QuestionLink Version: beta_1 Document creation: 2022-12-07

Construct: General Life Satisfaction

For information on the construct and the selection criteria for instruments, see the general life satisfaction construct page. For more information on how the recoding information was generated, see the QuestionLink homepage.

Reference instrument: ESS 11pt

All other general life satisfaction instruments are recoded into the numerical format of the reference instrument ESS 11pt.

In the following, we provide equating information with which scores from several source instruments can be transformed into scores in the format of the ESS 11pt target instrument.

Reference instrument information:

Wording:

Wie zufrieden sind Sie - alles in allem - mit Ihrem gegenwärtigen Leben?
(All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole nowadays?)

Original score Response options English translations
0 0 äußerst unzufrieden 0 Extremely dissatisfied
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
10 10 äußerst zufrieden 10 Extremely satisfied
ESS 11pt usage by surveys and years (click to reveal)
Survey #Years Years in detail
ESS 9 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
GPANEL 7 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

( i ) This table pertains to the surveys and years included in QuestionLink. The instrument may have been used in other surveys as well.

Recode SOEP 11pt

(Click the tabs below for the recoding syntax and table, source instrument information, or equating information.)

Recoding syntax

( i ) Replace “SOURCE_VARIABLE” with the variable containing the untransformed SOEP 11pt scores and “TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE” with the desired new variable name.

R code (tidyverse — dplyr)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE = recode(SOURCE_VARIABLE, `0` = -0.22, `1` = 0.3, `2` = 1.04, `3` = 2.19, `4` = 3.11, `5` = 4.61, `6` = 5.62, `7` = 6.86, `8` = 8.01, `9` = 9.1, `10` = 10.07)

R code (base)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE <- c(`0` = -0.22, `1` = 0.3, `2` = 1.04, `3` = 2.19, `4` = 3.11, `5` = 4.61, `6` = 5.62, `7` = 6.86, `8` = 8.01, `9` = 9.1, `10` = 10.07)[SOURCE_VARIABLE]

Stata code

recode SOURCE_VARIABLE 0=-0.22 1=0.3 2=1.04 3=2.19 4=3.11 5=4.61 6=5.62 7=6.86 8=8.01 9=9.1 10=10.07, gen(TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE)

SPSS code

RECODE SOURCE_VARIABLE (0=-0.22) (1=0.3) (2=1.04) (3=2.19) (4=3.11) (5=4.61) (6=5.62) (7=6.86) (8=8.01) (9=9.1) (10=10.07) INTO TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE

Recoding table for manual recoding (click to reveal)
SOEP 11pt scores ESS 11pt equivalents
0 -0.22
1 0.30
2 1.04
3 2.19
4 3.11
5 4.61
6 5.62
7 6.86
8 8.01
9 9.10
10 10.07

Instrument information

SOEP 11pt Instrument information
Wording:

Wie zufrieden sind Sie gegenwärtig, alles in allem, mit Ihrem Leben?
(How satisfied are you with your life, all things considered?)

Original score Response options English translations
0 0 ganz und gar unzufrieden 0 Completly dissatisfied
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
10 10 ganz und gar zufrieden 10 completly satisfied

SOEP 11pt usage by surveys and years
Survey #Years Years in detail
ALLBUS 5 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
GPANEL 2 2015, 2016
NEPS 10 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
SOEP 36 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

( i ) This table pertains to the surveys and years included in QuestionLink. The instrument may have been used in other surveys as well.

Equating information

( i ) The plot shows how the recoded scores of SOEP 11pt relate to the response scale of the ESS 11pt reference instrument.
The values in parentheses on the left are the original values of SOEP 11pt.

Equating links used to calculate the recoding table (click to reveal)

QuestionLink uses all available opportunities to link the two instruments. All those links then form the joint basis of the final recoding table. The table below shows the number of direct links (data for both instrument in the same year), time relaxation links (data from adjacent years), and links via relay (equating via another instrument in between to bridge larger time gaps).

Link type Number of equatings
directly 12
time relaxation 24
via relay 51


Recode EVS 10pt

(Click the tabs below for the recoding syntax and table, source instrument information, or equating information.)

Recoding syntax

( i ) Replace “SOURCE_VARIABLE” with the variable containing the untransformed EVS 10pt scores and “TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE” with the desired new variable name.

