Factors Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older People Exposed to the Jeju 4·3 Incident

Objective We explored factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL), including socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, in among older people exposed to the Jeju 4·3 incident, and aimed to determine the effects of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and perceived social support on HRQOL.Methods We obtained data from 110 survivors and 1,011 immediate family members of the victims of the Jeju April 3 incident (mean age, 75.1 years), and evaluated the relationships of HRQOL with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics including posttraumatic and depressive symptoms, and perceived social support.Results Poorer physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment HRQOL domain scores were strongly associated with older age, being a woman, poor socioeconomic status, and symptoms of depression and PTSD. The regression analyses indicated that, when relevant factors were controlled for, perceived social support moderated the negative association between HRQOL and psychiatric symptoms.Conclusion Our results suggest the importance of sociodemographic characteristics, in addition to psychiatric symptoms, for understanding HRQOL in older people exposed to the Jeju 4·3 incident. These results have important implications for interventions aiming to improve the HRQOL of the victims of the Jeju 4·3 incident.

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Predictors of change in health-related quality of life among older people with depression: a longitudinal study

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610209990950 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1171-1179 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Sally Wai-chi Chan ◽

Helen FK Chiu ◽

Wai-tong Chien ◽

William Goggins ◽

David Thompson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Older People ◽

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Daily Living ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

ABSTRACTBackground: Depression is a common psychological problem among older people. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is now recognized by healthcare providers as an important treatment goal for people with depression. This study aimed to identify predictors of change in HRQoL among older people with depression.Methods: In a longitudinal study, data were collected when participants were newly diagnosed with a depressive disorder at a regional outpatient department in Hong Kong and 12 months later. Seventy-seven Chinese participants aged 65 years or older completed the study. Measures included the Physical Health Condition Checklist (PHCC), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Version (WHOQOL).Results: Significant improvements between the first and second assessments were noted in the total WHOQOL scores, GDS scores, and the number of the social support. The results of linear regression models showed that the increases in the IADL scores and decreases in the PHCC and GDS scores were significantly associated with higher final WHOQOL scores.Discussion: Treatment for depression was effective in improving the participants’ overall condition and their perceived HRQoL. The results suggest that interventions to alleviate older people's level of depression, manage their physical ill health and enhance their instrumental activities of daily living ability could help improve their perceived HRQoL.

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