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Quality of life: Validation of an instrument and analysis of relationships between domains

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  • Talita Greyling
  • Fiona Tregenna

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) is now widely recognised as a multidimensional concept. This study validates an instrument to measure multidimensional QoL, and investigates the relationships between the domains thereof. The domains analysed are: health, housing and infrastructure, socio-economic status, social relationships, governance and safety. We utilise a rich household-level dataset collected by the GCRO on QoL in the Gauteng city-region of South Africa. To validate the instrument, we subject the different domains to exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to confirm the unidimensionality of each dimension, and then employ confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate the instrument and to investigate the interrelationships between the domains of QoL. The results show that the items included to measure the different scales/domains of QoL are valid measures of the constructs. Furthermore, all domains are positively related, implying that policy measures implemented to improve a specific dimension may also positively influence the other domains of QoL.

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  • Talita Greyling & Fiona Tregenna, 2020. "Quality of life: Validation of an instrument and analysis of relationships between domains," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 19-39, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:37:y:2020:i:1:p:19-39
    DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2019.1684243
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    1. Samy Katumba & Julia Kadt & Mark Orkin & Paul Fatti, 2022. "Construction of a Reflective Quality of Life Index for Gauteng Province in South Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 164(1), pages 373-408, November.

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    JEL classification:

    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • C38 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Classification Methdos; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components; Factor Analysis
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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