title: Using the satisfaction with life scale in people with Parkinson's disease: a validation study in different European countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overall, people with chronic illnesses have lower life satisfaction compared to nonclinical populations. The objective of this international study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  PD patients (n = 350) were recruited and interviewed at different specialized services in the United Kingdom, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, and The Netherlands. A questionnaire set including a measure of life satisfaction, quality of life (QoL), self-reported health and disability status, and sociodemographic information was used. Acceptability, reliability, and validity were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The internal consistency was good ( α = 0.81). The scale structure was satisfactory (comparative fit index = 0.99; root mean square error of approximation = 0.08). The SWLS was able to discriminate between healthy and unhealthy, disabled and nondisabled, and those perceiving a more severe impact of the disability on their lives. Concurrent validity using multiple linear regression models confirmed associations between SWLS and QoL and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to report on the use of the SWLS in PD patients in different European countries. It is a useful tool in assessing satisfaction with life in PD patients through the continuum of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Methodology and Behavioural Sciences, University of Barcelona, Passeig Valld' Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain ; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Beechcroft, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB21 5EF, UK.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucas-Carrasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Hilvarenbeekse Weg 60, 5022 GC Tilburg, The Netherlands ; Department of Education and Research, St. Elisabeth Hospital, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Brenda L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Den Oudsten
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, 45030 Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eser
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK ; Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Power
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction