Measuring health-related quality of life in a Chinese Mainland adolescent population: psychometric properties of the Mandarin Chinese self-reported KIDSCREEN-27 and KIDSCREEN-10 index

Background: The self-reported KIDSCREEN questionnaires are ideal for capturing children’s and adolescents’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and have gained worldwide popularity. Responding to demands for the concise nature of KIDSCREEN among Chinese Mainland researchers and practitioners, this study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Mandarin Chinese self-reported KIDSCREEN-27 (KS-27) and KIDSCREEN-10 index (KS-10), which are short versions of the self-reported KIDSCREEN-52 (KS-52). Methods: This study reanalyzed the validation dataset of the Mandarin Chinese self-reported KS-52. The dataset originated from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Weifang City, the Chinese Mainland, from October to November 2016. Adolescents aged 11–17 years (N = 4385) were surveyed, and sub-samples (N = 841) were retested. Statistical analyses were conducted on the feasibility, item and dimension properties, reliability, and validity of the Mandarin Chinese self-reported KS-27 and KS-10. Results: Indirect evidence from the Small Group Pilot Survey indicated that the Mandarin Chinese self-reported KS-27 and KS-10 can be completed on average in less than 12.33 mins. Their response rate exceeded 90% regardless of the unit- and item (dimension)-level. The psychometric properties of items and dimensions were likewise found to be satisfactory. Internal consistency was robust with inter-item and item-total correlations (0.173–0.873, 0.422–0.786), Cronbach’s alpha (0.786–0.881), Guttman’s lambda-2 and - 6 (0.807–0.889, 0.829–0.896), and McDonald’s omega (0.725–0.886). Test–retest reliability at both item- and dimension-level was excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of (0.590–0.696, 0.785–0.842); standard error of measurements (SEMs) of (0.352–0.635, 0.949–1.949). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed their five- and one-dimensional structures, albeit with slight modifications. Moreover, the multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) substantiated their configural and metric invariance across gender and grade groups. Convergent validity was robust, with stronger correlations observed with comparable dimensions of the Mandarin Chinese self-reported PedsQL™ 4.0, while discriminant validity was evident with low correlations observed with less comparable dimensions. The known-group validity was mainly supported by medium to large effect sizes concerning differences in socioeconomic status (η² = 0.07–0.17, Cohen’s d = 0.55–1.03) and mental health status (η² = 0.09–0.40, Cohen’s d = 0.73–1.83). The Mandarin Chinese self-reported KS-52 served as the criterion; the ICCs between the Mandarin Chinese self-reported KS-27 and KS-10 and their comparable dimensions were stronger, indicating robust criterion validity. Conclusions: The Mandarin Chinese self-reported KS-27 and KS-10 demonstrated excellent psychometric properties, indicating their good potential for measuring HRQoL for children and adolescents in the Chinese Mainland.