Social isolation undermines quality of life in older adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1283-1292
Author(s):  
Karla Moreno-Tamayo ◽  
Betty Manrique-Espinoza ◽  
Eliseo Ramírez-García ◽  
Sergio Sánchez-García
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Factors

ABSTRACTObjective:Several studies have documented associations between social isolation and poor physical health or well-being. However, little is known of the importance of social support among older adults on specific topics about their quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between social isolation and quality of life among older adults.Design:A cross-sectional study.Setting:Mexico City.Participants:1,252 subjects aged ≥ 60 years living at home.Measurements:We used the Abbreviated Version of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) to assess social isolation and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-Old) to assess quality of life. Socio-demographic and health factors were collected through face-to-face interviews. A series of linear regression analyses were used to investigate relationship between social isolation and quality of life. The statistical models were controlled for socio-demographic and health factors.Results:A total of 750 women (60%) and 502 men (40%) participated in the study. According to their LSNS-6 scores, 426 participants (34.0%) were classified into the highest group of isolation (range 0-10 points). Older adults with higher scores of social isolation exhibited lower quality of life. Regression analyses indicated that social isolation correlated with lower levels of global quality of life, autonomy, intimacy, and past, present, and future activities.Conclusions:Coping with life from a socially isolated situation entails serious difficulties concerning quality of life. Interventions that foster environments where older adults can forge social bonds might improve their quality of life.

scholarly journals Quality of life in older adults receiving hemodialysis: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 655-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasheeda K. Hall ◽  
Michael P. Cary ◽  
Tiffany R. Washington ◽  
Cathleen S. Colón-Emeric
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Frailty Status

Abstract Purpose Patient priorities for quality of life change with age. We conducted a qualitative study to identify quality of life themes of importance to older adults receiving dialysis and the extent to which these are represented in existing quality of life instruments. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 adults aged ≥ 75 years receiving hemodialysis to elicit participant perspectives on what matters most to them in life. We used framework analysis methodology to process interview transcripts (coding, charting, and mapping), identify major themes, and compare these themes by participant frailty status. We examined for representation of our study’s subthemes in the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL-36) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life for Older Adults (WHOQOL-OLD) instruments. Results Among the 12 participants, average age was 81 (4.2) years, 7 African-American, 6 women, and 6 met frailty criteria. We identified two major quality of life themes: (1) having physical well-being (subthemes: being able to do things independently, having symptom control, maintaining physical health, and being alive) and (2) having social support (subthemes: having practical social support, emotional social support, and socialization). Perspectives on the subthemes often varied by frailty status. For example, being alive meant surviving from day-to-day for frail participants, but included a desire for new life experiences for non-frail participants. The majority of the subthemes did not correspond with domains in the KDQOL-36 and WHOQOL-OLD instruments. Conclusion Novel instruments are likely needed to elicit the dominant themes of having physical well-being and having social support identified by older adults receiving dialysis.

scholarly journals Factors that influence the global quality of life of long-lived older adults (>80 years)

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roumayne Costa ◽  
Márcia Carrera ◽  
Ana Paula Marques
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Global Quality Of Life

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess global quality of life and the factors associated with it in long-lived older adults registered with family health centers. Global quality of life was measured using the two general questions on the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study based on secondary data from a sample of 100 older adults. RESULTS: The results of analyses revealed a mean age of 84.20 years, 77% of the sample were female, 46% had spent between 1 and 4 years in education, 63% were widowed, 76% had an income equivalent to one to two times the minimum wage, 77% had systemic arterial hypertension, 34% had diabetes mellitus, 27% had cardiovascular disease, 74% had social support, and 63% exhibited depressive symptomology. The frequency of satisfactory global quality of life in the sample studied was 35%. CONCLUSIONS: In relation to global quality of life, assessed in terms of interviewees’ satisfaction with their lives and health in conjunction, the majority of the study population reported not being satisfied. After completion of all statistical analyses, factors associated with dissatisfaction were social support, depression, and osteoarthritis.

