A Study of Factors Influencing Quality of Life among Community Dwelling Elderly in Korean Urban Community

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundWe examined the factors influencing quality of life among community dwelling elderly in Busan city.MethodThe subjects of this research were 160 community‐dwelling elderly people without dementia and major depressive disorder. Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument‐Abbreviated form (WHOQOL‐BREF), Korean version of Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS‐K) and Korean version of MiniMental State Examination (K‐MMSE) were administered for each subject. Low quality of life was defined as below 60 points of WHOQOL‐BREF.ResultThe high quality of life group showed higher score of MMSE, lower score of GDS‐K, higher educational level and married status. About a third of the subjects complained about low quality of life. In the low quality of life group, there were significant associations between quality of life and SGDS‐K (p<0.001), but there was no association with education (p = 0.708), marital status (p = 0.410), and K‐MMSE (p = 0.683).ConclusionDepressive disorders including minor depressive disorder and subsyndromal depression, might play a role in the quality of life rather than cognitive impairments in community‐dwelling elderly people. Therefore, the treatments for the depressive mood should be considered in dealing with low quality of life.