The modified German subjective vitality scale (SVS-GM): Psychometric properties and application in daily life

Subjective vitality describes the positive feeling of experiencing physical
and mental energy, which can lead to purposive actions, but no German
instruments exist with action-oriented verbiage: This work supports the
development and modification of already existing German Subjective Vitality
Scales and provides further evidence for its psychometric properties. In a first
step (N = 56) two modified (action-oriented) short-forms were developed.
An extension of time perspectives (past, present, future) should also enrich
the scale by enhancing the accuracy of self-reports. Study 1 (N = 183)
then examined the psychometric properties for each time perspective. Study
2 (N = 27) was a 6-day diary study to identify the reliability of within- and
between-person differences in vitality over time and working days with
responses recorded three times per day. The exploratory factor analysis from
study 1 revealed a three-factor solution with three items each. Test-retest
reliability was moderate for the past and future time perspective and less
stable for state subjective vitality. The modified German Subjective Vitality
Scale (SVS-GM) showed divergent validity with fatigue, negative affect, and
optimism, and convergent but distinguishable validity with life satisfaction,
positive affect, and perceived self-efficacy. High reliability for daily vitality
measures (with lower vitality rates in the morning) was found in study 2,
but no substantial variation was found between working days and days off.
The SVS-GM shows good psychometric properties in different settings and
provides researchers with a 3-item (for cross-sectional or longitudinal studies)
and 1-item (for short screenings) version to measure subjective vitality in
German-speaking populations.