Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Quality of life: a dynamic construct

P J Allison1, D Locker, J S Feine

  • 1Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|July 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Advancing a Global Oral Health Research Agenda.

Journal of dental research·2026
Same author

Canada's First National Oral Health Research Strategy (2024-2030).

Journal of dental research·2024
Same author

Geroscience: Aging and Oral Health Research.

Advances in dental research·2023
Same author

Considering Sentinel Indicators to Promote Integrating Oral Health Care in UHC and Primary Care.

JDR clinical and translational research·2023
Same author

From Caries Prevention in Children to Adults with Cancer: New Evidence and Ideas.

JDR clinical and translational research·2023
Same author

Salivary Cortisol and Anxiety in Canadian Dentists over 1 Year of COVID-19.

Journal of dental research·2023

Quality of life (QOL) measures assume stable personal viewpoints, but attitudes shift. This study explores how changing reference points impact QOL assessments and suggests methods to account for this variability.

Area of Science:

  • Psychometrics
  • Health Psychology
  • Quality of Life Research

Background:

  • Quality of life (QOL) instruments often assume a stable observer (reference point) for accurate measurement.
  • Individual attitudes and perceptions, crucial for QOL, are dynamic and influenced by psychological factors like adaptation and self-concept.
  • Paradoxical findings, such as healthier QOL ratings in some patient groups, suggest shifts in reference points.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of changing reference points on quality of life measurement.
  • To explore the theoretical underpinnings of change in QOL perceptions.
  • To propose methods for quantifying within-subject variability and between-group differences in reference points.

Main Methods:

  • Review of theories of change associated with QOL measurement.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of existing techniques (e.g., then ratings, saliency indicators, individualized questionnaires) used in related fields.
  • Presentation of evidence demonstrating the mutability of reference points in QOL assessment.

    • Main Results:

    • Attitudes towards QOL constructs are not static and can change significantly over time and due to experiences.
    • Psychological phenomena such as adaptation, coping, and self-concept influence an individual's reference point.
    • Differences in reference points can lead to paradoxical or misinterpreted QOL ratings between individuals and groups.

    Conclusions:

    • The assumption of a stable reference point in QOL measurement is often invalid.
    • Acknowledging and measuring shifts in reference points is crucial for accurate QOL assessment.
    • Methods adapted from other disciplines may offer solutions for quantifying and interpreting reference point variability in QOL research.