Effect of confidence and social support on quality of life in elderly Chinese in Suzhou
Abstract：BACKGROUND: Whether measuring scales in mainland China and abroad have different comments on the influence of confidence, social support and other related factors on quality of life(QOL) is the main topic of this thesis.OBJECTIVE: To survey the present status of QOL, confidence and social support among elderly population in Suzhou and probe into the influences of confidence and social support on the QOL for the elderly Chinese.DESIGN: Randomized sampling cross-sectional study.SETTING and PARTICIPANTS: A total of 167 elderly Chinese(86 males and 81 females), were selected from retirees of hospitals, schools, factories and retired soldiers of Suzhou Cadres Sanatorium. Investigation was carried out with Social Support Review questionnaire(SSRS), Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale(PGC), Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey scale (MOS SF-36) and QOL questionnaire for elderly Chinese.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The scores based on SSRS, PGC, MOS SF-36 and QOL questionnaires to the 167 elderly Chinese in Suzhou.RESULTS: The mean score of confidence, social support among the elderly was 17.74 ± 3.76, 37.72 ± 7.48 respectively, which was higher than the normal value of Chinese. However, mean score of QOL was 28.95 ± 3.05,which was fairly good. Measured by either MOS SF-36 or QOL questionnaire for old people and their confidence, it showed positive correlation between QOL and their confidence( P ＜ 0.01 ). Except that income had no relation to the confidence, habitation and nutrition status were not correlated with the objective support which was made by QOL questionnaire, there was significant correlations among other aspects( P ＜ 0.05). In the MOS SF-36, only vigor and mental health correlated positively to social support on elderly Chinese( P ＜ 0.05), while others did not. Total score of QOL measured by QOL questionnaire significantly related to family harmony, social communication, life satisfaction and subjective support( P ＜ 0. 05); so did the family harmony, living condition, life satisfaction to objective support( P ＜ 0. 05);meanwhile, mental health and support utilization degree are significantly related to each other, too( P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: QOL improved with the enhancement of confidence and social support. MOS SF-36, SSRS and PGC measurement showed that, QOL had positive correlation with confidence; while quality of life questionnaire was more sensitive and obvious to social support, especially the subjective support.
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Publication Date：2004-01-01
Pages：3( 6769-6771 )