Quality of Life in European Older Adults of SHARE Wave 7: Comparing the Old and the Oldest-Old

CASP-12 (Control, Autonomy, Self-realization, and Pleasure scale) is one of the most common internationally used measures for quality of life in older adults, although its structure is not clearly established. Current research aims to test the factor structure of the CASP-12, so as to provide evidence on reliability and external validity, and to test for measurement invariance across age groups. Data from 61,355 Europeans (≥60 years old) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe wave 7 were used. CASP-12, EURO-D (European depression scale), self-perceived health, and life satisfaction measurements were included. Reliability and validity coefficients, competing confirmatory factor models, and standard measurement invariance routine were estimated. A second-order factor model with the original factor structure was retained. The scale showed adequate reliability coefficients except for the autonomy dimension. The correlation coefficients for external validity were all statistically significant. Finally, CASP-12 is scalar invariant across age. We conclude that the best-fitting factor structure retained allows using CASP-12 either by factors, or as an overall score, depending on the research interests. Findings related to CASP-12 measurement invariance encourage its use in the oldest-old too. When comparing the dimensions across age groups, as people age, autonomy slightly increases and the rest of the dimensions decline.

Download Full-text

Attitudes to ageing and quality of life in young and old older adults: an international cross-sectional analysis

Working with Older People ◽

10.1108/wwop-06-2020-0032 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Long ◽

Kenneth Laidlaw ◽

Angus Lorimer ◽

Nuno Ferreira

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Positive Attitudes ◽

Physical Health Problems ◽

The Impact

Purpose Although quality of life and attitudes to ageing have been explored in the context of mental and physical health problems in older adults, the interplay between these variables has received little attention. The purpose of this study is to explore how attitudes to ageing relate to and predict quality of life in an international sample of older people those of age 57 to 79 (youngest-old) and those over 80 years old (oldest-old). Design/methodology/approach A large international sample (n = 4,616) of participants recruited from 20 different countries completed a set of measures assessing several demographic variables, attitudes to ageing, older adult specific quality of life, general quality of life and depression. Findings Correlational and regression analysis showed that more positive attitudes to ageing were associated with and predicted better quality of life in older adults beyond demographic and depression variables. Those in the oldest-old group had significantly more negative attitudes to ageing and a poorer quality of life. However, positive attitudes to ageing remained a significant predictor of better quality of life in both the youngest-old and oldest-old age groups. Originality/value Attitudes to ageing play an important part in quality of life in older adults; however, the impact of these attitudes might be different according to age group. These results suggest that attitudes to ageing could be a possible clinical target in interventions aiming at improving quality of life in older adults.

Download Full-text

Development of a Multidimensional Measure to Examine Fear of Dementia

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415018784737 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 89 (2) ◽

pp. 187-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kyle S. Page ◽

Bert Hayslip ◽

Dee Wadsworth ◽

Philip A. Allen

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Family History ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Multidimensional Measure ◽

Valid Instrument ◽

History Of ◽

Areas Of Concern

Persons with and without a family history of dementia report concerns for developing this syndrome; yet, less is known about the specific aspects of dementia that are feared. The Fear of Dementia (FOD) scale was created to assess these concerns. This study examined the psychometric properties of the FOD scale using a sample of middle-aged and older adults ( N = 734). We then explored the factor structure of the scale 2 years later using a smaller sample from the first study ( N = 226). Three factors emerged, highlighting several main areas of concern: Burden and Loss, Quality of Life, and Perceived Social and Cognitive Loss. Preliminary data suggest that the FOD scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the multidimensional nature of the concern about developing dementia. Attention to what specifically is feared may help further our understanding of health behaviors, coping, and targeted supports.

