Development of a Japanese Measurement Scale of Quality of Working Life for Staff Working in Nursing Facilities for the Elderly

抄録

A QWL measurement scale was developed based on Alderfer's need satisfaction theory called E.R.G. theory. The QWL measurement scale (QWLSCL) was designed to measure the extent to which four types of needs (or facets of QWL) : treatment (including pay, fringe-benefits and welfare programs), relationship with boss, relationship with colleagues, and growth needs are met by nursing personnel working in nursing facilities for the elderly. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), confirmatory factor analyses were employed on the data of 575 nursing personnel to examine the validity and reliability of the QWLSCL. Deletion of redundant observed variables changed the original 18-item scale to the respecified 15-item scale. Goodness of fit indices (GFI = .984, AGFI = .978, CFI = .978, RMSEA = .058) revealed the 15-item 2nd order factor model fit the data well, which confirmed the construct validity of QWLSCL. In addition, the factor score of QWL succeeded in predicting "overall job satisfaction," "intent to stay" and "life satisfaction in nonworking life domains," which supported the criterion-related validity of the QWLSCL to some extent. The necessity of a QWL approach to human resource management in nursing facilities for the elderly, as well as the necessity of undertaking more QWL research in this field is discussed.