Examining the structure of subjective well-being through meta-analysis of the associations among positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction

•Subjective well-being comprises life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect•We meta-analysed correlations among these components (k = 40 samples, N = 34,298)•Correlations were moderate in magnitude and in the anticipated directions•Correlations did not vary significantly as a function of sample characteristics•Results support the generalizability of associations among SWB components

Despite the simplicity of Diener's (1984) tripartite formulation of subjective well-being (SWB) - comprising life satisfaction (LS), positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) - ambiguity remains concerning its structure. Emerging research suggests a resolution based on a hierarchical conceptualization comprising a latent SWB factor with three indicators (PA, NA, LS). Extending previous research, we meta-analysed correlations among PA, NA, LS (k = 40 samples, N = 34,298). Meta-analytic correlations were moderate in magnitude and in the anticipated directions, and did not vary significantly as a function of sample characteristics. Further, PA, NA, and LS had substantial loadings on a latent SWB factor. Results thus provide strong support for the generalizability of the associations among PA, NA, and LS, as well as the robustness of a hierarchical structural conceptualization of SWB.