The LISAT was originally developed as a checklist rather than a measure of life satisfaction (Fugl-Maeyer et al. 1991). The LISAT questionnaires target important life domains: vocational, financial and leisure situations, contacts with friends, sexual life, self-care management, family life, partner relationships, physical, and psychological health were added (Melin et al. 2003).

Number of items: The LISAT-9: 9 items and the LISAT-11: 11 items.

Procedure/Administration: Each item is scored on a 6-point scale from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 6 (very satisfied).

How scored: Item scores can be summed and an average score is produced.  It seems more appropriate to use mean item scores rather than a total score in order to keep the information on each domain available for clinical interventions.

Interpretability: Scores can be seen as meaningful as they represent satisfaction in different domains of life. Norms have not been developed per se, but a certain level of comparability exists among the studies using the LISAT and amongst the various populations reported (including SCI).

Acceptability: N/a

Languages: Available in 8 languages

Usability: N/a

Time to administer: Approximately 5 minutes; however, a few extra minutes may be required to clarify the meaning of terms such as vocational and leisure situation

Time to score: N/a

Training required: None

Availability: A copy of the tool can be obtained in the Fugl-Meyer et al. (1991) article.

Equipment required: None

Summary: The LISAT provides meaningful information for clinical and research purposes in the field of SCI. To date, it has been used in several studies involving a SCI population.

Psychometric Summary

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency;Inter-O=Inter-observer; Intra-O=Intra-observer; SS=Sensitivity/Specificity; N/a= No information.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

References

• Conway K, Chaput M, Fugl-Meyer KS, Fugl-Meyer A, Kubin M. Linguistic validation of the Fugl-Meyer Life Satisfaction Checklist (LiSat 8) into 8 languages. Qual Life Res 2000;9:41.
• Fugl-Meyer A, Bränholm I-B, Fugl-Meyer K. Happiness and Domain-Specific Life Satisfaction in Adult Northern Swedes. Clin Rehabil 1991;5:25-33.
• Kennedy P, Lude P, Taylor N. Quality of life, social participation appraisals and coping post spinal cord injury: A review of four community sample. Spinal Cord 2006;44:95-105.
• Melin R, Fugl-Meyer K, Fugl-Meyer A. Life Satisfaction in 18-64 Year Old Swedes in Relation to Education, Employment Situation, Health and Physical Activity. J Rehabil Med 2003;35:84-90.
• Post M, De Witte L, Schrijvers A. Quality of life and the ICIDH: Towards an Integrated Conceptual Model for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research. Clin Rehabil 1999;13:5-15.
• Post M, De Witte L, Van Asbeck F, Schrijvers A. Predictors of Health Status and Life Satisfaction of People with Spinal Cord Injuries. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998;79:395-402.