Life satisfaction and self-reported problems after spinal cord injury: measurement of underlying dimensions.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the utility of the current 7-scale structure of the Life Situation Questionnaire-Revised (LSQ-R) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and explore the factor structure of each set of items.


METHODS
Adults (N = 1,543) with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) were administered the 20 satisfaction and 30 problems items from the LSQ-R.


RESULTS
CFA suggests that the existing 7-scale structure across the 50 items was within the acceptable range (root-mean-square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.078), although it fell just outside of this range for women. Factor analysis revealed 3 satisfaction factors and 6 problems factors. The overall fit of the problems items (RMSEA = 0.070) was superior to that of the satisfaction items (RMSEA = 0.80). RMSEA fell just outside of the acceptable range for Whites and men on the satisfaction scales. All scales had acceptable internal consistency.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest the original scoring of the LSQ-R remains viable, although individual results should be reviewed for special population. Factor analysis of subsets of items allows satisfaction and problems items to be used independently, depending on the study purpose.
Krause
James S
JS
College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. krause@musc.edu
Reed
Karla S
KS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data