Wisconsin Quality of Life Caregiver Questionnaire – Caregiver Support Scale (WQL-CQ)
Measures the amount of support and supervision a caregiver provides to a relative, friend, or neighbor with mental illness.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Wisconsin Quality of Life Caregiver Questionnaire – Caregiver Support Scale (WQL-CQ) was developed by Marion A. Becker, Bret R. Shaw, Lisa M. Reib (1996). It is designed to measure Caregiver Support and Supervision. The scale is intended for use with Caregivers of individuals with severe mental illness.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Activities of Daily Living Support, Behavioral Support.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Activities of Daily Living Support | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | 8 |
| Behavioral Support | 9,10,11,12,13,14 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = None, 1 = Little, 2 = Some, 3 = Much.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 42. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Support/Supervision: 0 – 14
- Moderate Support/Supervision: 15 – 28
- High Support/Supervision: 29 – 42
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.