which correlation coefficient best represents a moderate relationship showing fewer anxiety symptoms in people who report higher life satisfaction?

The best correlation coefficient is -0.53.

Why -0.53 is the best choice

• The question says “fewer anxiety symptoms in people who report higher life satisfaction” , which means as life satisfaction goes up, anxiety goes down — that is a negative relationship.

• A moderate correlation is usually around ±0.3\pm 0.3±0.3 to ±0.7\pm 0.7±0.7, not extremely close to 0 and not extremely close to ±1\pm 1±1.

• Among typical options (like -0.21, -0.53, +0.13, +0.78), -0.53 is:
  • Negative (captures “higher life satisfaction, fewer anxiety symptoms”).

* Moderate in size (not weak like -0.21, not very strong like +0.78).

So, -0.53 best represents a moderate negative relationship where people with higher life satisfaction tend to report fewer anxiety symptoms.

In one real research example, life satisfaction and anxiety scores showed a negative correlation (higher satisfaction linked to lower anxiety), consistent with this kind of moderate negative pattern.

Answer: -0.53.