Predictors of Quality of Life in Old Age: A Multivariate Study in Chile

There have been few studies that examine quality of life among older adults in the Latin American region. Using a recent representative
national survey on quality of life among older adults in Chile, we examine the effects of eight potentially important factors
(nutrition, physical activity, going outside the home, reading, quality of family relations, conflict, social support, self-efficacy)
on three major dimensions of quality of life (functional capacity, material conditions, general satisfaction with life). The
regression models confirm that the major predictive factor of satisfactory functional capacity is the practice of physical
activities, while for satisfaction, the major predictive factors are self-efficacy, good quality of social relations, and
the performance of significant activities such as reading and going outside the home. Educational level is a variable that
cuts across all these predictors, in a context of great unequal social opportunities in Latin America. These results have
implications for the development and implementation of social policies and programs to achieve an improvement in living conditions
of the growing elderly population in the region, and reduce costs that societies face as a product of this new demographic
scenario.