Download Full-text

Revised manuscript: Factor structure and measurement invariance of the older people’s quality of life scale

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-021-02507-8 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

J. E. T. Scott ◽

T. G. Mazzucchelli ◽

M. A. Luszcz ◽

T. D. Windsor

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Quality Of Life Scale ◽

Life Scale

Download Full-text

Quality of life of older Chinese adults receiving primary care in Wuhan, China: a multi-center study

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.6860 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e6860 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bao-Liang Zhong ◽

Yan-Min Xu ◽

Wu-Xiang Xie ◽

Xiu-Jun Liu

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Primary Care ◽

General Population ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Psychosocial Problems ◽

Medical Conditions ◽

Multi Center Study

Background Quality of life (QOL) is an important primary care outcome, but the QOL of older adults treated in primary care is understudied in China. This study examined QOL and its associated factors in older adults treated in Chinese primary care. Methods A total of 752 older patients (65+ years) were consecutively recruited from 13 primary care centers in Wuhan, China, and interviewed with a standardized questionnaire, concerning socio-demographics, major medical conditions, loneliness, and depression. QOL and depression were measured with the Chinese six-item QOL questionnaire and the shortened Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with poor QOL. Results The average QOL score of primary care older adults was (20.7 ± 2.5), significantly lower than that of the Chinese general population. Factors significantly associated with poor QOL of Chinese primary care older adults included engaging in manual labor before older adulthood (unstandardized coefficient [β]: −0.702, P < 0.001), no living adult children (β: −1.720, P = 0.001), physical inactivity (β: −0.696, P < 0.001), having ≥ four major medical conditions (β: −1.813, P < 0.001), hearing problem (β: −1.004, P = 0.017), depression (β: −1.153, P < 0.001), and loneliness (β: −1.396, P < 0.001). Conclusions Older adults treated in Chinese primary care have poorer QOL than the general population. Addressing psychosocial problems at Chinese primary care settings could be helpful in improving QOL in Chinese older adults.

Download Full-text

Levels of depressive symptoms may modify the relationship between the WHOQOL-BREF and its determining factors in community-dwelling older adults

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610215002276 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 591-601 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Yu-Chen Chang ◽

Wen-Chen Ouyang ◽

Mei-Chun Lu ◽

Jung-Der Wang ◽

Susan C. Hu

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Early Recognition ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

World Health ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Different Levels

ABSTRACTBackground:Depression is closely associated with quality of life (QOL) in older adults. Being elderly and exhibiting mild depressive symptoms may not lead to a depression diagnosis, but these attributes are clinically important. However, the extent to which these factors influence QOL and its determinants in older adults remains unclear.Methods:Questionnaires were administered to people aged 65 years or older at community senior centers in Taiwan to collect socio-demographic information and to assess results from the brief version of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Levels of depressive symptoms were classified as no depressive symptoms (NDS), lower level of depressive symptoms (LLDS), and higher level of depressive symptoms (HLDS), corresponding to GDS = 0, 1≦GDS≦5, and GDS>5, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between the WHOQOL-BREF and its covariates for different levels of depressive symptoms.Results:A total of 454 older adults participated. The GDS and MBI scores significantly affected the WHOQOL-BREF physical and psychological domain scores in the LLDS group. Gender influenced the WHOQOL-BREF scores in the NDS group, and increased age demonstrated protective effects on the three domains in the HLDS group. Moreover, the association between the WHOQOL-BREF and its covariates varied for different levels of depressive symptoms.Conclusions:Treatment for depressive symptoms is of high priority, and early recognition of and appropriate intervention for mild depressive symptoms may improve community-dwelling older adults’ QOLs.

Download Full-text

The Relationship Between Frailty and Depression, Quality of Life, Disability, and Hospitalization Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

10.21203/rs.3.rs-107334/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Audai A. Hayajneh ◽

Hanan Hammouri ◽

Eman S. Al-Satari ◽

Debra C. Wallace ◽

Mohammad Rababa

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background: Frailty syndrome is characterized by a decline in physiological and psychological reserve that leads to poor health outcomes. Objectives: The current study explored frailty and its impacts on health outcomes among older adults in close-knit Jordanian communities. Methods: A secondary analysis (N=109) of community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or over was conducted. The Arabic version of the culturally adapted Tilburg Frailty Indicator, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the SF-36 Quality of Life survey, and disability self-reports were used. Results: Despite Jordanian communities being very close-knit, the results indicated a high prevalence of frailty (78%) and depression (38%) and poor outcomes of cognitive dysfunction and low quality of life among the participating older adults. Further, the prevalence of frailty was found to be 4.2 times higher among females than males and 7.2 times higher among single older adults than married older adults. Conclusion: A high prevalence of frailty and its related adverse outcomes was found among older adults in Jordan.

