Psychometric properties of the satisfaction with life scale in people with traumatic brain, spinal cord, or burn injury: A national institute on disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research model system study

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Study evaluated the measurement properties of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), developed to quantify global quality of life and satisfaction. SWLS data were obtained from 17,897 individuals enrolled in the Model Systems funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). They included 8,566 people with spinal cord injury (48 percent), 7,941 with traumatic brain injury (44 percent), and 1,390 with burn injury (8 percent), 1 year after injury. Measurement invariance across the groups, unidimensionality, local independence, reliability from a classical test and item response theory (IRT) framework, and fit to a unidimensional IRT model were analyzed. The results support unidimensionality and local independence of the SWLS. Reliability was adequate from a classical test and IRT perspective. IRT analysis found that the SWLS could be improved by using only five response categories rather than seven and by removing the fifth item, “If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.” This item functions poorly and reduces instrument reliability. With these revisions, the SWLS is a useful instrument to monitor an important outcome of trauma rehabilitation.

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