R code (tidyverse — dplyr)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE = recode(SOURCE_VARIABLE, `1` = -0.11, `2` = 0.98, `3` = 2.26, `4` = 3.23, `5` = 4.56, `6` = 5.33, `7` = 6.65, `8` = 7.85, `9` = 8.9, `10` = 10.01)

R code (base)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE <- c(`1` = -0.11, `2` = 0.98, `3` = 2.26, `4` = 3.23, `5` = 4.56, `6` = 5.33, `7` = 6.65, `8` = 7.85, `9` = 8.9, `10` = 10.01)[SOURCE_VARIABLE]

Stata code

recode SOURCE_VARIABLE 1=-0.11 2=0.98 3=2.26 4=3.23 5=4.56 6=5.33 7=6.65 8=7.85 9=8.9 10=10.01, gen(TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE)

SPSS code

RECODE SOURCE_VARIABLE (1=-0.11) (2=0.98) (3=2.26) (4=3.23) (5=4.56) (6=5.33) (7=6.65) (8=7.85) (9=8.9) (10=10.01) INTO TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE

Recoding table for manual recoding (click to reveal)
EVS 10pt scores ESS 11pt equivalents
1 -0.11
2 0.98
3 2.26
4 3.23
5 4.56
6 5.33
7 6.65
8 7.85
9 8.90
10 10.01

Instrument information

EVS 10pt Instrument information
Wording:

Wenn Sie einmal alles in allem nehmen: Wie zufrieden sind Sie insgesamt zurzeit mit Ihrem Leben?
(All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?)

Original score Response options English translations
1 1 Überhaupt nicht zufrieden 1 Dissatisfied
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
10 10 Völlig zufrieden 10 Satisfied

EVS 10pt usage by surveys and years
Survey #Years Years in detail
EVS 5 1981, 1990, 1999, 2008, 2017

( i ) This table pertains to the surveys and years included in QuestionLink. The instrument may have been used in other surveys as well.

Equating information

( i ) The plot shows how the recoded scores of EVS 10pt relate to the response scale of the ESS 11pt reference instrument.
The values in parentheses on the left are the original values of EVS 10pt.

Equating links used to calculate the recoding table (click to reveal)

QuestionLink uses all available opportunities to link the two instruments. All those links then form the joint basis of the final recoding table. The table below shows the number of direct links (data for both instrument in the same year), time relaxation links (data from adjacent years), and links via relay (equating via another instrument in between to bridge larger time gaps).

Link type Number of equatings
directly 2
time relaxation 2
via relay 397


Recode GEDA 11pt

(Click the tabs below for the recoding syntax and table, source instrument information, or equating information.)

Recoding syntax

( i ) Replace “SOURCE_VARIABLE” with the variable containing the untransformed GEDA 11pt scores and “TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE” with the desired new variable name.

R code (tidyverse — dplyr)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE = recode(SOURCE_VARIABLE, `0` = -0.23, `1` = 0.46, `2` = 1.7, `3` = 2.66, `4` = 3.43, `5` = 4.66, `6` = 5.75, `7` = 6.98, `8` = 8.11, `9` = 9.28, `10` = 10.16)

R code (base)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE <- c(`0` = -0.23, `1` = 0.46, `2` = 1.7, `3` = 2.66, `4` = 3.43, `5` = 4.66, `6` = 5.75, `7` = 6.98, `8` = 8.11, `9` = 9.28, `10` = 10.16)[SOURCE_VARIABLE]

Stata code

recode SOURCE_VARIABLE 0=-0.23 1=0.46 2=1.7 3=2.66 4=3.43 5=4.66 6=5.75 7=6.98 8=8.11 9=9.28 10=10.16, gen(TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE)

SPSS code

RECODE SOURCE_VARIABLE (0=-0.23) (1=0.46) (2=1.7) (3=2.66) (4=3.43) (5=4.66) (6=5.75) (7=6.98) (8=8.11) (9=9.28) (10=10.16) INTO TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE

Recoding table for manual recoding (click to reveal)
GEDA 11pt scores ESS 11pt equivalents
0 -0.23
1 0.46
2 1.70
3 2.66
4 3.43
5 4.66
6 5.75
7 6.98
8 8.11
9 9.28
10 10.16

Instrument information

GEDA 11pt Instrument information
Wording:

Ganz allgemein gefragt, wie zufrieden sind Sie mit Ihrem Leben insgesamt?
(How satisfied are you with your life, all things considered?)

Original score Response options English translations
0 0 Überhaupt nicht zufrieden 0 Completly dissatisfied
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
10 10 Vollkommen zufrieden 10 completly satisfied

GEDA 11pt usage by surveys and years
Survey #Years Years in detail
GEDA 2 2014, 2015

( i ) This table pertains to the surveys and years included in QuestionLink. The instrument may have been used in other surveys as well.

