A Reliability Generalization Meta-Analysis of Scores on the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale Across Sample Characteristics

Abstract

The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) has an extensive history of use that often relies on inductions of reliability from precedent literature. We completed a systematic of the literature and extracted sample-specific reliability estimates for ProQOL subscale scores. Random effects meta-analytic modeling was implemented to identify mean estimates of reliability. Secondary analyses were completed to depict generalization across samples and possible scores in future studies. Our analyses detected mean internal consistency estimates for the Compassion Satisfaction (.875), Secondary Traumatic Stress (.808), and Burnout (.754) similar to those reported in the ProQOL manual. However, secondary analyses revealed statistical variations associated with the professional identity and proportions of ethnicity represented within samples. ProQOL score reliability has remained fairly stable over time with scores for Compassion Satisfaction and Secondary Traumatic Stress supporting use in basic research, but not clinical decision making, the Burnout scale was associated with more questionable precision.