A systematic review of quality of life (QoL) studies using the CASP scale in older adults

A systematic review of the use of the CASP Quality of Life (QoL) scale in older adults was carried out.

Articles were searched using PsycINFO, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus and Medline databases. Observational or experimental studies using any version of the CASP to analyze QoL in adults aged 50 and over and studies focusing on the psychometric properties of the CASP instrument or identifying factors associated with QoL scores. The quality of the studies was assessed using COSMIN and STROBE.

A total of 519,339 participants were considered in the 51 studies selected. The 19- and 12-item CASP versions showed high internal consistency and low-to-moderate convergent validity. Best construct validity was reported for the 12-item short version generating a three-factor model (control/autonomy, pleasure & self-realization) and only modest evidence is provided for their cross-cultural validity. Longitudinal and cross-sectional evidence showed (1) a significant decrease in CASP scores at very old ages; (2) an absence of relationship with gender, which, however, may play a moderating role between QoL and health; (3) significant associations between CASP scores and health, psychosocial and socio-economic outcomes.

The quality of the results was hindered by the lack of relevant information in some studies as well as by the proliferation of versions of the instrument. Nevertheless, we conclude that the CASP scale can capture the complex and multidimensional nature of QoL in older adults by reporting satisfaction of needs that go beyond that go beyond those related to health.