Adaptation and psychometric properties of the life conditions scale in university staff: a study in Spain and Colombia
10 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Health Science, International University of Valencia
- 2Research Group in Community Health and Care SALCOM, International University of Valencia
- 3Sapienf (B53_23R) Research Group, Department of Physiatry and Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza
- 4Health Center “Valdespartera-Montecanal”, Aragón Health Care System (SALUD)
- 5Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, University of Valencia
- 6Department of Physiatry and Nursing, University of Zaragoza
- 7GRUPAC Research Group, Department of Nursing, University of La Rioja
- 8Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Lab-12, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego
- 9Division of Scientific Research and Innovation in Emergency Medical Service, Department of Emergency Medical Service, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Wroclaw Medical University
- 10Faculty of Health Science, Corporación Universitaria Iberoamericana IBERO
Abstract
Background: Health promotion within the university setting requires valid and reliable instruments to identify factors related to lifestyle, emotional well-being and mental health among staff. Although the Life Conditions Scale (LifeConScale) had previously been validated in adolescents, there were no instruments specifically integrating these dimensions for university personnel. Therefore, adaptation and validation for use with higher education professionals is necessary.
Objective: To adapt the LifeConScale and examine its psychometric properties in university staff, including Teaching and Research Staff and Technical, Management, Administrative and Services Staff.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 440 professionals from two universities in Spain and Colombia. The instrument was adapted via a Delphi process with health and health-promotion experts. Common-factor exploratory factor analysis with parallel analysis and oblique rotation assessed internal structure; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett’s test evaluated sampling adequacy. Reliability was estimated with McDonald’s omega. Measurement invariance for core dimensions (personal wellbeing, anxiety, physical activity) between countries was examined through nested multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (configural, metric and scalar).
Results: Sampling adequacy was adequate (KMO = 0.850; p < 0.001). Parallel analysis and common-factor exploratory factor analysis with oblique rotation identified seven interpretable factors: personal wellbeing, anxiety, physical activity, snacking, leisure screen use, social media use, and fruit and vegetable intake. The Personal Wellbeing Index and GAD-7 showed no cross-loadings and a moderate latent correlation, supporting discriminant validity; the AUDIT-C was retained as an independent validated scale scored with its original algorithm. Reliability (McDonald’s omega) was excellent for anxiety (ω = 0.929), wellbeing (ω = 0.922) and social media (ω = 0.920), and good for physical activity (ω = 0.859), leisure screens (ω = 0.795), fruit and vegetables (ω = 0.760) and snacking (ω = 0.753). Heterogeneous dietary and sleep indicators were treated as formative and not aggregated into summative scores.
Related
- Psychometric properties and cross-cultural adaptation of the HPV testing knowledge scale: a cross-sectional methodological study among Turkish women
- Cross-cultural adaptation and comparative psychometric evaluation of four patient-reported outcome measures for breast cancer-related lymphedema: measurement properties and clinical discrimination
- Turkish Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the State Shame and Guilt Scale
- Turkish Adaptation of the LGBTQIA+ Minority Stress Scale and Evaluation of Its Psychometric Properties
- Adapting the Emotional Dysregulation Questionnaire for South Africa: methods of adaptation and psychometric properties of the South African Emotional Dysregulation Scale
BibTeX
@article{sanchezhernando2026adaptation,
title = {{Adaptation and psychometric properties of the life conditions scale in university staff: a study in Spain and Colombia}},
author = {Beatriz Sánchez-Hernando and Patricia Marín-Maicas and Jorge Casaña-Mohedo and Ana Pellín-Carcelén and Luís López-Pérez and Emmanuel Echaniz-Serrano and Raúl Juárez-Vela and Michal Czapla and Pablo Roche-Soguero and Nohora Dulfay Bohórquez-Martínez and Marisol Urrego-Aguilera and Vicente Gea-Caballero},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945598},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945598/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Adaptation and psychometric properties of the life conditions scale in university staff: a study in Spain and Colombia
AU - Beatriz Sánchez-Hernando
AU - Patricia Marín-Maicas
AU - Jorge Casaña-Mohedo
AU - Ana Pellín-Carcelén
AU - Luís López-Pérez
AU - Emmanuel Echaniz-Serrano
AU - Raúl Juárez-Vela
AU - Michal Czapla
AU - Pablo Roche-Soguero
AU - Nohora Dulfay Bohórquez-Martínez
AU - Marisol Urrego-Aguilera
AU - Vicente Gea-Caballero
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945598
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1945598/full
AB - Background: Health promotion within the university setting requires valid and reliable instruments to identify factors related to lifestyle, emotional well-being and mental health among staff. Although the Life Conditions Scale (LifeConScale) had previously been validated in adolescents, there were no instruments specifically integrating these dimensions for university personnel. Therefore, adaptation and validation for use with higher education professionals is necessary. Objective: To adapt the LifeConScale and examine its psychometric properties in university staff, including Teaching and Research Staff and Technical, Management, Administrative and Services Staff. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 440 professionals from two universities in Spain and Colombia. The instrument was adapted via a Delphi process with health and health-promotion experts. Common-factor exploratory factor analysis with parallel analysis and oblique rotation assessed internal structure; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett’s test evaluated sampling adequacy. Reliability was estimated with McDonald’s omega. Measurement invariance for core dimensions (personal wellbeing, anxiety, physical activity) between countries was examined through nested multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (configural, metric and scalar). Results: Sampling adequacy was adequate (KMO = 0.850; p < 0.001). Parallel analysis and common-factor exploratory factor analysis with oblique rotation identified seven interpretable factors: personal wellbeing, anxiety, physical activity, snacking, leisure screen use, social media use, and fruit and vegetable intake. The Personal Wellbeing Index and GAD-7 showed no cross-loadings and a moderate latent correlation, supporting discriminant validity; the AUDIT-C was retained as an independent validated scale scored with its original algorithm. Reliability (McDonald’s omega) was excellent for anxiety (ω = 0.929), wellbeing (ω = 0.922) and social media (ω = 0.920), and good for physical activity (ω = 0.859), leisure screens (ω = 0.795), fruit and vegetables (ω = 0.760) and snacking (ω = 0.753). Heterogeneous dietary and sleep indicators were treated as formative and not aggregated into summative scores.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -