INVESTIGATION OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS IN CONTEXT OF HEALTH PERCEPTION AND HEALTH ANXIETY

Abstract

Objective:This study was planned to examine the factors affecting the quality of life of elderly individuals in the context of health perception and health anxiety. Method: The study is of descriptive type and was conducted with the participation of 374 elderly individuals. In the study, data were collected using the General Information Form, the Elderly Quality of Life Scale, the Health Perception Scale(SAS), and the Health Anxiety Scale. Data, number, percentage and mean values were evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis. The level of significance was accepted as p<0.05 in the statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 71.18±5.74. Participants got 28.92±8.13 points from the Quality of Life Scale Total, 54.87±9.58 points from the Health Perception Scale Total, and 43.57±10.53 points from the Health Anxiety Scale Total. It explains the participants' Quality of Life (32.1% of total variance) and sub-dimensions (Control 24.4%; Autonomy 20.2%; Pleasure 21.7%; Self-Realization 19.8%). Conclusion:It was found that the elderly individuals participating in the study had a moderate quality of life, had higher than average health perceptions and had high levels of health anxiety. As a result of the established multiple linear regression, it was found that health perception sub-dimensions and health anxiety were effective/predicted on quality of life. In particular, it is recommended that public health nurses pay attention to these issues in education and quality of life studies to be carried out for elderly individuals, and that studies based on health perception and health anxiety should be carried out with individual and collective organizations(congress, conference).