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Content validity, construct validity, and reliability of the WHOQOL-Bref in a population of Dutch adult psychiatric outpatients

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Abstract

In this study, the psychometric properties of a quality of life scale, the WHOQOL-Bref, were examined in a population of 533 Dutch adult psychiatric outpatients. Participants underwent two semistructured interviews in order to obtain Axis-I and II diagnoses, according to DSM-IV. Besides the WHOQOL-Bref they also completed questionnaires for measuring psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90) and perceived social support (PSSS). Scores on 25 of the 26 questions of the WHOQOL-Bref had a good distribution. Similar to previous findings, exploratory factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure. A priori expected associations were found between the domains of the WHOQOL-Bref, on the one hand, and dimensions of the SCL-90 and the PSSS-score, on the other hand, indicating good construct validity. The internal consistency of the four domains of the WHOQOL-Bref ranged from 0.66 to 0.80. Domain scores of the WHOQOL-Bref correlated around 0.92 with the WHOQOL-100 domain scores. Relatively low correlations were found between demographic characteristics (age and sex) and WHOQOL-Bref domain scores. It is concluded that the content validity, construct validity, and the reliability of the WHOQOL-Bref in a population of adult Dutch psychiatric outpatients are good. The WHOQOL-Bref, therefore, is an adequate measure for assessing quality of life at the domain level in a population of adult psychiatric outpatients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stichting GGZ Midden Brabant, P.O. Box 770, Tilburg, The Netherlands, 5000 AT

    Fons J. Trompenaars, Erik D. Masthoff & Paul P. Hodiamont

  2. Department Psychology and Health, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, Tilburg, The Netherlands, 5000 LE

    Guus L. Van Heck, Paul P. Hodiamont & Jolanda De Vries

  3. Ministerie van Justitie, Forensisch Psychiatrische Dienst, Leeghwaterlaan 14, Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, 5223 BA ‘s

    Fons J. Trompenaars

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  1. Fons J. Trompenaars
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  2. Erik D. Masthoff
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  3. Guus L. Van Heck
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  4. Paul P. Hodiamont
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  5. Jolanda De Vries
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Correspondence to Fons J. Trompenaars.

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Trompenaars, F.J., Masthoff, E.D., Van Heck, G.L. et al. Content validity, construct validity, and reliability of the WHOQOL-Bref in a population of Dutch adult psychiatric outpatients. Qual Life Res 14, 151–160 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-004-0787-x

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