The impact of informal care on quality of life in the elderly: mediating effects based on frailty and depression / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the impact of informal care satisfaction on quality of life on the elderly by establishing a structural equation model between them and introducing two mediating variables of frailty and depressive factors. Methods A total of 210 elderly over 60 years old from 6 communities of 2 urban areas in Qingdao were surveyed by general information questionnaire, the informal care satisfaction scale, frailty phenotype, depression scale and the SF-36 brief health scale. Results There was a direct effect on quality of life of daily life care dimension in informal nursing satisfaction (β=0.160, P＜0.01) and an indirect effect of debilitating as intermediary (β=0.055, P＜0.01). There was a direct effect on quality of life (β=0.130, P＜0.01) and an indirect effect mediated by depression (β=0.132, P＜0.01). There was a direct effect on quality of life (β=0.150, P＜0.01) and an indirect effect mediated by debilitating and depression (β=0.147, P＜0.01). Conclusions We should pay more attention to the impact of informal care on the quality of life on the elderly. Taking corresponding measures to promote the use of informal nursing and improving the quality of informal care is of great significance to improve the quality of life of the elderly and promote healthy aging.