[Measuring life satisfaction in children and adolescents--psychometric properties of the "Questions on Life Satisfaction" FLZ(KJ)].
OBJECTIVE
Measuring life satisfaction in children is becoming more and more important in clinical practice. This is the first study to evaluate the psychometric properties of the "Questions on Life Satisfaction for Children and Adolescents" FLZ(KJ) based on a student sample.


METHODS
1 312 German students ( M=13.7 years, SD=1.4) filled in the FLZ(KJ). Item characteristics, reliability, convergent and discriminant validity were assessed. Age- and gender-specific reference data were reported.


RESULTS
Items were well accepted by the students. Selectivity and internal consistency of the two modules were acceptable, with alpha scores of alpha=0.70 and 0.75. Associations with the KIDSCREEN-10 Index support the convergent valid-ity of the instrument. The FLZ(KJ) differentiated well between children with and without chronic conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The FLZ(KJ) are reliable and sufficiently valid, with psychometric properties comparable to the adult version of the instrument. The instrument is a useful tool in measuring life satisfaction in children and adolescents.
Henrich
Gerhard
G
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München. G.Henrich@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
Goldbeck
Lutz
L
Schmitz
Tim G
TG
Besier
Tanja
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results