Development and psychometric properties of the Joy-of-Life-Scale in cognitively intact nursing home patients

Abstract

Aim To develop and psychometrically test the Joy‐of‐Life Scale. The research question addressed evidence related to the dimensionality, reliability and construct validity, all of which considered inter‐related measurement properties. Methods Cross‐sectional data were collected during 2017–2018, in 27 nursing homes representing four different Norwegian municipalities, located in Western and Mid‐Norway. The total sample comprised 188 of 204 (92% response rate) long‐term nursing home patients who met the inclusion criteria: (i) local authority's decision of long‐term nursing home care; (ii) residential time 3 months or longer; (iii) informed consent competency recognised by responsible doctor and nurse; and (iv) capable of being interviewed. Results Exploratory and confirmative factor analyses clearly suggested a unidimensional solution. Five of the original 18 items showed low reliability and validity; excluding these items revealed an acceptable model fit for the one‐dimensional 13‐item measurement model. Reliability and construct validity were acceptable, indicating good internal consistency. Conclusion Significant factor loadings, several goodness‐of‐fit indices and significant correlations in the expected directions with the selected constructs (anxiety, depression, self‐transcendence, meaning‐in‐life, sense of coherence, nurse–patient interaction and quality of life) supported the psychometric properties of the Joy‐of‐Life Scale. Impact The ‘Joy‐of‐Life‐Nursing‐Home’ is a national strategy for promoting quality of life, meaning and quality of life among nursing home patients in Norway. Therefore, exploring the essence of the Joy‐of‐Life phenomenon and developing a measurement scale assessing joy‐of‐life in this population is important for the further development of care quality in nursing homes.