Quality of Life Assessment for Physical Activity and Health Promotion

Abstract

Despite the clear relationship of physical activity and quality of life (QoL), QoL measures are seldom targeted for physical activity and health promotion. The current research attempted to address that gap by developing a QoL measure based on a conceptual model that reflects positive health and is relevant for physical activity and health promotion programs. In the project, which extended over three phases, an initial 70-item QoL survey was administered to university students and community program participants (total n = 512) along with measures of satisfaction with life and physical activity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed clear social, emotional, cognitive, physical, spiritual and functional (ADL) QoL factors as well as integrated QoL. The resulting 32-item QoL Survey fits the conceptual model, demonstrates logical relationships with physical activity and has sufficient psychometric properties for use in related research and health promotion programs.

Appendix

QoL Survey Scales and Related Items

Social (5 items)

Q8 Personal Relationships

Q33 Intimate relationships

Q40 Ability to initiate and maintain relationships

Q47 Emotional relationships with others

Q61 Social relationships

Spiritual (5 items)

Q34 Prayer, meditation, or individual spiritual study

Q41 Spiritual growth

Q48 Spiritual belief

Q55 Spiritual life

Q62 Faith

Emotional (5 items)

Q14 Peace of mind

Q15 Feeling of happiness

Q28 Sense of calm and peacefulness

Q41 Sense of NOT feeling sad, blue, or depressed

Q49 Sense of NOT feeling worried, tense or anxious

Cognitive (5 items)

Q16 Ability to concentrate

Q23 Ability to think

Q43 Ability to solve problems

Q57 Memory

Q64 Ability to continue learning

Physical (5 items)

Q6 Physical health and well-being

Q17 Physical fitness

Q50 Body shape

Q58 Bodily appearance

Q65 Level of physical activity

ADL (3 items)

Q36 Ability to do activities of daily living

Q31 Ability to take care of yourself

Q70 Ability to get around

Integrated (4 items)

Q19 Overall quality of life

Q26 Enjoyment of life

Q32 Life in general

Q39 Happiness in general

Note. The numbers (Q8, etc) are the item numbers from the 70-item survey. The following page presents the resulting 32-item QoL Survey with the instructions and response options.

Quality of Life Survey—Version 2

This questionnaire asks how you feel about your quality of life , including your physical, emotional, social, spiritual and mental health and well-being. Please answer all questions. There are no right or wrong answers. Use the 1–5 scale below and circle the one number that best describes how you feel about your quality of life.

Poor	Below Average	Average	Above Average	Excellent
1	2	3	4	5

How would you rate thequalityof your…

	Poor	Below Average	Average	Above Average	Excellent
Physical health and well-being	1	2	3	4	5
Personal Relationships	1	2	3	4	5
Peace of mind	1	2	3	4	5
Feeling of happiness	1	2	3	4	5
Ability to concentrate	1	2	3	4	5
Physical fitness	1	2	3	4	5
Overall quality of life	1	2	3	4	5
Ability to think	1	2	3	4	5
Enjoyment of life	1	2	3	4	5
Sense of calm and peacefulness	1	2	3	4	5
Ability to take care of yourself	1	2	3	4	5
Life in general	1	2	3	4	5
Intimate relationships	1	2	3	4	5
Prayer, meditation, or individual spiritual study	1	2	3	4	5
Ability to do activities of daily living	1	2	3	4	5
Happiness in general	1	2	3	4	5
Ability to initiate and maintain relationships	1	2	3	4	5
Spiritual growth	1	2	3	4	5
Sense of NOT feeling sad, blue, or depressed	1	2	3	4	5
Ability to solve problems	1	2	3	4	5
Emotional relationships with others	1	2	3	4	5
Spiritual beliefs	1	2	3	4	5
Sense of NOT feeling worried, tense or anxious	1	2	3	4	5
Body shape	1	2	3	4	5
Spiritual life	1	2	3	4	5
Memory	1	2	3	4	5
Bodily appearance	1	2	3	4	5
Social relationships	1	2	3	4	5
Faith	1	2	3	4	5
Ability to continue learning	1	2	3	4	5
Level of Physical activity	1	2	3	4	5
Ability to get around	1	2	3	4	5