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Psychometric Properties of the Family Quality of Life Scale in Greek Families with Intellectual Disabilities

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Abstract

In recent years intellectual disability has changed from the individual quality of life to an evaluation of the quality concerning the whole family. The aims of the present study were to examine the psychometric properties of the Greek version of Family Quality of Life Scale (FQoL). A total of 180 caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities participated in the current study. The participants were all informal caregivers of adults with disabilities and comorbidities (other chronic diseases), belonging to the intimate family context (cousins, uncles, neighbours, professional in-home caregivers, neighbours, etc.). The Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (FQoL) was administered twice, with a 7 day interval to 44 eligible caregivers. Factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution, explaining explaining 71.63 % of the total variance. Cronbach alpha for the three factors were between 0.883 to 0.960. Construct validity showed a high correlation between FQoL factors and APGAR scores. More specifically high correlations were found between “Family interaction and support” (r = 0.855), “Family care” (r = 0.630), “Disability related support” (r = 0.683) and APGAR scores (p < 0.0005 respectively). The test/retest reliability indicated that the scales scores were remarkably consistent between the two occasions. The current results support that the Greek version of FQoL is a measure with satisfactory psychometric properties, and is a valid research tool for Greek caregivers supporting people with intellectual disabilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 27 Korinthias St., 115 26, Athens, Greece

    Efi Parpa, Eleni Tsilika, Antonis Galanos, Maria Sassari & Kyriaki Mystakidou

  2. Klazomenon 33 St., Kaisariani, 16121, Athens, Greece

    Nick Katsantonis

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  1. Efi Parpa
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  2. Nick Katsantonis
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  3. Eleni Tsilika
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  4. Antonis Galanos
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Correspondence to Kyriaki Mystakidou.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Parpa, E., Katsantonis, N., Tsilika, E. et al. Psychometric Properties of the Family Quality of Life Scale in Greek Families with Intellectual Disabilities. J Dev Phys Disabil 28, 393–405 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-016-9477-1

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