The utility of the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) in testing quality of life theory: an evaluation using structural equation modeling

PurposeThis study uses structural equation modeling to assess the utility of the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS)—the Centers for Disease Control’s premier surveillance tool for monitoring behavioral risk factors—in predicting health-related quality of life (HRQoL).MethodsUsing SPSS/AMOS (version 18), the study utilizes New York State data extracted from the 2007 BRFSS national dataset to test a well-known HRQoL model developed by Wilson and Cleary (J Am Med Assoc 59–65, 2). The analysis represents an exploratory study that seeks to identify new applications for this important epidemiological database as well as a theoretical evaluation that examines the robustness of our current understanding of HRQoL.ResultsFindings support the Wilson and Cleary (J Am Med Assoc 59–65, 2) model, with the final model producing fit indices well within the thresholds traditionally used as benchmarks of good fit.ConclusionsThe integrity of the Wilson and Cleary (J Am Med Assoc 59–65, 2) model was substantiated, and the utility of BRFSS data for operationalization of HRQoL concepts was demonstrated successfully. This study has: (1) expanded the role of epidemiological research to include whole theory testing; and (2) successfully operationalized the Wilson and Cleary (J Am Med Assoc 59–65, 2) model using available, non-clinical data, which represents a major methodological contribution to the study of HRQoL.