Equating information

( i ) The plot shows how the recoded scores of GEDA 11pt relate to the response scale of the ESS 11pt reference instrument.
The values in parentheses on the left are the original values of GEDA 11pt.

Equating links used to calculate the recoding table (click to reveal)

QuestionLink uses all available opportunities to link the two instruments. All those links then form the joint basis of the final recoding table. The table below shows the number of direct links (data for both instrument in the same year), time relaxation links (data from adjacent years), and links via relay (equating via another instrument in between to bridge larger time gaps).

Link type Number of equatings
directly 2
time relaxation 3
via relay 172


Recode GPANEL 5pt

(Click the tabs below for the recoding syntax and table, source instrument information, or equating information.)

Recoding syntax

( i ) Replace “SOURCE_VARIABLE” with the variable containing the untransformed GPANEL 5pt scores and “TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE” with the desired new variable name.

( ! ) The response scale direction of GPANEL 5pt is inverted compared to that of the reference instrument ESS 11pt. Recoding will flip the direction of the response scale so that the interpretation of lower and higher values matches the reference instrument’s.

R code (tidyverse — dplyr)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE = recode(SOURCE_VARIABLE, `1` = 9.28, `2` = 7.66, `3` = 5.18, `4` = 3.21, `5` = 0.27)

R code (base)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE <- c(`1` = 9.28, `2` = 7.66, `3` = 5.18, `4` = 3.21, `5` = 0.27)[SOURCE_VARIABLE]

Stata code

recode SOURCE_VARIABLE 1=9.28 2=7.66 3=5.18 4=3.21 5=0.27, gen(TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE)

SPSS code

RECODE SOURCE_VARIABLE (1=9.28) (2=7.66) (3=5.18) (4=3.21) (5=0.27) INTO TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE

Recoding table for manual recoding (click to reveal)
GPANEL 5pt scores ESS 11pt equivalents
1 9.28
2 7.66
3 5.18
4 3.21
5 0.27

Instrument information

GPANEL 5pt Instrument information
Wording:

Denken Sie jetzt einmal an Ihre persönliche Situation: Wie zufrieden sind Sie gegenwärtig, alles in allem, mit Ihrem Leben?
(Now think of your personal situation: How satisfied are you - all in all - with your life at the moment?)

Original score Response options English translations
1 Sehr zufrieden Very satisfied
2 Eher zufrieden Rather satisfied
3 Weder zufrieden noch unzufrieden Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied
4 Eher unzufrieden Rather dissatisfied
5 Sehr unzufrieden Very dissatisfied

GPANEL 5pt usage by surveys and years
Survey #Years Years in detail
GPANEL 1 2013

( i ) This table pertains to the surveys and years included in QuestionLink. The instrument may have been used in other surveys as well.

Equating information

( i ) The plot shows how the recoded scores of GPANEL 5pt relate to the response scale of the ESS 11pt reference instrument.
The values in parentheses on the left are the original values of GPANEL 5pt.

Equating links used to calculate the recoding table (click to reveal)

QuestionLink uses all available opportunities to link the two instruments. All those links then form the joint basis of the final recoding table. The table below shows the number of direct links (data for both instrument in the same year), time relaxation links (data from adjacent years), and links via relay (equating via another instrument in between to bridge larger time gaps).

Link type Number of equatings
time relaxation 2
via relay 93


Recode GPANEL 7pt

(Click the tabs below for the recoding syntax and table, source instrument information, or equating information.)

Recoding syntax

( i ) Replace “SOURCE_VARIABLE” with the variable containing the untransformed GPANEL 7pt scores and “TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE” with the desired new variable name.

R code (tidyverse — dplyr)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE = recode(SOURCE_VARIABLE, `1` = 0.59, `2` = 2.44, `3` = 3.98, `4` = 6.49, `5` = 7.8, `6` = 8.96, `7` = 10.19)

R code (base)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE <- c(`1` = 0.59, `2` = 2.44, `3` = 3.98, `4` = 6.49, `5` = 7.8, `6` = 8.96, `7` = 10.19)[SOURCE_VARIABLE]

Stata code

recode SOURCE_VARIABLE 1=0.59 2=2.44 3=3.98 4=6.49 5=7.8 6=8.96 7=10.19, gen(TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE)

SPSS code

RECODE SOURCE_VARIABLE (1=0.59) (2=2.44) (3=3.98) (4=6.49) (5=7.8) (6=8.96) (7=10.19) INTO TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE

Recoding table for manual recoding (click to reveal)
GPANEL 7pt scores ESS 11pt equivalents
1 0.59
2 2.44
3 3.98
4 6.49
5 7.80
6 8.96
7 10.19

Instrument information

GPANEL 7pt Instrument information
Wording:

Inwieweit stimmen Sie den folgenden drei Aussagen im Allgemeinen zu? Ich bin mit meinem Leben zufrieden
(To what extent do you generally agree with the following three statements? I’m happy with my life.)

