The study examined whether the Subjective Happiness Scale or Satisfaction with Life Scale better predicts facets of social orientation. Across 6 studies with over 1,000 participants, subjective happiness was found to be more strongly correlated with measures of extraversion, agreeableness, social anxiety, preference for solitude, and social curiosity than satisfaction with life. A meta-analysis of the first 5 studies showed the relationship between social orientation measures and satisfaction with life was attributable to subjective happiness. The findings suggest the scales differentially predict social orientation, with subjective happiness being a better predictor.

1. Social Orientation Predicted by Subjective Happiness more than Satisfaction with Life
Robert Evans, Evan Hunter, & Harry Wallace
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, SPSP 2015
INTRODUCTION
Despite clear conceptual differences between the Subjective
Happiness Scale and the Satisfaction with life Scale, few noteworthy
differences in what these scales predict have emerged in studies that
have used both measures. In light of the high correlation between
these scales, one might conclude that they are essentially
interchangeable. However, the present research demonstrates that
these scales are not equivalent for predicting certain facets of social
orientation. Specifically, subjective happiness appears to be more
relevant to social orientation than satisfaction with life.
Our initial recognition of social orientation differences between
subjective happiness and satisfaction with life was serendipitous.
After noticing the pattern in one study that included measures of
subjective happiness, satisfaction with life, extraversion, and
agreeability, we analyzed other datasets we had previously collected
and found the same relationships (Studies 1-5, as described here).
Study 6 was designed to test whether the pattern extended to an
expanded set of measures of social orientation.
CONCLUSIONS & DISCUSSION
 Meta-Analysis of Studies 1-5:
The positive correlation between the Satisfaction
with Life Scale and measures of extraversion and
agreeableness was attributable to subjective
happiness
 Study 6:
The observed relationship between social
orientation and happiness measures in Studies 1-5
extends to measures of social anxiety and preference
for solitude
This relationship did not extend to social curiosity,
which is more closely related to openness to
experience than agreeableness or extraversion
 Implications and Future Directions:
 Findings highlight a previously undetected element
of differentiation between the Subjective Happiness
and Satisfaction with Life Scales
 Additional research is needed to test possible
theoretical explanations for the present findings (e.g.,
does the contentment implied by life satisfaction make
relationships less of a priority?)
METHOD
Participants:
 N = 847 for studies 1-5:
 Studies 1-3 recruited from Trinity University (n = 438)
 Remaining two studies utilized MTURK program (n = 409)
 N = 188 for Study 6 (all recruited through MTURK)
Scales of Measurement used in Studies 1-5
 Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999)
 Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1995)
 Extraversion and agreeableness portions of the Ten-Item Personality
Inventory (Gosling et al., 2003)
Scales of Measurement used in Study 6
 Subjective Happiness & Satisfaction with Life Scales
 Expanded measures of extraversion and agreeableness (Benet-
Martinez & John, 1998)
 Social anxiety subscale from Self-consciousness Scale (Scheier &
Carver, 1985)
 Preference for Solitude Scale (Burger, 1995)
 Modified version of the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory
(Kashdan et al., 2009)
MEDIATION ANALYSES
(STUDY 6)
Stats = correlation coefficients
* Denotes significance at .05 level
Subjective
Happiness:
Zero-Order
Subjective
Happiness: Partial
(controlling for
Satisfaction with
Life)
Satisfaction with
Life: Zero-Order
Satisfaction with
Life: Partial
(controlling for
Subjective
Happiness)
Extraversion .54* .39* .42* .02
Agreeableness .36* .20* .31* .07
Social Anxiety -.45* -.31* -.36* -.02
Preference for Solitude -.40* -.23* -.35* -.07
Social Curiosity .38* .19* .37* .17
MEDIATION ANALYSES (META-ANALYSIS OF STUDIES 1-5)
EXTRAVERSION
AGREEABLENESS
Subjective
Happiness
Satisfaction
with Life
Extraversion
Partial r = .35*
r = .42* Satisfaction
with Life
Subjective
Happiness
Extraversion
r = .25*
Partial r = -.02
Satisfaction
with Life
Agreeableness
Partial r = .27*
r = .33* Satisfaction
with Life
Subjective
Happiness
Agreeablenessr = .22*
Partial r = -.02
Subjective
Happiness
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