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Quality of life: A dynamic construct

Author

Listed:
  • Allison, P. J.
  • Locker, D.
  • Feine, J. S.

Abstract

The principle of Einstein's theory of special relativity is that an observer of an apparently moving body cannot be sure if the body really has moved, if he/she has moved or if both events have occurred. Although Einstein was discussing physical events, a similar hypothesis may apply to quality of life. When using quality of life instruments, one presumes that the point of reference (the observer in Einstein's terms) does not move, i.e. that an individual's attitude towards a particular construct will remain stable. Otherwise, changes in response to particular variables cannot be interpreted. However, attitudes are not constant: they vary with time and experience and are modified by such psychological phenomena as adaptation, coping, expectancy, optimism, self-control and self-concept. For example, eating problems may be extremely important at one point in a person's life. However, when oral discomfort has been diagnosed as cancer and treated with surgery or radiation, the same individual may "objectively" demonstrate more problems when eating, but report them as less because they have now become relatively unimportant. Furthermore, paradoxical reports that some groups of ill individuals rate their quality of life higher than do "healthy" persons raise similar questions concerning betweendashgroup point of reference differences. Investigators in the fields of organisational management, education and psychology have developed techniques such as "then ratings", saliency indicators and individualised questionnaires in attempts to quantify withindashsubject variability and betweendashgroup differences pertaining to point of reference. We suggest that similar methods may help us to measure change in the impact of the different items of quality of life instruments. In this paper, we will describe the theories of change associated with quality of life measurement. In addition, we will present evidence suggesting that the point of reference does change, the reasons for this and possible solutions to the problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Allison, P. J. & Locker, D. & Feine, J. S., 1997. "Quality of life: A dynamic construct," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 221-230, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:45:y:1997:i:2:p:221-230
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Somarriba Arechavala, Noelia & Pena Trapero, Bernardo, 2009. "La medición de la calidad de vida en Europa, el papel de la información subjetiva /The Measurement of the Quality of Life in Europe, the Weight of the Subjective Information," Estudios de Economia Aplicada, Estudios de Economia Aplicada, vol. 27, pages 373-398, Agosto.
    2. Greenhalgh, Joanne & Long, Andrew F & Flynn, Rob, 2005. "The use of patient reported outcome measures in routine clinical practice: lack of impact or lack of theory?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(4), pages 833-843, February.
    3. Felix N. Fernando & Dennis R. Cooley, 2016. "An Oil Boom’s Effect on Quality of Life (QoL): Lessons from Western North Dakota," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 11(4), pages 1083-1115, December.
    4. Gregory, Jane & Gibson, Barry & Robinson, Peter G., 2005. "Variation and change in the meaning of oral health related quality of life: a 'grounded' systems approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(8), pages 1859-1868, April.
    5. Xianglong Xu & Bing Li & Lingli Liu & Yong Zhao, 2016. "Body Pain Intensity and Interference in Adults (45–53 Years Old): A Cross-Sectional Survey in Chongqing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Debby Postulart & Eddy M.M. Adang, 2000. "Response Shift and Adaptation in Chronically III Patients," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 20(2), pages 186-193, April.
    7. Al-Janabi, Hareth & Keeley, Thomas & Mitchell, Paul & Coast, Joanna, 2013. "Can capabilities be self-reported? A think aloud study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 116-122.
    8. Musa Pazhuhan & Saeed Zanganeh Shahraki & Niloofar Kaveerad & Sirio Cividino & Matteo Clemente & Luca Salvati, 2020. "Factors Underlying Life Quality in Urban Contexts: Evidence from an Industrial City (Arak, Iran)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, March.
    9. Anne-Marie Etienne & Gilles Dupuis & Elisabeth Spitz & Fabienne Lemetayer & Pierre Missotten, 2011. "The Gap Concept as a Quality of Life Measure: Validation Study of the Child Quality of Life Systemic Inventory," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 100(2), pages 241-257, January.
    10. Jessica De Maeyer & Wouter Vanderplasschen & Eric Broekaert, 2009. "Exploratory Study on Drug Users’ Perspectives on Quality of Life: More than Health-Related Quality of Life?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 90(1), pages 107-126, January.
    11. Yunshuang Rao & Xianglong Xu & Dengyuan Liu & Cesar Reis & Ian M. Newman & Liqiang Qin & Manoj Sharma & Jun Shen & Yong Zhao, 2018. "Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Middle-Aged Adults in Chongqing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, April.
    12. Paul Dolan & Henry Lee & Tessa Peasgood, 2012. "Losing Sight of the Wood for the Trees," PharmacoEconomics, Springer, vol. 30(11), pages 1035-1049, November.
    13. Ziao Hu & Pengfei Chen & Jiafu Liu, 2023. "Effect of Positive Emotions on the Quality of Life of Chinese College Students," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 12(5), pages 1-42, October.
    14. Aistė Kavaliauskienė & Antanas Šidlauskas & Apolinaras Zaborskis, 2018. "Relationship Between Orthodontic Treatment Need and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among 11–18-Year-Old Adolescents in Lithuania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, May.

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