Original score Response options English translations
1 Trifft überhaupt nicht zu Does not apply at all
2 Trifft nicht zu Does not apply
3 Trifft eher nicht zu Rather not applies
4 Teils/teils Partly
5 Trifft eher zu Does somewhat apply
6 Trifft zu Does apply
7 Trifft vollständig zu Fully applies

GPANEL 7pt usage by surveys and years
Survey #Years Years in detail
GPANEL 1 2018

( i ) This table pertains to the surveys and years included in QuestionLink. The instrument may have been used in other surveys as well.

Equating information

( i ) The plot shows how the recoded scores of GPANEL 7pt relate to the response scale of the ESS 11pt reference instrument.
The values in parentheses on the left are the original values of GPANEL 7pt.

Equating links used to calculate the recoding table (click to reveal)

QuestionLink uses all available opportunities to link the two instruments. All those links then form the joint basis of the final recoding table. The table below shows the number of direct links (data for both instrument in the same year), time relaxation links (data from adjacent years), and links via relay (equating via another instrument in between to bridge larger time gaps).

Link type Number of equatings
directly 1
time relaxation 2
via relay 87


Recode ISSP 7pt

(Click the tabs below for the recoding syntax and table, source instrument information, or equating information.)

Recoding syntax

( i ) Replace “SOURCE_VARIABLE” with the variable containing the untransformed ISSP 7pt scores and “TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE” with the desired new variable name.

( ! ) The response scale direction of ISSP 7pt is inverted compared to that of the reference instrument ESS 11pt. Recoding will flip the direction of the response scale so that the interpretation of lower and higher values matches the reference instrument’s.

R code (tidyverse — dplyr)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE = recode(SOURCE_VARIABLE, `1` = 10.22, `2` = 9.06, `3` = 7.49, `4` = 4.12, `5` = 2.39, `6` = 0.36, `7` = -0.32)

R code (base)

TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE <- c(`1` = 10.22, `2` = 9.06, `3` = 7.49, `4` = 4.12, `5` = 2.39, `6` = 0.36, `7` = -0.32)[SOURCE_VARIABLE]

Stata code

recode SOURCE_VARIABLE 1=10.22 2=9.06 3=7.49 4=4.12 5=2.39 6=0.36 7=-0.32, gen(TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE)

SPSS code

RECODE SOURCE_VARIABLE (1=10.22) (2=9.06) (3=7.49) (4=4.12) (5=2.39) (6=0.36) (7=-0.32) INTO TRANSFORMED_VARIABLE

Recoding table for manual recoding (click to reveal)
ISSP 7pt scores ESS 11pt equivalents
1 10.22
2 9.06
3 7.49
4 4.12
5 2.39
6 0.36
7 -0.32

Instrument information

ISSP 7pt Instrument information
Wording:

Wie zufrieden sind Sie zurzeit mit Ihrem Leben insgesamt?
(All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole nowadays?)

Original score Response options English translations
1 1 Vollkommen zufrieden Completely satisfied
2 2 Sehr zufrieden Very satisfied
3 3 Ziemlich zufrieden Fairly satisfied
4 4 Weder noch Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied
5 5 Ziemlich unzufrieden Fairly dissatisfied
6 6 Sehr unzufrieden Very dissatisfied
7 7 Vollkommen unzufrieden Completely dissatisfied

ISSP 7pt usage by surveys and years
Survey #Years Years in detail
ISSP 1 2017

( i ) This table pertains to the surveys and years included in QuestionLink. The instrument may have been used in other surveys as well.

Equating information

( i ) The plot shows how the recoded scores of ISSP 7pt relate to the response scale of the ESS 11pt reference instrument.
The values in parentheses on the left are the original values of ISSP 7pt.

Equating links used to calculate the recoding table (click to reveal)

QuestionLink uses all available opportunities to link the two instruments. All those links then form the joint basis of the final recoding table. The table below shows the number of direct links (data for both instrument in the same year), time relaxation links (data from adjacent years), and links via relay (equating via another instrument in between to bridge larger time gaps).

Link type Number of equatings
directly 1
time relaxation 2
via relay 83