A facet theory approach to examining overall and life facet satisfaction relationships

Multiple Discrepancies Theory - MDT - (Michalos, 1985) has been established as a leading theory of life satisfaction, on the basis of which numerous studies on satisfaction have been designed. Previous research examining overall and life facet satisfaction relationships combined various approaches to understanding the interrelationships between the variables by which individuals measure their satisfaction in life. Recently, Lance, Mallard and Michalos (1995) extended the scope of study by examining the theoretical relationship between overall life satisfaction (OLS) and satisfaction in various life facets (life facet satisfaction - LFS) among 1,354 US college students. The present study extends MDT one step further by applying a Facet Theory (FT) statistical approach to our understanding of the same set of data. In this way a holistic model emerges, presenting not only the relationship between OLS and LFS, but also the interrelationships between and among each and every facet. Results of this analysis are presented through the correlation matrix and Smallest Space Analysis (SSA) diagrams. These results are compared to Levy and Guttman's (1975) figures in their study on the structure of well-being; although the two studies examined different populations and asked different questions, the final structural organization of the data is strikingly similar.