Psychometric validation of a subjective well-being measure for people with spinal cord injuries

Abstract

The factorial validity and the concurrent validity of the SWBI were generally supported. The SWBI, as a subjective well-being measure developed specifically to relate to disability and rehabilitation, appears useful for use with people with SCI in the community.

Quality of life instruments and definitions in individuals with spinal cord injury: a systematic review

“…Most authors clearly distinguish their instrument or definition of QOL as objective 5,16,[18][19][20] or subjective. 1,6,9,20,21 Where no distinction was specified, instruments were classified according to the authors' definition of QOL 7 and/or the item content and scoring model. 22,23 For example, instruments addressing HRQOL or the presence, severity, and impact of specific health factors relating to QOL were considered objective, and instruments measuring life satisfaction or using scoring relationships between satisfaction and importance were classified as subjective.…”

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9] It is clear that simple outcomes-assessing function are insufficient in measuring rehabilitation after SCI 7,9 and in capturing the adaptation of perceptions and values in patients after SCI. 7,9 In fact, it has been suggested that high levels of QOL is synonymous with positive rehabilitation outcomes, and many agree that QOL should be measured in tandem with traditional outcomes assessing functional rehabilitation. 9,10 Such measurements provide different yet complimentary information that aid clinicians in their efforts to help those with SCI.…”

“…7,9 In fact, it has been suggested that high levels of QOL is synonymous with positive rehabilitation outcomes, and many agree that QOL should be measured in tandem with traditional outcomes assessing functional rehabilitation. 9,10 Such measurements provide different yet complimentary information that aid clinicians in their efforts to help those with SCI. Although an altered life is an inevitable outcome of SCI, literature shows that QOL after SCI is not uniformly worse, but rather a spectrum of recovery outcomes exist that range from QOL well below the general population to QOL that surpasses healthy population averages.…”

“…Although an altered life is an inevitable outcome of SCI, literature shows that QOL after SCI is not uniformly worse, but rather a spectrum of recovery outcomes exist that range from QOL well below the general population to QOL that surpasses healthy population averages. 9 QOL is a difficult construct to capture. Description of what constitutes the quality of someone's life is an important factor in our ability to assess, measure, and improve treatment outcomes and post-injury lifestyles.…”

“…comprising QOL. 15 As improved QOL, be it subjective or objective, is indicative of the success of treatment programs or progress in the life of an SCI patient, 9,16 it should be routinely measured among SCI patients. Our purpose in this review, therefore, is to classify QOL instruments in use among SCI population as either objective or subjective, present evidence from the literature on the measurement properties of various QOL measures, and evaluate the properties against preestablished criteria.…”