Cross-cultural study of person-centred quality of life domains and indicators: a replication.
BACKGROUND
The increased use of the quality of life (QOL) concept internationally suggests the need to evaluate its etic (universal) and emic (culture-bound) properties. This study replicated and expanded a previous cross-cultural study on QOL.


METHODS
The three respondent groups (consumers, parents and professionals; total n = 781) were from four European countries: France, Belgium, Italy and Poland. The Cross Cultural Survey of Quality of Life Indicators was used to assess the importance and use of eight core dimensions of QOL. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) the etic properties would be demonstrated if there were similar profiles for the respondent and geographical groups, and if indicators grouped into the proposed QOL domains; and (2) the emic properties would be demonstrated if there were significant differences on scores across groups.


RESULTS
Results supported both hypotheses.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study replicated the findings of a large cross-cultural study that the QOL construct has both etic and emic properties.
Jenaro
C
C
Institute on Community Integration, Faculty of Psychology, University of Salamanca, Avda. De la Merced, Salamanca, Spain. crisje@usal.es
Verdugo
M A
MA
Caballo
C
C
Balboni
G
G
Lachapelle
Y
Y
Otrebski
W
W
Schalock
R L
RL
D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires