What does the Cantril Ladder measure in adolescence?

Abstract

IntroductionThe Cantril Scale (CS) is a simple visual scale which makes it possible to assess general life satisfaction. The result may depend on the health, living, and studying conditions, and quality of social relations. The objective of this study is to identify key factors influencing the CS score in Polish adolescents.Material and methodsThe survey comprised 1,423 parent-child pairs (54% girls; age range: 10–17; 67.3% urban inhabitants; 89.4% of parents were mothers). Linear and logistic models were estimated; the latter used alternative divisions into “satisfied” and “dissatisfied” with life. In addition to age and gender, child-reported KIDSCREEN-52 quality of life indexes were taken into account, along with some information provided by parents – child physical (CSHCN) and mental (SDQ) health, and family socio-economic conditions.ResultsAccording to the linear model, nine independent predictors, including six dimensions of KIDSCREEN-52, explain 47.2% of the variability of life satisfaction on the Cantril Scale. Self-perception was found to have a dominating influence (ΔR 2 = 0.301, p < 0.001). Important CS predictors also included Psychological Well-being (ΔR 2 = 0.088, p < 0.001) and Parent Relations (ΔR 2 = 0.041, p < 0.001). The impact of socioeconomic factors was more visible in boys and in older adolescents. According to logistic models, the key factors enhancing the chance of higher life satisfaction are Moods and Emotions (cut-off point CS > 5) and School Environment (CS > 8 points). None of the models indicated a relationship between the CS and physical health.ConclusionsThe Cantril Scale can be considered a useful measurement tool in a broad approach to psychosocial adolescent health.

Trends in high life satisfaction among adolescentsin five Nordic countries 2002–2014

“…Mazur and colleagues (2018) studied key factors related to the Cantril Ladder in a Polish sample of adolescents and concluded that the Cantril Ladder can be considered a useful measurement tool for adolescent psychosocial health. They applied two different cut-off points on the scale, and found that moods and emotions showed stronger associations with the traditional cut-off point of 0-5 (low) vs. 6-10 (high) on the Cantril Ladder, while school environment was a stronger associated factor when using a cut-off point of 0-8 (low) and 9-10 (high) (Mazur, Szkultecka-Debek, Dzielska, Drozd, & Malkowska-Szkutnik, 2018). They found that compared to the youngest age group (11-year-olds) life satisfaction was lower among the oldest age group (15-year-olds), while gender differences were small and insignificant.…”

Parental illness and life satisfaction among adolescents. A cross-sectional study of moderating effects of school climate indicators

“…Life satisfaction was measured by the Cantril ladder, a simple and validated instrument to assess general life satisfaction [29,30]. The students were presented with a vertical visual scale (ladder) ranging from 0 to 10, with the following statement: "How are you currently doing?…”

“…Life satisfaction was measured by a single, self-reported indicator, the Cantril Ladder. This instrument, has shown to be an appropriate measurement tool as a wide approach to psychosocial adolescent health [29,30]. The measurement of school climate is also based on self-report by the adolescents.…”

Socio-economic determinants of asthma and allergic diseases among students of lower secondary schools in Bytom

“…FAS is a useful tool in many national and international studies [22,23]. Many authors also indicate the regularity that the lifestyle and behavior of parents with a worse economic situation does not serve the health of their children, e.g.…”