Evaluating the Wording Effect and Psychometric Properties of the Kid-KINDL

Abstract

Quality of life (QoL) instruments for children provide an important health index for school healthcare professionals to understand students’ overall health status. We investigated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the widely used Kid-KINDL and reported on the wording effect of its positively and negatively worded items. A convenience sample of 8- to 12-year-old students (n = 443) completed the Kid-KINDL; 89 of them completed it again 7–14 days later. The internal consistency was satisfactory in the total score (α = .87) and two subscales (α = .704 [emotional] and .853 [self-esteem]), but unsatisfactory for the other subscales (α = .578 [physical], .533 [friend], .520 [family], and .560 [school]). Test-retest reliability was acceptable in all the subscales and the total score (ICC > .6). A multitrait-multimethod design using several confirmatory factor analysis models confirmed the construct validity of the Kid-KINDL when the wording effect was taken into account (GFI = .912–.934, TLI = .889–.930, CFI = 0.910–.947, IFI = 0.912–0.948, RMSEA = 0.045–0.057, SRMR = .045–.056). We conclude that the Kid-KINDL is a reliable and valid tool for teachers to use to evaluate students’ QoL if the total score is used.