Cross-Cultural Study of Quality of Life Indicators

The concept of quality of life is increasingly being used internationally in the field of intellectual disabilities. We surveyed three respondent groups representing five geographical groupings on the importance and use of the 24 core quality of life indicators most commonly reported in the international quality of life literature. Results suggest (a) similar profiles on importance and use across respondent and geographical groups, but differences in the frequency per response category; (b) significant differences in mean quality of life importance and use scores for both respondent and geographic groupings; and (c) factors on importance and use generally grouped into eight core quality of life domains. Results are discussed in reference to the etic (universal) and emic (culture-bound) properties of the quality of life concept.