Journal article

Publication year: 2006

Pages: 1191-1202

Journal: Quality of Life Research

Volume number: 15

Issue number: 7

ISSN: 0962-9343

eISSN: 1573-2649

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-0069-x

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
Structural equation modeling (SEM) has been widely used in psychology and sociology for testing validity of measurement instruments. However, this statistical technique has so far played minor role in quality-of-life research. The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of SEM for constructing and testing the validity of a Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptics (SWN) index for patients with schizophrenia. For these purposes, data from the GEO study (Gesundheitsokonomische Evaluation von Olanzapin in Deutschland; Health economics study of olanzapine in the treatment of schizophrenia in Germany) were used. The GEO is a prospective, comparative, noninterventional, observational study. A total of 646 participants treated with either olanzapine (n = 416) or haloperidol (n = 230) were enrolled in the study; 360 patients were available for factor analyses. The short (20-item) form of the SWN scale was administered to assess patients' perspectives on their quality of life. The structural equation models (SEMs) were then applied to construct 5- and 10-item indexes based on SWN. The data indicate that the 5-item index is the most time-saving approach for evaluating perceptions of well-being (and thus, quality of life) among patients with schizophrenia. The application of SEM showed no appreciable loss of validity of this index.

Harvard Citation style: Schmidt, P., Clouth, J., Haggenmueller, L., Naber, D. and Reitberger, U. (2006) Constructing an Index for the Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptics Scale (SWN), short form:: Applying structural equation modeling for testing reliability and validity of the index, Quality of Life Research, 15(7), pp. 1191-1202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-0069-x

APA Citation style: Schmidt, P., Clouth, J., Haggenmueller, L., Naber, D., & Reitberger, U. (2006). Constructing an Index for the Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptics Scale (SWN), short form:: Applying structural equation modeling for testing reliability and validity of the index. Quality of Life Research. 15(7), 1191-1202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-0069-x