wellbeing.

‍

The completion time for the MSLSS survey may vary based on individual reading speed and thoughtful consideration of responses. On average, it takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.