Download Full-text

Development and Validation of the Short Multidimensional Well-Being Questionnaire (SMWQ)

The Open Public Health Journal ◽

10.2174/1874944501710010025 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 25-31

Author(s):

Lucile Bigot ◽

Catherine Garncarzyk ◽

Antoine Gauthier ◽

Gaelle Quarck ◽

Fabrice Dosseville

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Well Being ◽

Emotional Reactions ◽

Self Report ◽

Four Dimensions

Purpose: Psychological well-being and health are closely linked at older ages. It is widely recognized that adapted regular physical exercise improves drastically both the physical and emotional well-being and allows older adults to stay healthy longer, with a better quality of life. In the framework of a European project (MOTION) to increase the life expectancy, independence and quality of life of older adults, the aim of the current research was to develop and validate a brief, multi-faceted, self-report measure of well-being in older adults. Method: The aim of Study 1 was to establish the factor structure of the newly developed measure using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The aim of Study 2 was to replicate the measure's factor structure using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and to evaluate test-retest reliability and convergent validity. Results: Analyses allowed generating a model of well-being comprising four dimensions: Perceived physical value, self-esteem and self-efficacy, socialization, and emotional reactions. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the SMWQ is appropriate for use with older adults and can help researchers and health professionals to assess the effects of APA programs.

Download Full-text

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15): Validation in Mexico and Disorder in the State of Knowledge

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415020957387 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 009141502095738

Author(s):

Christian Oswaldo Acosta Quiroz ◽

Raquel García-Flores ◽

Sonia Beatriz Echeverría-Castro

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Geriatric Depression

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale in its 15-item version (GDS-15) in Mexican older adults. Participants included 1178 older adults between the ages of 60 and 94 ( M = 69.16, SD = 7.69); 53.9% were women and 55.8% were married or with a partner. They completed the GDS-15, a subjective well-being scale, and a quality-of-life questionnaire. A Kuder–Richardson coefficient of .80 was obtained, which indicates an acceptable internal consistency of the GDS-15, as well as evidence of divergent validity with significant correlations of −.783 with subjective well-being and −.569 with quality of life, in addition to concurrent validity when discriminating between participants with low scores from those with high scores of depressive symptoms. The need for a simple screening tool such as the GDS-15 that helps in the identification of depressive symptoms in Mexican older adults is underlined.

Download Full-text

Success at 100 is easier said than done – comments on Araújo et al: successful aging at 100 years

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610215002021 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 177-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peter Martin ◽

Leonard W. Poon

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Additional Data ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Economic Resources ◽

Long Life ◽

End Stage ◽

Shed Light

Few would argue that achieving the age of 100 years is extraordinary, but what about the quality of life at this extreme age? Is it worth it to live to 100 and beyond? The study by Araújo, Ribero, Teixeira, and Paúl (2015) in three ways provided an answer to this question substantiating and complementing recent findings about successful aging in extreme old age (Poon and Perls, 2007; Martin et al., 2015). First, the study joined other investigators in asking whether the criteria for successful aging posed by Rowe and Kahn (1997) are applicable for older adults at the end stage of a very long life. Second, the study shed light on whether objective or subjective criteria are more appropriate to gauge levels of successful aging for the oldest old (e.g. Pruchno et al., 2010; Cho et al., 2012). Finally, the study provided additional data on psychological, social, and economic resources that enhance the needed ingredients of successful aging at the century mark.

Download Full-text