Life satisfaction and subjective well-being in urban slums of Gorakhpur, India: psychometric validation of the satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) and socio-demographic assessment

Abstract Background: Life satisfaction, a core component of subjective well-being, has not been comprehensively explored among urban slum populations. This study aimed to psychometrically assess the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and examine socio-demographic correlates of life satisfaction among adults in Gorakhpur, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 406 participants (52.5% male, 47.5% female) selected through multistage random sampling across eight urban slums in Gorakhpur. Eligible individuals were aged 18 years or above and residents of the selected slum areas. Data were collected using a pre-validated version of the SWLS and a structured socio-demographic questionnaire, administered via the EpiCollect5 through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive and comparative analyses were used to assess group differences across socio-demographic variables. Results: The SWLS showed good internal consistency ( α = 0.842) and satisfactory inter-item correlations ( r = 0.375–0.654, p < 0.01). Males reported significantly higher life satisfaction than females, particularly among married and cohabiting individuals (27.30 vs. 23.75, p = 0.001) and non-vegetarian consumers (27.28 vs. 24.25, p < 0.001). Participants from joint families showed higher satisfaction than those in nuclear households (26.79 vs. 20.29, p = 0.011). Women aged 56-65 had the lowest satisfaction scores (14.50 ± 0.71), with half reporting neutrality or dissatisfaction. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of gender, family structure and dietary habits as key socio-cultural correlates of life satisfaction in urban slum communities. The presence of moderate satisfaction levels despite material hardship highlights the need for context-sensitive well-being frameworks and community-informed interventions in similar low-resource settings.