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Rasch Analysis of the Families in Early Intervention Quality of Life (FEIQoL) Scale

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Abstract

Family quality of life (FQoL) has become one of the main outcomes of services for people with disabilities and their families, especially in early intervention, which nowadays is all about families. In this article, we analyze and validate the psychometric properties of the FEIQoL scale with Spanish families in early intervention, through Rasch analysis. A total of 776 families of children 0–6 completed the FEIQoL. To assess the Rasch model, we analyzed the item fit, reliability and separation, unidimensionality, response forms, and DIF analyses. The results indicated that the scores on the FEIQoL were reliable and fit the Rasch model. The response forms were adequate, the item difficulty matched respondents’ ability levels, and we found unidimensionality in the 3 factors. DIF analysis indicated that the items did not function differently by child age. The FEIQoL could be improved by modifying misfitting items and possibly including more difficult items for respondents with high FQoL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Alabama, 902 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Pau García-Grau & R. A. McWilliam

  2. Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Campus Capacitas, 5 c/ Sagrado Corazón, 46110, Godella, Spain

    Gabriel Martínez-Rico

  3. Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Campus Capacitas, 175 c/Guillem de Castro, 46008, Valencia, Spain

    Catalina P. Morales-Murillo

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  1. Pau García-Grau
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Correspondence to Pau García-Grau.

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García-Grau, P., McWilliam, R.A., Martínez-Rico, G. et al. Rasch Analysis of the Families in Early Intervention Quality of Life (FEIQoL) Scale. Applied Research Quality Life 16, 383–399 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-019-09761-w

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