Psychometric properties of Leisure Satisfaction Scale (LSS)-short form: a Rasch rating model calibration approach

BACKGROUND: Leisure satisfaction has been one of primary variables to explain an individual’s choice of leisure and recreational activities’ participation. The Leisure Satisfaction Scale (LSS)-short form has been widely utilized to measure leisure and recreation participants’ satisfaction levels. However, limited research has been studied on the LSS-short form that would provide sufficient evidence to use it to measure individual leisure satisfaction levels. Thus, the purpose of the study was to determine whether the LSS-short form would be appropriate to measure individuals’ leisure satisfaction levels. METHOD: The convenience sampling was used in this study from the south-central United States. The LSS-short form questionnaire was administered to 436 individuals after removing 20 surveys due to incomplete questions. The WINSTEPS computer program was utilized to analyze the Rating scale fit; Item fit; Differential Item Functioning (DIF); and Person-Item map by utilizing Rasch rating scale model. RESULTS: The results indicated that the five-point Likert-type LSS-short form was appropriate to utilize. Two of 24 LSS-short form items had overfit or misfit and were eliminated. DIF indicated that all remained 22 items were suitable to measure leisure satisfaction levels. Overall, 22 item were finally selected for the reconstructed version of the LSS-short form. In addition, Person-Item map showed that ability and item difficulty were fit matched. CONCLUSIONS: As the importance of leisure has been increased, the newly reconstructed LSS-short form would be recommended to evaluate individual leisure satisfaction levels in future studies. Furthermore, leisure and recreation professionals can provide and develop effective leisure activities or programs by measuring individual’s leisure satisfaction level with the new version of LSS-short form.