Abstract
Purpose
It is important to understand the determinants of differences in quality of life in old age and to include a wide range of
possible predictors. The present study investigated the determinants of quality of life in two groups of older adults for
whom there was an unusually informative set of possible predictor variables.
possible predictors. The present study investigated the determinants of quality of life in two groups of older adults for
whom there was an unusually informative set of possible predictor variables.
Method
Participants were members of the Lothian Birth Cohorts of 1921 (n = 550) or 1936 (n = 1,091). Four facets of quality of life (QoL) and general QoL were measured using the WHOQOL-BREF. Possible determinants
included personality traits, measured with the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) scales; childhood and old age general
cognitive ability, measured with the Moray House Test; minor psychological symptoms, measured with the Hospital Anxiety and
Depression Scale (HADS); physical health, assessed by grip strength and cardiovascular disease history; and sociodemographic
factors, assessed by interview.
included personality traits, measured with the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) scales; childhood and old age general
cognitive ability, measured with the Moray House Test; minor psychological symptoms, measured with the Hospital Anxiety and
Depression Scale (HADS); physical health, assessed by grip strength and cardiovascular disease history; and sociodemographic
factors, assessed by interview.
Results
Linear regression analyses revealed that HADS depression had the greatest influence on quality of life. Personality traits,
most notably Emotional Stability, also predicted quality of life to varying degrees, along with factors reflecting current
life circumstances. There were differences between the two cohorts in the variables which predicted quality of life. There
were different, conceptually relevant, contributions to the different QoL facets.
most notably Emotional Stability, also predicted quality of life to varying degrees, along with factors reflecting current
life circumstances. There were differences between the two cohorts in the variables which predicted quality of life. There
were different, conceptually relevant, contributions to the different QoL facets.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-011-9951-2
- Authors
- Caroline E. Brett, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Scotland, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
- Alan J. Gow, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Scotland, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
- Janie Corley, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Scotland, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
- Alison Pattie, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Scotland, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
- John M. Starr, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Ian J. Deary, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Scotland, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343