scholarly journals Evaluation of women’s quality of life after breast reconstruction surgery

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Stanisz ◽  
Ewelina Kolak ◽  
Dorota Branecka-Woźniak ◽  
Renata Robaszkiewicz-Boukaz ◽  
Przemysław Ciepiela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Breast Reconstruction ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Reconstruction Surgery ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women, and is usually treated surgically. Mastectomy has a great influence on the mental and physical condition of women. Breast reconstruction offers them a chance to improve their quality of life (QOL) and self-image.The main aim of the study was to gain knowledge about the impact of breast reconstruction on the QOL of women following mastectomy, and an analysis of the QOL after breast reconstruction, in the context of prosthesis effect assessment.Materials and methods: The study comprised 100 women following breast reconstructive surgery involved in 1 of the 7 “Amazon Clubs” (post-mastectomy women’s associations) in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, northwest Poland. The study was based on the author’s questionnaire, and a shortened standardized version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Statistical calculations were performed with StatSoft Statistica v10 software, adopting a significance level of p < 0.05.Results: The women who decided to have breast reconstruction surgery, noticed improved well-being (67%) and experiencedan increase in self-confidence (61%). The vast majority ofthe patients surveyed (93%) were satisfied with the effectof the prosthesis. Statistically significant differences in QOL were observed in the following spheres: rest and sleep, work capacity, negative feelings, and financial resources (p < 0.05) in relation to the evaluation of the prosthesis effect.Conclusions: 1. Breast reconstruction has a positive influence on improvements in well-being, increasing self-esteem, and the assessment of a more attractive appearance in women of all ages. 2. Breast reconstruction surgery has a positive impact on QOL and health in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains, especially in the women who are satisfied with the effects of the surgery. 3. A negative assessment of the breast reconstruction effect has an adverse influence on QOL. Identifying the factors affecting dissatisfaction with the post-operative outcome is crucial for a complete understanding of the subject, and for implementing measures aimed at improving the QOL of these women.Keywords: quality of life; mastectomy; breast cancer; breast reconstruction; breast surgery.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF A PARO INTERVENTION ON DEPRESSION AND WELL-BEING IN OLDER ADULTS WITH DEPRESSION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S341-S341
Author(s):  
Shu-Chuan Chen ◽  
Wendy Moyle ◽  
Cindy Jones
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to explore the effect of a social robot Paro intervention on depression and well-being in older adults with depression living in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Methods: This study was adopted a single group and quasi-experimental with repeated measures design. Each participant participated in two stages: observation and Paro intervention stages. Stage 1 was an 8-week observation stage in long-term care facilities where the purpose was to observe the normal mood, behaviour and activities of older adults with depression. In stage 2, each participant was given a Paro by the researcher to keep for 24 hours for 7 days in for 8 weeks. Outcome measurements were obtained 4 times: a week before the intervention (T1), immediately the end of 8-week observation (T2), mid-point of Paro intervention (T3), and immediately the end of 8-week Paro intervention (T4). Instruments included the Geriatric Depression Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-OLD. Results: There were 20 participants completed the study. The mean age of participants was 81.1years (SD = 8.2). After 8-week Paro intervention, statistically significant differences in changes were found on depression, loneliness, and quality of life from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Conclusion: This study was found that Paro intervention has beneficial effects on depression and mental well-being for older people with depression in long-term care facilities. Paro Intervention might be a suitable psychosocial intervention for older people with depression and should be considered as a useful tool in clinical practice.

scholarly journals Cut-off point for WHOQOL-bref as a measure of quality of life of older adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Aparecida Barbosa Silva ◽  
Sônia Maria Soares ◽  
Joseph Fabiano Guimarães Santos ◽  
Líliam Barbosa Silva
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Roc Curve ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
World Health ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Perceived Quality Of Life

