Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-31T22:37:42.092Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Measurement equivalence across gender and education in the WHOQOL-BREF for community-dwelling elderly Taiwanese

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2016

Chung-Ying Lin ,
Yueh-Ping Li ,
Sang-I Lin  and
Ching-Huey Chen
Chung-Ying Lin
Affiliation:
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Yueh-Ping Li*
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Life Science, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
Sang-I Lin
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Therapy, Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Ching-Huey Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Yueh-Ping Li, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Life Science, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, No. 89, Wenhua 1st ST., Rende Dist., Tainan 71703, Taiwan, Republic Of China. Email: [email protected]. Phone: 884-6-2674567 # 518; Fax: 884-6-2605792.
Get access

Abstract

Background:

The WHOQOL-BREF, a generic quality of life (QoL) instrument, has been widely used clinically and for research on older populations. However, its measurement equivalence/invariance (ME/I) has not been well examined for the elderly (≥ 65 years) across some different demographics.

Methods:

The data were derived from a cross-sectional study with a convenience sampling design in Taiwan. We enrolled 244 elderly participants: men = 143 (58.6%); educational level ≤ primary school = 121 (49.6%). The ME/I was examined using multiple group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) across gender and educational level.

Results:

The fit indices were satisfactory for the configural models of gender and educational level (standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.0742 and 0.0770; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.0655 and 0.0686; comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.953). In addition, MGCFAs showed that ME/I was supported across gender (ΔSRMR = 0.001 to 0.019; ΔRMSEA = −0.003 to 0.001; ΔCFI = −0.003 to 0.000) and educational level (ΔSRMR = 0.002 to 0.006; ΔRMSEA = −0.002 to 0.004; ΔCFI = −0.007 to 0.000).

Conclusion:

The WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version is appropriate for combined use and for comparisons in older people across gender and different educational levels.

