Japanese Version of ReQoL Validated in Community Mental Health Setting
21st March 2025
A newly published study by one of our licensees marks a significant milestone in patient-reported outcome measures in Japan. The research, now available in a peer-reviewed journal, confirms the psychometric validity of the Japanese version of the Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) measure for use in community mental health services.
The study assessed the psychometric properties of both ReQoL-10 and ReQoL-20 in a diverse sample of 395 service users from 23 mental health facilities across Japan. This rigorous cross-sectional study focused on confirming the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of ReQoL in a real-world setting.
Using a series of confirmatory factor analyses, the research team identified the bifactor model as the best fit for the data, demonstrating strong unidimensionality (CFI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.031). Internal consistency was high, and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.700–0.766) supported the tool’s stability over time.
The ReQoL showed expected patterns of correlation with other validated scales. It was positively associated with quality of life and well-being measures such as the EQ-5D-5L and the QLS, and negatively associated with symptom and disability scales like the PHQ-9 and WHODAS.
Importantly, the short-form ReQo-10 demonstrated a very strong correlation (r = .95) with the full ReQoL-20, reinforcing its utility as a brief, yet robust, screening tool.
The study concludes that the ReQoL demonstrates excellent internal consistency, construct validity, and reliability, making it a valuable resource for capturing service users’ perspectives on recovery and quality of life in Japan’s mental health care system.
This publication underscores the adaptability and global relevance of ReQoL as a culturally sensitive, patient-centered measure. We congratulate our licensee on this important contribution and look forward to continued collaboration in expanding the global utility of ReQoL.
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