OBJECTIVE To propose a cut-off for the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-bref) as a predictor of quality of life in older adults. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 391 older adults registered in the Northwest Health District in Belo Horizonte, MG, Southeastern Brazil, between October 8, 2010 and May 23, 2011. The older adults’ quality of life was measured using the WHOQOL-bref. The analysis was rationalized by outlining two extreme and simultaneous groups according to perceived quality of life and satisfaction with health (quality of life good/satisfactory – good or very good self-reported quality of life and being satisfied or very satisfied with health – G5; and poor/very poor quality of life – poor or very poor self-reported quality of life and feeling dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with health – G6). A Receiver-Operating Characteristic curve (ROC) was created to assess the diagnostic ability of different cut-off points of the WHOQOL-bref. RESULTS ROC curve analysis indicated a critical value 60 as the optimal cut-off point for assessing perceived quality of life and satisfaction with health. The area under the curve was 0.758, with a sensitivity of 76.8% and specificity of 63.8% for a cut-off of ≥ 60 for overall quality of life (G5) and sensitivity 95.0% and specificity of 54.4% for a cut-off of < 60 for overall quality of life (G6). CONCLUSIONS Diagnostic interpretation of the ROC curve revealed that cut-off < 60 for overall quality of life obtained excellent sensitivity and negative predictive value for tracking older adults with probable worse quality of life and dissatisfied with health.

scholarly journals QUALITY OF LIFE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL SERVING UNDER CONTRACT IN THE KOLA POLAR REGION

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 66-73
Author(s):  
A. S. Dybin ◽  
L. I. Menshikova ◽  
M. V. Tsizhma ◽  
P. Yu. Shapovalov ◽  
A. V. Khlopov
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Military Service ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
Maximum Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Introduction. The paper presents the results of a research of quality of life of the military serving under the contract in the Kola Polar region. The research was conducted using the World Health Organization Quality of Life brief version questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). The purpose of this work was to assess the quality of life and identify the factors adversely affecting the quality of life. The sociological questionnaire study in a group of 209 servicemen serving under the contract in the Kola Polar region was made. Results of the study showed lack of dependence of the general assessment of quality of life on a military rank, income level, age, education, marital status and the number of children in family, and at the same time, statistically significant correlation in the presence of diseases or under any treatment in the last two weeks prior to the survey in a respondent. The analysis of the general assessment of quality of life revealed the highest level in the sphere of micro-social support — 12,2 points (81,3% of the maximum level), and the lowest level in the sphere of social well-being — 26,0 points (65% of the maximum level). Answers to questions concerning existence of an opportunity for rest and entertainments and about availability of medical care are scored the lowest — 2,1 and 3,1 points, respectively. Answers to questions concerning state of environment, satisfaction with monetary pay and conditions in the place of residence were also scored low — 3,3 points. Assessment of quality of life using the WHOQOL-BREF can be used in order to identify and neutralize negative factors of military service and conditions of life and also for improvement of measures for maintaining health, high performance of military work, and motivation in servicemen under the contract in the Arctic zone.

scholarly journals Relationship between well-being, quality of life and hope in family caregivers of schizophrenic people

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (suppl 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Dias Francisquini ◽  
Marcos Hirata Soares ◽  
Fernanda Pamela Machado ◽  
Margarita Antonia Villar Luis ◽  
Julia Trevisan Martins
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Dispositional Hope ◽  
Health Organization

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure and correlate the degree of psychological well-being, quality of life, and dispositional hope in family caregivers of schizophrenic people. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 117 relatives of schizophrenic people. We applied a questionnaire of sociodemographic variables was applied, and the instruments World Health Organization 5-Item Well-Being (WHO-5), World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated (WHOQOL-Bref), and Dispositional Hope Scale. We used The Kruskal Wallis, Jonckheere-Terpstra, and Spearman correlation tests at the level α <0.05. Results: It was possible to observe statistical significance when comparing schooling and age with Disposal Hope; and when comparing the scales used. Conclusion: The study considered that well-being, quality of life, and hope are variables that negatively influence caregiver burden, suggesting schooling as an inverse correlation variable with Dispositional Hope.

