Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults: Its Association with Health Literacy, Self-Efficacy, Social Support, and Health-Promoting Behavior.

Jihyun Oh,Myung Kyung Lee

doi:10.3390/healthcare8040407

Jihyun Oh, Myung Kyung Lee

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8040407

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Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationships among sociodemographics, health literacy, self-efficacy, social support, health-promoting behavior, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults. A total of 240 older adults aged >65 years were recruited from three community senior welfare centers in South Korea. Standardized self-administered questionnaires measuring sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy, social support, self-efficacy, health-promoting behavior, and health-related quality of life were distributed to older adults. Multiple regression analyses with stepwise selection was used to determine the factors affecting health-related quality of life. Factors affecting a higher physical component score of HRQOL were a higher comprehension level of and numeracy in health literacy, physical health-promoting behavior, perceived emotional-informational support, and a lesser number of comorbidities. Factors affecting a higher mental component score of HRQOL were a higher comprehension level of and numeracy in health literacy, self-efficacy, physical health-promoting behavior, perceived emotional-informational support, and a lesser number of comorbidities. To improve HRQOL among older adults, nursing interventions are required to measure health literacy, empower physical health-promoting behavior and self-efficacy, and enhance emotional-informational support from family or other resources.

Highlights

The elderly group is the fastest growing segment of the population, predicted to rise from 15.7% in 2020 to 25.0% in 2030 [1]
As the key cognitive and psychosocial factors, health literacy, self-efficacy, social support, and health-promoting behavior are considered in this older age group
The results showed that higher health literacy, self-efficacy, health-promoting behavior, and social support had a positive influence on older adults’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and our hypothesis was accepted

Summary

Introduction

The elderly group is the fastest growing segment of the population, predicted to rise from 15.7% in 2020 to 25.0% in 2030 [1]. Cognitive and psychosocial factors have been shown to determine survival, use of medical services, health-promoting behavior, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older individuals [2,3,4,5]. As the key cognitive and psychosocial factors, health literacy, self-efficacy, social support, and health-promoting behavior are considered in this older age group. Low HL is associated with negative health outcomes, including low HRQOL in older adults [4,9], poor use of healthcare in older adults [10], misunderstanding medical instructions, unhealthy behaviors in older adults [11], poor medication adherence in older adults with asthma [12], and poorer self-reported health in the elderly [9]

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