Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short form across ten countries: the application of Bayesian approximate measurement invariance

Abstract

Background The Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) is the most frequently used generic quality of life (QOL) measure in many countries and cultures worldwide. However, no single study has been carried out to investigate whether this questionnaire performs similarly across diverse cultures/countries. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Q-LES-Q-SF across ten different countries. Methods The Q-LES-Q-SF was administrated to a sample of 2822 university students from ten countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Croatia, India, Nepal, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. The Bayesian approximate measurement invariance approach was used to assess the measurement invariance of the Q-LES-Q-SF. Results Approximate measurement invariance did not hold across the countries for the Q-LES-Q-SF, with only two out of 14 items being non-invariant; namely items related to doing household and leisure time activities. Conclusions Our findings did not support the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Q-LES-Q-SF; thus, considerable caution is warranted when comparing QOL scores across different countries with this measure. Item rewording and adaptation along with calibrating non-invariant items may narrow these differences and help researchers to create an invariant questionnaire for reliable and valid QOL comparisons across different countries.

Equivalence of Paper and Electronic-Based Patient Reported Outcome Measures for Children: A Systematic Review

“…The reporting of demographics such as race/ethnicity, highest level of parental education, and socioeconomic status were limited, and when reported were not specifically considered in demonstration of ME. We acknowledge that diversity certainly plays a role in access and should be considered when a PROM is undergoing cross-cultural adaptation (51,52) but should not affect determination of ME when a pen-paper PROM is adapted to e-version. Furthermore, only half of the studies included evaluated disease-specific PROMs for children and only 1 study evaluated a disease-specific PROM utilized by pediatric gastroenterologists despite increasing evidence that their use in clinical care can help focus goals and therapeutic decisions and produce better health outcomes (11,53,54).…”

Reliability and validity of a Japanese version of the Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale

“…It was uncertain whether these same six life domains would collectively provide a valid QOL measure in a Japanese context, given the cultural differences. Generally, the construct of QOL appears to be quite similar in different cultures, but it has also been reported that different cultures respond differently to specific items related to QOL 16,17 . It remains unclear whether subjective QOL is equally reliable and valid in Japanese culture, given that it is influenced by individual life perspectives, religion, ethnic customs, and values.…”

“…Generally, the construct of QOL appears to be quite similar in different cultures, but it has also been reported that different cultures respond differently to specific items related to QOL. 16 , 17 It remains unclear whether subjective QOL is equally reliable and valid in Japanese culture, given that it is influenced by individual life perspectives, religion, ethnic customs, and values. Hence, this study developed the Japanese version of the BBQ (BBQ‐J) and examined its reliability and validity.…”