The Value of Valued Living Questionnaire for Chronic Illnesses: the Case of Thalassemia

Abstract

ACT core processes (values, psychological flexibility) are said to function as mechanisms of change during treatment. Assessing these processes would further examine the efficacy of ACT. The Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ) is a clinical tool aimed at values clarification and assessment. Acting in accordance to ones values has in the past been linked to improved QOL in chronic conditions. The current study aims at examining the VLQ for chronic illness sufferers. The sample consists of 120 chronic pain patients, 55 asthma patients and 100 patients with thalassemia major. Five outcome variables were tested for convergent validity (CAMS-R, HADS, AAQ-II, MAAS, SACS) and one was tested for divergent validity (PBI). The VLQ-G is a reliable measure consisting of two subscales, Importance (a = .81), and Consistency (a = .88). Analysis yielded one factor for the first scale (34% of the variance) and 2 factors (43%, 11% of the variance) for the other. A negative correlation between the VLQ and the convergent measures provided support for the validity of the VLQ. Results will be discussed in terms of the application of the VLQ in the assessment and treatment of health related conditions.