Abstract
Background: Previous studies indicated that social capital (SC) has an influence on quality of life (QOL). However, there are limited studies on how SC might associate with QOL among late adults and elderly in Thailand. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,148 participants who were identified by multistage random sampling from 4 provinces in the Northeast of Thailand. A self – administered questionnaire was developed and used to assess cognitive social capital (CSC), structural social capital (SSC), accessibility to health services, and socioeconomic status (SES) and QOL. The Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) was used to determine the association between SC and QOL when controlling for other covariates. Results: Only 41.03% (95%CI: 38.17 to 43.94) of the participants had good QOL. About half (50.26%) had high level of CSC, whereas only 36.15% had high level of SSC. The multivariate analysis indicated that having high levels of CSC and SSC was associated with good QOL. Other factors that were associated with having good QOL were aged <60 years old, monthly income ≥15,000 baht, adequate income, adequate physical activity, lived in the municipality, and had high level of accessibility to health services. Conclusion: Less than half of late adults and elderly had good QOL and high level of SSC. About half had high level of CSC. Both CSC and SSC had influence on QOL as well as gender, age, monthly income, financial status, physical activity, residential area, and accessibility to health services.
Highlights
Quality of life (QOL) is the extent to which personal perception on comfortable or satisfying of their life in relation to their objectives, expectancy, standards, and concerns
The main finding was discussed according to the objective of the study as follows: quality of life (QOL) measured by the WHOQOL – BREF
This study has shown that females had significantly poorer QOL when compared with males
Summary
Quality of life (QOL) is the extent to which personal perception on comfortable or satisfying of their life in relation to their objectives, expectancy, standards, and concerns It involves health and happiness, rather than wealth[1,2]. Majid Karimzadeh et al (2013)[9] indicated that SC is considered as a significant determinant of QOL This SC is the sum of the actual or potential resources which are linked to a durable network of institutionalized relationships of generalized trustworthiness and active involvement that lead to mutual acquaintance or recognition, which are made up of social obligations or connections. The multivariate analysis indicated that having high levels of CSC and SSC was associated with good QOL. Other factors that were associated with having good QOL were aged
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