Development & Validation of a Quality-of-Life Scale (QOLS)

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate an indigenous Urdu-language Quality of Life Scale (QOLS-Urdu) tailored to the sociocultural context of Pakistan. Employing a mixed-methods, multi-phased research design, the scale was constructed through qualitative item generation from literature review, interviews, and expert consultations, followed by pilot testing, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA), and validity assessment. The initial item pool was refined to 16 culturally relevant items rated on a 7-point Likert scale. A purposive sample of 200 Urdu-speaking adults from urban and semi-urban areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad participated in the factor analyses phases. EFA results indicated a robust unidimensional factor structure with 13 retained items showing factor loadings above .40 and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .89). CFA confirmed the model’s construct validity, yielding good fit indices (GFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.07). For convergent and discriminant validity, a separate sample of 50 participants completed the QOLS-Urdu alongside the WHOQOL-BREF and Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB). The QOLS-Urdu showed strong positive correlation with WHOQOL-BREF (r = .80, p < .05) and a significant negative correlation with PWB (r = –.52, p < .01), supporting its validity. These findings demonstrate that the QOLS-Urdu is a psychometrically sound, culturally grounded instrument capable of reliably assessing quality of life in Urdu-speaking Pakistani populations. This scale fills a critical gap in culturally sensitive well-being measurement and offers utility for clinical assessment, public health evaluation, and psychosocial research within Pakistan’s unique cultural framework.