Subjective well-being measures for children were developed within the PROMIS Project: presentation of first results

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) study were to (1) conceptualize children's subjective well-being (SWB) and (2) produce item pools with excellent content validity for calibration and use in computerized adaptive testings (CATs).

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Children's SWB was defined through semistructured interviews with experts, children (aged 8-17 years), parents, and a systematic literature review to identify item concepts comprehensively covering the full spectrum of SWB. Item concepts were transformed into item expressions and evaluated for comprehensibility using cognitive interviews, reading level analysis, and translatability review.

RESULTS: Children's SWB comprises affective (positive affect) and global evaluation components (life satisfaction). Input from experts, children, parents, and the literature indicated that the eudaimonic dimension of SWB-that is, a sense of meaning and purpose-could be evaluated. Item pools for life satisfaction (56 items), positive affect (53 items), and meaning and purpose (55 items) were produced. Small differences in comprehensibility of some items were observed between children and adolescents.

CONCLUSION: The SWB measures for children are the first to assess both the hedonic and eudaimonic aspects of SWB. Both children and youth seem to understand the concepts of a meaningful life, optimism, and goal orientation.