Predictors of Health-related Quality of Life among Spouses of Older Adults with Dementia in the Community-dwelling

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing health-related quality of life among spouses of older adults with dementia based on an ecological model.METHODS: This study used data from the 2015 Korean Community Health Survey with the subjects of 541 spouses of older adults with dementia. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple regression.RESULTS: In this study, 26.5% of quality of life was explained by employment status, physical activity, perception of stress, perception of depressive symptom, self-rated health status, self-rated oral health status, and contact with neighbors.CONCLUSION: To develop more effective nursing intervention for improvement of quality of life, it needs to consider not only the individual system related factors but also community system related factors including contact with neighbors.