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Quality of Life and Health-Related Quality of Life over 1 Year in Older Women: Monitoring Stability and Reliability of Measurement

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Abstract

Assessing quality of life (QOL) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults is important. Yet, limited research is available on the stability of these constructs and the psychometric properties of QOL [e.g., Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)] and HRQOL [e.g., Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12)] measures in this population. Such knowledge is important for designing and interpreting interventions. We examined stability of QOL (SWLS) and HRQOL (SF-12) and their test–retest reliability, measurement error, and interpretability over 1 year in older Black and White women (n = 230). Stability and reliability were ascertained through paired sample t tests and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Standard error of measurement and coefficient of variation assessed measurement error. Smallest detectable change estimated score interpretability. QOL and HRQOL remained stable; ICC values indicated moderate reliability for the SWLS and SF-12 (SWLS = 0.73, SF-12 Physical Composite Summary = 0.69, SF-12 Mental Composite Summary = 0.58). Measurement error and interpretability estimates were similar for both the SWLS and SF-12. Interpretability estimates indicated a change in score of around 33 % may represent an important change. We provide novel data for selecting and interpreting QOL and HRQOL measures contributing to a better understanding of intervention efficacy.

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Abbreviations

QOL:

Quality of life

HRQOL:

Health-related quality of life

SWLS:

Satisfaction with Life Scale

SF-12:

Short-Form 12 Health Survey

PCS:

Physical Composite Summary

MCS:

Mental Composite Summary

ICC:

Intraclass correlation coefficient

SEM:

Standard error of measurement

CV:

Coefficient of variation

SDC:

Smallest detectable change

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (R01 AG020118). The authors wish to thank all participants in this research and all staff and students involved in data collection and analysis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 906 S Goodwin Ave, Freer Hall, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Yvonne C. Learmonth, Elizabeth A. Alwick, Edward McAuley & Robert W. Motl

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  1. Yvonne C. Learmonth
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  2. Elizabeth A. Alwick
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  3. Edward McAuley
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  4. Robert W. Motl
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Correspondence to Yvonne C. Learmonth.

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Learmonth, Y.C., Alwick, E.A., McAuley, E. et al. Quality of Life and Health-Related Quality of Life over 1 Year in Older Women: Monitoring Stability and Reliability of Measurement. Soc Indic Res 123, 267–279 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0729-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0729-0

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