Michael B. Frisch

Clinical Validation of the Quality of Life Inventory: A Measure of Life Satisfaction for Use in Treatment Planning and Outcome Assessment

This study details the psychometric evaluation of the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), a measure of life satisfaction that may complement symptom-oriented measures of psychological functioning in evaluating the outcome of interventions aimed at ameliorating mental disorders, disabling physical illnesses, and community-wide social problems

Predictive and Treatment Validity of Life Satisfaction and the Quality of Life Inventory

The clinical and positive psychology usefulness of quality of life, well-being, and life satisfaction assessments depends on their ability to predict important outcomes and to detect intervention-related change. These issues were explored in the context of a program of instrument validation for the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) involving 3,927 clients from various clinical settings. Clinical norms were also generated that supplement existing nationwide norms. The predictive validity of the QOLI and life satisfaction in a university counseling center was supported in terms of its ability to predict academic retention both by itself and in conjunction with cumulative grade point average 1 to 3 years in advance. The QOLI was also found to be sensitive to treatment-related change in two naturalistic clinical settings and samples. The interpretation and intervention utility of measures of quality of life, well-being, and life satisfaction are discussed with respect to clinical and positive psychology research.

Hope and optimism as related to life satisfaction

This study explored the hope and optimism constructs and their unique variances in predicting life satisfaction. The subscales (Agency and Pathways) of the Adult Hope Scale (Snyder, Harris et al., 1991) and optimism and pessimism as measured by the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R; Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994) were compared in terms of ability to predict life satisfaction as measured by the domain-specific Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI®; Frisch, 1994; Study 1, N = 331) and the global measure Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985; Study 2, N = 215). The Agency subscale of the Adult Hope Scale was the better predictor of life satisfaction in both studies. The implications of these findings for theory and measurement of hope and optimism are discussed.

Use of the Quality of Life Inventory in Problem Assessment and Treatment Planning for Cognitive Therapy of Depression

Cognitive therapy procedures involve the self-monitoring of thoughts and assumptions, logical analysis in which dysfunctional thoughts are disputed through logical argument, and hypothesis testing in which negative assumptions are challenged through real-world experiments aimed at testing their veracity (Jarrett & Nelson, 1987). Problem solving may constitute a little-recognized fourth component of cognitive therapy, one that is repeatedly mentioned in both the treatment manual (called “the manual”) (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979) and more recent works (DeRubeis & Beck, 1988). According to Beck et al. (1979), “external,” “situational,” or “practical” problems or “precipitants” related to depression usually involve perceived losses at home, work, or school such as divorce or a business failure. The resolution of even simple and circumscribed problems—through consultation with either the therapist or an appropriate “medical, legal, financial, or vocational” expert—can in itself alleviate depressive symptoms (Beck et al., 1979). For example, the manual describes the case of a beleaguered homemaker whose “symptoms quickly disappeared” (p. 204) once she secured help with household chores.

A comparison of formerly and chronically battered women on cognitive and situational dimensions

Relative to formerly abused women, chronically abused women had more traditional attitudes about womens roles, had lower self-esteem, felt more controlled by outside forces, were less educated, and were less likely to be employed or to receive counseling. Based on a screening interview, 46 female clients were assigned to either a chronically abused or formerly abused group. Results support the hypothesis that a womans decision to remain in a long-term abusive relationship is, in part, a rational decision based on the perceived relative rewards and costs of the relationship, the size of investments made in the relationship, and the perceived quality of alternatives to the abusive relationship (M. J. Strube and L. S. Barbour; see record 1984-18040-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

The role of neuroticism in relation to life stress and illness

Abstract If Eysencks construct of neuroticism corresponds to an inherent reactivity to stress, then neuroticism scores should function as a moderator variable influencing the relationship between life stress and illness. Two studies are reported in which this diathesis-stress model of illness is evaluated. In both studies, neuroticism and life stress emerged as significant independent predictors of self-reported health problems, but the tests of neuroticism as a moderator variable were not significant. In the latter study, locus of control did emerge as a near significant moderator variable. A reinterpretation of the neuroticism construct in the context of the present studies is offered, and two methods for evaluating possible moderator variables are illustrated.

EFFECTIVENESS OF QUALITY OF LIFE THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION

A bibliotherapy outcome study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Quality of Life Therapy for depression. Sixteen clinically depressed community volunteers who showed an aptitude for and interest in bibliotherapy and were not suffering from other disorders met weekly to discuss a manual on Quality of Life Therapy. All subjects who completed treatment were reclassified as nondepressed and showed significant increases in quality of life and self-efficacy at the end of treatment. All but one subject maintained these improvements at a follow-up assessment. The potential for increasing the improvement rate of a treatment by matching patients to treatment modalities that fit their aptitudes, skills, and interests is discussed.

Social validation of assertion strategies for handling aggressive criticism: Evidence for consistency across situations

The present study sought to socially validate a specific and a general assertive strategy for handling aggressive criticism. The specific assertive strategy was based on suggestions in the literature for handling criticism, while the general assertive strategy was based on assertion skills recommended for general use. Sixteen female undergraduates selected by their peers as effective in handling criticism viewed four videotaped vignettes in which a model was aggressively criticized. The model enacted four coping strategies (nonassertive, aggressive, specific assertive, or general assertive) in response to each situation. When the model utilized either the specific assertive or general assertive strategy, the judges perceived her behavior as significantly more effective, appropriate, and likeable than when either the nonassertive or the aggressive strategy was employed. The specific assertive strategy received significantly higher ratings on these measures than the general assertive strategy. These results were consistent across situations. The clinical and research implications of the findings are discussed in light of the limitations of a purely situation-specific approach to assertion training and research.

Sex role orientation and social skill: A naturalistic assessment of assertion and conversational skill

This study evaluated the relationship between sex role orientation and social skill, improving upon previous research by utilizing a more naturalistic role-play assessment, and by assessing both assertion and conversational skills. Fifty-nine female psychology students were classified as masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated based on the PRF-ANDRO scale. These subjects interacted with a confederate who engaged them in a standardized conversation including requests to borrow psychology class notes. The masculine, feminine, and androgynous groups displayed similar levels of assertion and conversational skill, even though masculine subjects rated themselves as more skillful and had fewer negative thoughts associated with being assertive than feminine subjects. Correlational analyses among continuous sex role and behavioral measures revealed that both masculinity and femininity scores were positively correlated with overall conversational skill. These results are interpreted in light of methodological difficulties in previous research, and in light of recent evidence that both masculine and feminine capabilities contribute to social competence in certain behavioral domains.

Predictive Validity and Sensitivity to Change in Quality of Life Assessment and Life Satisfaction: Further Studies of the Quality of Life Inventory or QOLI in Mental Health Settings

The clinical usefulness of quality of life assessments depends upon their ability to predict clinically important outcomes and to detect treatment-related change. In addition, norms for clinical — and not just nonclinical — samples are needed to demonstrate clinically significant change. These issues were explored in the context of a program of instrument validation for the QOLI or Quality of Life Inventory involving 3,927 clients from various clinical settings. Clinical norms for community mental health centers and university counseling centers were also generated that supplement existing nationwide, nonclinical norms. The predictive validity of the QOLI in a university counseling center was supported in terms of its ability to predict academic retention both by itself and in conjunction with cumulative G.P.A. one to three years in advance. The QOLI was also found to be sensitive to treatment-related change in two, naturalistic clinical settings and samples, that is, a managed care/substance abuse and a university counseling center setting. The interpretation and clinical utility of measures of quality of life and life satisfaction are discussed along with an agenda for further research.