Keywords

Measurement equivalence/invarianceWHOQOLgendereducationelderly
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 28 , Issue 8 , August 2016 , pp. 1375 - 1382
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bodur, S. and Dayanir Cingil, D. (2009). Using WHOQOL-BREF to evaluate quality of life among Turkish elders in different residential environments. The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 13, 652–656. doi: 10.1007/s12603-009-0177-8.Google Scholar
Byrne, B. M., Schavelson, R. J. and Muthen, B. (1989). Testing for the equivalence of factor covariance and mean structures: the issue of partial measurement invariance. Psychological Bulletin, 105, 456–466.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chang, K. C., Wang, J. D., Tang, H. P., Cheng, C. M. and Lin, C. Y. (2014). Psychometric evaluation using Rasch analysis of the WHOQOL-BREF in heroin-dependent people undergoing methadone maintenance treatment: further item validation. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 12, 148. doi: 10.1186/s12955-014-0148-6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chen, F. F. (2007). Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack of measurement invariance, Structural Equation Modeling, 14, 464–504.Google Scholar
Chen, F. F., Sousa, K. H. and West, S. G. (2005). Teacher's Corner: testing measurement invariance of second-order factor models. Structural Equation Modeling, 12, 471–492. doi: 10.1207/s15328007sem1203_7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daatland, S. O. and Biggs, S. (2006). Ageing and Diversity: Multiple Pathways and Cultural Migrations. Bristol: Policy Press.Google Scholar
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2009). Guidance for Industry—Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Use in Medical Product Development to Support Labeling Claims. Silver Spring, MD: FDA.Google Scholar
Gregorich, S. E. (2006). Do self-report instruments allow meaningful comparisons across diverse population groups? Testing measurement invariance using the confirmatory factor analysis framework. Medical Care, 44 (11 Suppl. 3), S78–S94. doi: 10.1097/01.mlr.0000245454.12228.8f.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guallar-Castillón, P., Redondo Sendino, Á., Banegas, J. R., López-García, E. and Rodríguez-Artalejo, F. (2005). Differences in quality of life between women and men in the older population of Spain. Social Science & Medicine, 60, 1229–1240. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.07.003.Google Scholar
Hoyle, R. H. and Panter, A. T. (1995). Writing about structural equation modeling. In Hoyle, R. H. (Ed.), Structural Equation Modeling: Concepts, Issues, and Application (pp. 158–176). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Hwang, H. F., Liang, W. M., Chiu, Y. N. and Lin, M. R. (2003). Suitability of the WHOQOL-BREF for community-dwelling older people in Taiwan. Age and Aging, 32, 593–600.Google Scholar
Johnson, J. K., Louhivuori, J., Stewart, A. L., Tolvanen, A., Ross, L. and Era, P. (2013). Quality of life of older adult community choral singers in Finland. International Psychogeriatrics, 25, 1055–1064. doi: 10.1017/s1041610213000422.Google Scholar
Krägeloh, C. U. et al. (2013). Validation of the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life questionnaire for general use in New Zealand: confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis. Quality of Life Research, 22, 1451–1457. doi: 10.1007/s11136-012-0265-9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Li, Y. P., Lin, S. I. and Chen, C. H. (2011). Gender differences in the relationship of social activity and quality of life in community-dwelling Taiwanese elders. Journal of Women and Aging, 23, 305–320. doi: 10.1080/08952841.2011.611052.Google Scholar
Limbers, C. A., Newman, D. A. and Varni, J. W. (2008). Factorial invariance of child self-report across age subgroups: a confirmatory factor analysis of ages 5 to 16 years utilizing the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Value in Health, 11, 659–668. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4733.2007.00289.x.Google Scholar
Lin, C. Y., Luh, W. M., Cheng, C. P., Yang, A. L., Su, C. T. and Ma, H. I. (2013). Measurement equivalence across child self-reports and parent-proxy reports in the Chinese version of the pediatric quality of life inventory version 4.0. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 44, 583–590. doi: 10.1007/s10578-012-0352-8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lix, L. M. et al. (2012). Measurement equivalence of the SF-36 in the Canadian multicentre osteoporosis study. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10, 29. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-10-29.Google Scholar
Lucas-Carrasco, R., Laidlaw, K. and Power, M. J. (2011). Suitability of the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD for Spanish older adults. Aging and Mental Health, 15, 595–604. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2010.548054.Google Scholar
Merkle, E. C. and Zeileis, A. (2013). Tests of measurement invariance without subgroups: a generalization of classical methods. Psychometrika, 78, 59–82. doi: 10.1007/s11336-012-9302-4.Google Scholar
Naumann, V. J. and Byrne, G. J. (2004). WHOQOL-BREF as a measure of quality of life in older patients with depression. International Psychogeriatrics, 16, 159–173. doi: 10.1017/s1041610204000109.Google Scholar
Pappa, E., Kontodimopoulos, N., Papadopoulos, A. A. and Niakas, D. (2009). Assessing the socio-economic and demographic impact on health-related quality of life: evidence from Greece. International Journal of Public Health, 54, 241–249. doi: 10.1007/s00038-009-8057-x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Snitz, B. E. et al. (2009). Effects of age, gender, education and race on two tests of language ability in community-based older adults. International Psychogeriatrics, 21, 1051–1062. doi:10.1017/S1041610209990214.Google Scholar
Su, C. T., Ng, H. S., Yang, A. L. and Lin, C. Y. (2014). Psychometric evaluation of the Short Form 36 health survey (SF-36) and the world health organization quality of life scale brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) for patients with schizophrenia. Psychological Assessment, 26, 980–989. doi: 10.1037/a0036764.Google Scholar
Su, C. T., Wang, J. D. and Lin, C. Y. (2013). Child-rated versus parent-rated quality of life of community-based obese children across gender and grade. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 11, 206. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-11-206.Google Scholar
Taiwan Ministry of the Interior Department of Statistics (2007). Life tables, Available at: http://www.moi.gov.tw/stat/english/life.asp; last accessed 30 January 2016.Google Scholar
The WHOQOL Group (1998). Development of the world health organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. Psychological Medicine, 28, 551–558.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tseng, Y. U., Tseng, S. M., Teng, C. H., Lin, T. J., Wu, Y. H. and Li, S. H. (2004). Gender difference in the aging experience of among aging in Taiwan's older people. VGH Nursing, 21, 117–126. doi: 10.6142/VGHN.21.2.117.Google Scholar
Umberson, D., Chen, M. D., House, J. S., Hopkins, K. and Slaten, E. (1996). The effect of social relationships on psychological well-being: are men and women really so different? American Sociological Review, 61, 837–857.Google Scholar
Vandenberg, R. J. and Lance, C. E. (2000). A review and synthesis of the measurement invariance literature: suggestions, practices, and recommendations for organizational research. Organizational Research Methods, 3, 4–70. doi: 10.1177/109442810031002.Google Scholar
Yao, G., Chung, C. W., Yu, C. F. and Wang, J. D. (2002). Development and verification of validity and reliability of the WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 101, 342–351.Google Scholar
Zaninotto, P., Falaschetti, E. and Sacker, A. (2009). Age trajectories of quality of life among older adults: results from the English longitudinal study of ageing. Quality of Life Research, 18, 1301–1309. doi: 10.1007/s11136-009-9543-6.Google Scholar