Assessing the Validity of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire—Short Form in Adults With ADHD

OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed the psychometric properties of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-QSF) in adults with ADHD. METHOD: One hundred fifty ADHD and 134 non-ADHD adults from a case-control study and 173 adults randomized to placebo or methylphenidate were assessed with the Q-LES-QSF and the Social Adjustment Scale (SAS). Response to change was estimated by comparing change in Q-LES-QSF scores in responders and nonresponders in our randomized clinical trial. RESULTS: Internal consistency of the Q-LES-QSF items was .88, and the correlation between the Q-LES-QSF total score and the SAS total T score was .72 in adults with ADHD. ADHD cases had statistically significantly poorer scores on the Q-LES-QSF than controls (76.5 +/- 10.9 vs. 59.2 +/- 17.3, p < .001), whereas ADHD responders showed Q-LES-QSF improvement compared to nonresponders (76.1 +/- 12.0 versus 67.9 +/- 14.5, p < .001). CONCLUSION: These results support the validity of the Q-LES-QSF as a measure of quality of life in adults with ADHD.