Validity and clinical relevance of the quality of life (QL) measures developed in Western civilization societies may quite differ from those in countries experiencing socioeconomic hardships. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to validate the set of QL questionnaires in essential hypertensives (EH) from Belarusian population. METHODS: Internationally recognized, self-administered, culturally non-specific, and professionally translated into Russian questionnaires were used: the General Well-Being Adjustment Scale (GWBAS), Duke Health Profile (DHP), Giessen Somatic Complaints Questionnaire (GSCQ). The QL assessment was carried out in 212 EH without concomitant diseases (100 males; mean age 48.5±12.3 years; BMI 30.3±13.3 kg/m2; SBP 168.4±26.6 mm Hg, DBP 105.4±13.3 mm Hg) and in 57 age-, gender- and BMI-matched healthy subjects. RESULTS: Cronbach's coefficient alpha more then 0.7 was determined for GWBAS subscales (range 0.67-0.84; mean 0.77) excepting "self-control", for GSCQ (range 0.54-0.86; mean 0.74) excepting "gastric complains", but not for DHP (range 0.47-0.68; mean 0.57). Correlation matrix revealed significant and the highest Spearmen correlation coefficients of GWBAS subscales scores with corresponding DHP and GSCQ subscales scores, excepting GWBAS subscale "vitality". The total well-being index of GWBAS in EH was lower (80.0±16.9 vs. 90.3±15.3 points; p<0.0001) and the total complaints index of GSCQ was higher (29.7±17.4 vs. 15.9±9.7 points; p<0.000001) compared with the healthy control. CONCLUSIONS: Some discrepancies were revealed in testing results of the studied QL measures in developed and transitional societies. GWBAS and GSCQ demonstrate sufficient internal consistency reliability, convergent and discriminate validity, as well as sensitivity and may be used for the QL assessment in EH living in an unstable economy. DHP seems to be less reliable, probably due to brevity and intersected structure of subscales, and should be applicable mainly for fast preliminary QL screening.