scholarly journals Mothers’ quality of life delivering kangaroo mother care at Malawian hospitals: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alinane Linda Nyondo-Mipando ◽  
Mai-Lei Woo Kinshella ◽  
Tamanda Hiwa ◽  
Sangwani Salimu ◽  
Mwai Banda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Kangaroo Mother Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Limited Health ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Kangaroo mother care is known to help save the lives of preterm and low birthweight infants, particularly in resource-limited health settings, yet barriers to implementation have been documented. Mothers and their families are very involved in the process of providing kangaroo mother care and the impact on their well-being has not been well explored. The objective of this research was to investigate the perspectives and experiences of a mother’s quality of life while delivering facility-based kangaroo mother care. Methods This study is a secondary analysis of the qualitative data collected within the “Integrating a neonatal healthcare package for Malawi” project. Twenty-seven health workers and 24 caregivers engaged with kangaroo mother care at four hospitals in southern Malawi were interviewed between May–August 2019. All interviews were face-to-face and followed a topic guide. Content analysis was conducted on NVivo 12 (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia) based on the six World Health Organization Quality of Life domains (physical, psychological, level of independence, social relationships, environment, spirituality). Results Fifty-one interviews were conducted with 24 caregivers and 14 health workers. Mothers experienced multidimensional challenges to their quality of life while delivering facility-based KMC. Though kangaroo mother care was considered a simple intervention, participants highlighted that continuous kangaroo mother care was difficult to practice. Kangaroo mother care was an exhausting experience for mothers due to being in one position for prolonged periods, compromised sleep, restricted movement, boredom, and isolation during their stay at the hospital as well as poor support for daily living needs such as food. Discussion A heavy burden is placed on mothers who become the key person responsible for care during kangaroo mother care, especially in resource-limited health settings. More focus is needed on supporting caregivers during the delivery of kangaroo mother care through staff support, family inclusion, and conducive infrastructure.

scholarly journals The 2019 Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Staff Survey: Determining the Level and Predictors of Quality of Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Izwan Mat Nazali ◽  
Salmi Razali ◽  
Suthahar Ariaratnam ◽  
Yuhaniz Ahmad ◽  
Hapizah Nawawi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Academic Excellence ◽  
Medical Illness ◽  
University Staff ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Level Of Education

Experiencing good quality of life (QOL) among university staff is extremely crucial to ensuring academic excellence; however, there are limited data on factors that contribute to QOL among university staff. This study aims to determine the level and the predictors for good QOL among university staff. The consenting participants were selected using a stratified sampling method. Participants who had fulfilled the selection criteria were provided with socio-demographic, medical illness, job factor, and family background questionnaires. QOL and psychological well-being (depression, anxiety, and stress) were assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaires, respectively. A total of 278 staff (mean ± SD age: 38.84 ± 7.85 years, 44.2% males, 82.7% married) had participated in this study. This study found that participants had low QOL in the domains of physical health [P-QOL] (11.2%), psychological health [PSY-QOL] (9.7%), social relationships [SR-QOL] (19.1%), and environment [E-QOL] (14.4%). The predictors of P-QOL were depression, medical illness, and number of dependents, while those of PSY-QOL were work promotion, depression, medical illness, and number of dependents. Additionally, the predictors of SR-QOL were campus location, depression, and work promotion, while those of E-QOL were age, level of education, depression, work promotion, and medical illness. Depression significantly affected all domains of QOL. Younger participants without medical illness and those with tertiary level of education had increased odds of having good QOL. Participants having dependents without work promotion and employed in suburban areas had decreased odds of having good QOL. The relevant authority should be identified and then assist staff with difficulties to ensure the staff benefited from having a good QOL.

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