Expanding the purview of wellness indicators: validating a new measure that includes attitudes, behaviors, and perspectives

Abstract

Objective The present study validated the DeltaQuest Wellness Measure (DQ Wellness), a new 15-item measure of wellness that spans relevant attitudes, behaviors, and perspectives. Design This cross-sectional web-based study recruited chronically-ill patients and/or caregivers ( n = 3,961) and a nationally representative comparison group (n = 855). Main Outcome Measures The DQ Wellness assesses: a way of being in the world that involves seeing and embracing the good and expressing kindness toward others; engagement in one’s activities and self-care; downplaying negative thoughts that reduce one’s energy; and an ability to feel joy. Six widely used measures of physical and mental health, cognition, and psychological well-being enabled construct-validity comparisons. Item-response theory (IRT) methods evaluated reliability, factor structure, and differential item functioning (DIF) by gender. Results The DQ Wellness showed strong cross-sectional reliability (marginal reliability = 0.89) and fit a bifactor model (RMSEA = 0.063, CFI = 0.982, TLI = 0.983). The DQ Wellness general score demonstrated construct validity, convergent and divergent validity, unique variance, and known-groups validity, and minimal gender DIF. The study is limited to addressing cross-sectional reliability and validity, and response rates are not known due to the recruitment source. Conclusion The DQ Wellness is a relatively brief measure, taps novel content, and could be useful for observational or interventional studies.

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“…Well-being was assessed using the Neuro-QoL Positive Affect and Well-being short-form, with a more general recall period of "lately", 24 the Ryff Psychological Well-being scale subscales for environmental mastery and purpose in life with a general time period that is not specified, 25,26 and the DeltaQuest Wellness Measure© (DQ Wellness), which taps into attitudes, perspectives, and behaviors relevant to wellness over the past week. 27 For the well-being measures, higher scores reflect better well-being. S1 for full detail, including recall period for items).…”

“…The Neuro‐QoL Applied Cognition 24 assessed perceived difficulties in everyday cognitive abilities (memory, attention, and decision‐making) and in applications of mental function (planning, organizing, calculating, working with memory, and learning) over the past 7 days, with higher scores reflecting worse cognitive function. Well‐being was assessed using the Neuro‐QoL Positive Affect and Well‐being short‐form, with a more general recall period of “lately”, 24 the Ryff Psychological Well‐being scale subscales for environmental mastery and purpose in life with a general time period that is not specified, 25,26 and the DeltaQuest Wellness Measure© (DQ Wellness), which taps into attitudes, perspectives, and behaviors relevant to wellness over the past week 27 . For the well‐being measures, higher scores reflect better well‐being.…”