Testing and standardization of the German version of the EUROHIS-QOL and WHO-5 quality-of life-indices

This paper reports the psychometric validation and standardisation of the German versions of the EUROHIS-QOL 8 item index and the WHO-5 well-being index. The EUROHIS-QOL index is a self-assessment instrument of generic quality of life, the WHO-5 index is a self-assessment measure of general well-being. Analyses were based on data from a representative sample of the German population from 2004. Statistical examinations revealed good psychometric properties for the EUROHIS-QOL index. Although the performance of the instrument could be further improved such a modification would not be consistent with the conceptual requirements of this index. For the WHO-5 statistical analyses yielded excellent psychometric characteristics. Gender and age group-specific norm standard values for the German-language versions of both instruments are presented for the first time.