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The Relative Contribution of Health Status and Quality of Life Domains in Subjective Health in Old Age

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Abstract

To analyze the influence of different health status dimensions and quality of life (QoL) domains on older adults’ subjective health, and to assess the role that residential satisfaction plays in these relationships. A QoL survey was conducted on a representative sample of the community-dwelling older adult population in Madrid province (Spain). Logistic regression models were applied to studying: the health status dimensions associated with satisfaction with health; the relationship between satisfaction with health and other QoL domains; and, the influence of these domains on satisfaction with life. Sociodemographic and residential characteristics were included in all the models. The determinants of satisfaction with health in the first model were: mobility, usual activities, morbidity, and satisfaction with neighborhood. QoL domains associated with health were: leisure activities, neighborhood, and finances. Satisfaction with life was explained by these three domains, along with age, family and health. In sum, leisure, neighborhood, and finances showed a positive effect on satisfaction with health and with life.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Eduardo T. Mezquida and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. The authors received the following financial support for the research of this article: Spanish Ministry of Education & Science (National R&D&I Plan: ref. BSO2003-00401 and grant BES-2004-6170) and the Madrid Regional Authority (Regional R&D&I Plan: ref. 06/HSE/0417/2004). The first-mentioned author’s current post is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science & Innovation: Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Research Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain

    Maria-Eugenia Prieto-Flores & Maria João Forjaz

  2. Department of Geography, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio Moreno-Jiménez

  3. Centre for Human and Social Sciences, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain

    Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas & Fermina Rojo-Perez

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  1. Maria-Eugenia Prieto-Flores
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  2. Antonio Moreno-Jiménez
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  3. Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas
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  4. Fermina Rojo-Perez
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  5. Maria João Forjaz
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Correspondence to Maria-Eugenia Prieto-Flores.

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Prieto-Flores, ME., Moreno-Jiménez, A., Fernandez-Mayoralas, G. et al. The Relative Contribution of Health Status and Quality of Life Domains in Subjective Health in Old Age. Soc Indic Res 106, 27–39 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9791-z

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