• Marcel W Post, Christel M van Leeuwen, Casper F van Koppenhagen, and Sonja de Groot.
• Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.post@dehoogstraat.nl
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Oct 1; 93 (10): 1832-7.

ObjectiveTo assess and compare the validity of 3 life satisfaction instruments in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).DesignCross-sectional study 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.SettingEight rehabilitation centers with specialized SCI units.ParticipantsPersons (N=225) with recently acquired SCI between 18 and 65 years of age were included in a cohort study. Data were available for 145 persons 5 years after discharge.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresThe Life Satisfaction questions (LS Questions), the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-9), and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS).ResultsThere were no floor or ceiling effects. Cronbach α was questionable for the LS Questions (.60), satisfactory for the LiSat-9 (.75), and good for the SWLS (.83). Concurrent validity was shown by strong and significant Spearman correlations (.59-.60) between all 3 life satisfaction instruments. Correlations with measures of mental health and participation were .52 to .56 for the LS Questions, .45 to .52 for the LiSat-9, and .41 to .48 for the SWLS. Divergent validity was shown by weak and in part nonsignificant correlations between the 3 life satisfaction measures and measures of functional independence and lesion characteristics.ConclusionsOverall, the validity of all 3 life satisfaction measures was supported. Despite questionable internal consistency, the concurrent and divergent validity of the LS Questions was at least as good as the validity of the LiSat-9 and the SWLS.Copyright © 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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