Cross-cultural model testing: Quality of life in a Latino population living with HIV

This study examines the cross-cultural equivalence of concepts and measurement properties of a quality-of-life (QOL) model using structural equation modeling. Often, cultural bias is present in psychometric measures resulting from methods of survey construction and validity testing. Questions then arise as to the appropriateness of administering these surveys to ethnically heterogeneous samples. Our sample consisted of two cohorts (n = 118 Latinos; n = 658 Whites) from the AIDS Time-Oriented Health Outcome Study databank. Analyses were conducted in two stages using the MPLUS program and maximum likelihood estimation procedures. Invariance analysis supported the fit of the QOL model in both Latino and White samples. The significant chi-square test between weak and strong invariance (p < .01) in both cohorts suggests that the questionnaire should not be used when comparing outcomes between the two groups. This investigation into the appropriateness of a QOL model supports its use within Latino populations. The analysis, however, did not support the use of the model for use in cross-cultural comparisons. 2005 Springer Publishing Company.

Cross-cultural model testing: Quality of life in a Latino population living with HIV Academic Article