Psychometric properties of the leisure time satisfaction scale in family caregivers/Propiedades psicométricas de la escala de Satisfacción con el ocio en familiares cuidadores

Background: Despite evidence of the numerous benefits of leisure to health and well-being appropriate tools to assess this construct are lacking. The purpose of this work was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Leisure Time Satisfaction (LTS). Method: The sample was made up of 1048 primary family caregivers of dependent people. Scale structure was subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Concurrent and convergent validity were assessed by correlation with validated questionnaires for measuring burden (Zarit Burden Inventory - ZBI) and health (SF-36 Health Survey). Results: The results show a high level of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .938) suitable fit of the dimensional model tested via confirmatory factor analysis (GFI = .925, BBNNFI= .996; IFI= .998, RMSEA= .043), and appropriate convergent validity with similar constructs (r = -.44 with ZBI; and r-values between .226 and .440 with SF-36 dimensions). Conclusion: Psychometric results obtained from the LTS are promising and the results enable us to draw the conclusion that it is a suitable tool for assessing caregivers' leisure time satisfaction. Keywords: Leisure, family caregiving, burden. Antecedentes: a pesar de las evidencias sobre los beneficios del ocio para la salud y el bienestar, apenas existen instrumentos para medir este constructo. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las propiedades psicometricas de la version espanola de la Escala de Satisfaccion con el Ocio. Metodo: la muestra ha estado formada por 1.048 familiares cuidadores. La estructura de la escala ha sido analizada a traves de analisis factoriales (exploratorio y confirmatorio) y para evaluar la validez concurrente y discriminante se han utilizado escalas validadas de sobrecarga (Zarit Burden Inventory - ZBI) y salud (SF-36 Health Survey). Resultados: los resultados muestran una buena consistencia interna (Alpha de Cronbach = .938), un buen ajuste al modelo (GFI = .925, BBNNFI= .996; IFI= .998, RMSEA= .043) y una adecuada validez convergente con constructos similares (r = -.44 con ZBI y valores r entre .226 y .440 con SF-36). Conclusion: las propiedades psicometricas de la version espanola de la Leisure Time Satisfaction Scale (LTS) son prometedoras y los resultados obtenidos permiten concluir que es un instrumento adecuado para evaluar la satisfaccion con el ocio de familiares cuidadores de personas dependientes. Palabras clave: ocio, cuidadores familiares, sobrecarga