The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72940

Claudia M. Squire, MS¹, Carla Bann, PHD¹, and Shulamit Bernard, PhD². (1) Research Triangle Institute, 3040 Cornwallis Rd., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-541-6613, cms@rti.org, (2) Health Care Quality Program, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Objectives: Administering global, single-item measures is one possible approach to reducing burden among survey participants, particularly older adults. This study examined the adequacy of a one-item global life satisfaction measure by exploring its relationship with Neugarten's Life satisfaction Index.

Methods: The first phase of the project was a qualitative analysis of a single life satisfaction item and Neugarten's life Satisfaction Index. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 27 respondents over the age of 65 in the Raleigh, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. areas. The second phase of the project was a quantitative analysis of the data collected from the cognitive interviews.

Results: While the individual life satisfaction item seems to be relevant and older adults were able to respond appropriately, it was not grounded in the Life Satisfaction Index, nor were the two correlated. Both the cognitive interviews and the exploratory data analyses indicate that the life satisfaction item and the Life Satisfaction Index are not measuring the same concepts. The single item seems to be more focused on current areas of respondent's lives, such as ability to function, mobility impairment, leisure activities, and friends and family. The Life Satisfaction Index, on the other hand, addressed a broader set of issues ranging across one's life. These findings indicate that the life satisfaction item is not a valid proxy measure for life satisfaction.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess the issues surrounding the measurement of life satisfaction in older adults.
• Apply our findings to future work where life satisfaction is of interest.
• Recognize potential pitfalls in the use of single item measures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.