title: The WOMQOL instrument measured quality of life in women of reproductive age with no known pathology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Women's Quality of Life Questionnaire (WOMQOL) was developed to measure aspects of the health of women of reproductive age with no known pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five experts in women's health and mental health rated a pool of 140 items as very significant, somewhat significant, or insignificant to women's health. Sixty-seven items were retained and formatted as a self-reported questionnaire with dichotomous responses to each statement ("true" and "false"). A total of 1,207 women completed the instrument during the follicular and late luteal phases of their menstrual cycles. Dichotomous response data from the follicular phases were analyzed using item response theory-based full-information item factor analysis to identify interpretable factors. Measurement invariance of the obtained factors across cycle phases and age cohorts was further evaluated using differential item functioning (DIF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four primary factors, made up of the 10 items with highest factor loading in each factor, were found to measure physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. No items were found to display DIF across the phases of menstrual cycles or age cohorts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although additional studies of diverse groups of women are advised, the final 40-item WOMQOL is a psychometrically sound measure that can be used to evaluate the quality of life of women of reproductive age in the general population.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, 969 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. s-gehlert@uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gehlert
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: R Darrell
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: S Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hartlage
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019352:Censuses; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D017533:Marital Status; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology