Abstract
In social science and public health earlier research has persistently reported significant socio-economic inequalities in health, inequalities in the use of health care and self rated-health (SRH) among older adults. However, relatively little attention is paid to the link between SRH and the overall quality of life (QoL) of older adults. Utilising the data collected in the Global Ageing Survey (GLAS) 2006-07, the study explores the linkages between the self-rated-health and quality of life among older adults in 21 countries and territories in five major regions of the world. The QoL was assessed by two survey instruments designed to capture subjective as well as objective appraisals of individual quality of life. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the influence of SRH on the QoL. The analyses reveal that there are health inequalities across different age cohorts and this remains consistent for all selected countries and territories. As expected the proportion reporting poor health increases with age in most countries. The net effect of health status on QoL has also been analysed subsequently in multivariate models using ordered logistic regression analysis and is adjusted for two main demographic variables - age and gender. Findings show that age plays an important role alongside with health on the overall quality of life. The study also reveals that females are found to be more likely to have been depressed compared to their male counterparts.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bayliss, M., Rendas-Baum, R., White, M. K., Maruish, M., Bjorner, J., & Tunis, S. L. (2012). Health-related quality of life (HRQL) for individuals with self-reported chronic physical and / or mental health conditions: panel survey of an adult sample in the United States. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10(154), 1–10.
Bowling, A. (1997). Measuring health: A review of quality of life measurement scales. Buckingham: Open University Press.
CDC. (2000). Measuring healthy days. Centers for disease control and prevention. Georgia: Atlanta.
CDC (2010). Chronic disease and health promotion. Centers for disease control and prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. Available at www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/.
CDC. (2013). Quality of life. Centers for disease control and prevention. Georgia: Atlanta.
Connell, J., Brazier, J., O’Cathain, A., Lloyd-Jones, M., & Paisley, S. (2012). Quality of life of people with mental health problems: a synthesis of qualitative research. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10(138), 1–16.
DH (2012). Quality of life of cancer survivors in England: Report on a pilot survey using patient reported outcome measures (PROMS), Department of Health, https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/publications/files/2012/12/9284-TSO-2900701-PROMS.pdf
Dolan, P., Peasgood, T., & White, M. (2008). Do we really know what makes us happy? A review of the economic literature on the factors associated with subjective well-being. Journal of Economic Psychology, 29, 94–122.
Feinstien, A. R. (1992). Benefits and obstacles for development of health status assessment measures in clinical settings. Medical Care, 30(5), MS50–MS56.
Giaccone M (2007). Annual review of working conditions in the EU 2006–2007 European foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
HSBC. (2007). The future of retirement: The new old age. London: HSBC Insurance.
HSBC. (2008). The future of retirement: Investing in later life. London: HSBC Insurance.
Hughes, D., & Leethongdee, S. (2007). Universal coverage in the land of smiles: lessons from Thailand’s 30 baht health reforms. Health Affairs, 26(4), 999–1008.
Kalam, I. M. S., & Khan, H. T. A. (2007). Determinants of health status of elderly people in Bangladesh. Asian Profile, 35(1), 71–82.
Khan HTA, Leeson G (2009). Determinants of self appraisal of health status among older adults in Malaysia and Singapore: Findings from the future of retirement survey 2007’. Paper presented at the 25th ASEASUK Conference 11–13 September, Swansea University, UK.
Khan, H. T. A., Leeson, G., & Findlay, H. (2013). Attitudes towards bearing the cost of care in later life across the world. Illness, Crisis and Loss, 21(1), 49–69.
Lal, R., Campbell, M. J., Waters, S. J., Morgan, K., & MRC CFAS Co-operative. (2002). A review of ordinal regression models on health-related quality of life assessments. Statistical Methods in Medical Research, 11, 49–67.
McDaniel, S., & Zimmer, Z. (2013). Global ageing in the twenty-first century: Challenges, opportunities and implications. Surrey: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
Mesquita CC, Ribeiro JC, Moreira P (2011). An exercise program improves health-related quality of life of workers. Applied Research in Quality of Life 20, November.
Munir, F., Khan, H. T. A., Yarker, J., Haslam, C., Long, H., Bains, M., et al. (2009). Self management of health-behaviors among older and younger workers with chronic illness. Patient Education and Counselling, 77(1), 109–115.
OECD. (2010a). Improving health and social cohesion through education. Paris: OECD.
OECD. (2010b). Society at a glance. Paris: OECD.
OECD (2011). Doing better for families, OECD, Paris, www.oecd.org/social/family/doingbetter
Rob, U., & Talukder, M. N. (2007). Health sector reform: Lessons from developing countries. Dhaka: Utso Prokashan.
Smith, J., Borchelt, M., Maier, H., & Jopp, D. (2002). Health and well-being in the young old and oldest old. Journal of Social Issues, 58(4), 715–732.
UNFPA. (2012). Ageing in the twenty-first century: A celebration and a challenge. The United Nations Population Fund. London: New York and HelpAge International.
US Department of Health and Human Services (2013). Healthy people 2020: Foundation health measures, http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/tracking.aspx
WHO. (2006). The world health report 2006-working for health. Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO. (2007). International classification of functioning, disability, and health: Children and youth version (ICF-CY). Geneva: World Health Organization.
Yang, X., Hao, Y., George, S. M., & Wang, L. (2012). Factors associated with health-related quality of life among Chinese caregivers of the older adults living in the community: a cross-sectional study. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10(143), 1–12.
Acknowledgments
This research arises as a part of the strategic alliance between the Oxford Institute of Ageing (OIA) and the HSBC Bank Plc for promoting the understanding of ageing issues across the globe. Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of HSBC Bank to carry out research at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford in the UK. Paper presented at the 10th ICCS conference held at the American University in Cairo during December 20–13, 2009.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Dr. Hafiz T.A. Khan is also a Visiting Research Fellow in Demography at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, The University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6PR, United Kingdom, email: hafiz.khan@ageing.ox.ac.uk
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khan, H.T.A., Raeside, R. Between Country Variations in Self-Rated-Health and Associations with the Quality of Life of Older People: Evidence from the Global Ageing Survey. Applied Research Quality Life 9, 923–949 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-013-9278-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-013-9278-y