Structure of health-related quality of life among people with and without functional limitations.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess the factor structure of nine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) survey items among people with and without disabilities or functional limitations (FL) and determine whether factor loadings were similar for the two groups.

METHODS

Data were from US states and territories in the 2001 and 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Confirmatory factor analyses assessed fit of the data to a previously found factor structure.

RESULTS

A two-factor structure was confirmed, conceptually representing physical and mental health. Although this structure fit data for both people with and without FL, factor loadings were significantly different for the two groups. In all but one instance, factor loadings were higher for people with FL than for people without FL.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that people with and without FL conceptualize physical and mental HRQOL similarly. However, the nine items analyzed appear to be a better reflection of the latent constructs of physical and mental HRQOL in the population of people with FL than those without FL.