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Quality of Life Research

Erschienen in:

01.08.2007 | Original Paper

Life satisfaction decreases during adolescence

verfasst von: Lutz Goldbeck, Tim G. Schmitz, Tanja Besier, Peter Herschbach, Gerhard Henrich

Erschienen in: Quality of Life Research | Ausgabe 6/2007

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Abstract

Objective

Adolescence is a developmental phase associated with significant somatic and psychosocial changes. So far there are few studies on developmental aspects of life satisfaction. This cross-sectional study examines the effects of age and gender on adolescent’s life satisfaction.

Methods

1,274 German adolescents (aged 11–16 years) participated in a school-based survey study. They completed the adolescent version of the Questions on Life Satisfaction (FLZ^M - Fragen zur Lebenszufriedenheit), a multidimensional instrument measuring the subjective importance and satisfaction with eight domains of general and eight domains of health-related life satisfaction. Effects of gender and age were analysed using ANOVAs.

Results

Girls reported significantly lower general (F = 5.0; p = .025) and health-related life satisfaction (F = 25.3; p < .001) compared to boys. In both genders and across nearly all life domains, there was a significant decrease in general (F = 14.8; p < .001) and health-related life satisfaction (F = 8.0; p < .001) between 11 and 16 years. Satisfaction with friends remained on a high level, whereas satisfaction with family relations decreased. Only satisfaction with partnership/sexuality increased slightly, however this effect cannot compensate the general loss of satisfaction.

Conclusions

Decreasing life satisfaction has to be considered as a developmental phenomenon. Associations with the increasing prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation during adolescence are discussed. Life satisfaction should be considered a relevant aspect of adolescent’s well-being and functioning.

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Titel: Life satisfaction decreases during adolescence
verfasst von: Lutz Goldbeck
Tim G. Schmitz
Tanja Besier
Peter Herschbach
Gerhard Henrich
Publikationsdatum: 01.08.2007
Verlag: Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in: Quality of Life Research / Ausgabe 6/2007
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9205-5

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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