Factors Affecting Quality of Communication Life in Older Adults: Focused on the Relationship with Quality of Life, Cognition, and Psychoemotional Aspects

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of communication life (QCL) in older adults as an overall context including psychological well-being, social support, communication skill, and accessibility to the communicative setting. Methods This study was implemented on 22 normal older adults aged 65 and over. We examined the relation among QCL and other variables. These variables include quality of life, general/higher order cognition (organization/reasoning/problem solving/executive function), and psychoemotional aspects (self-efficacy/depression), which are based on factors associated with quality of life for older adults and have a direct influence on communication. The present study also explored predictors associated with QCL. Results Quality of life, general/higher order cognition, and self-efficacy had a significant positive correlation with QCL. A significant negative correlation between QCL and depression was observed. Education, general cognition, organization, self-efficacy, and depression were powerful predictors of QCL. Conclusion These findings illustrate a variety of factors influencing QCL, and contribute to drawing up measures to improve it. The result creates a momentum for a better understanding of age-related cognitive-linguistic change throughout the life span. Key Words: Quality of communication life, Older adults, Predictors, Cognitive-linguistic change 중심 단어: 의사소통 ê´€ë ¨ 삶의 질, ë ¸ì¸, 예측 변인, 인지-ì–¸ì–´ì  변화