Study On The Status And Influential Factors Of Quality Of Life Of Empty Nest Elderly In Yueyang Area

Objective To investigate the status of quality of life of the empty nest elderly in Yueyang area , compare the difference between the empty nest elderly and the non-empty nest empty elderly, and analysis the influential factors of quality of life of the empty nest elderly . Basing on the result above, to put forward a scientific basis to improve the quality of life of empty nest elderly , adopte targeted community interventions measures and institute relevant health policy .Methods The questionnaire investigation was carried out during the period of June to September 2008, within urban and rural districts of Yueyang area. According to the uniform inclusion and exclusion criteria, 960 elderly (aged 60 years or older) were recruited, who were selected by using stratified random sampling method. The subjects were interviewed face to face in their own houses by the unified way with questionnaires. The questionnaire mainly comprised of general demographic social characteristics, prevalence of chronic diseases, activity of daily living, social support, quality of life and so on. The database was established and analyzed by SPSS13.0. Descriptive analyses, Chi-square test, two-sample t-test, ANOVA analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and multinomial linear regression analyse were performed in the research.Results①In the study, 960 questionnaires were distributed and 909 completed records were obtained, Of which 441 were empty nest elderly, 468 were non-empty nest elderly, the effective rate was 94.67 %.②General demographic social characteristics shows that here is no statisitical signficant difference between empty nest elderly and non-empty nest elderly except in marital status, education, relationship with the children, subjective self-assessment economic, sleep, loneliness .③The prevalence of chronic diseases of empty nest elderly was 81.4%, and the non-empty nest elderly was 77.7%.④The mean score of ADL of empty nest elderly was 17.83±5.67, lower than the non-empty nest elderly (19.51±7.96), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The scores of Empty nest elderly in subjective support , objective support, the availability of support and total scores were lower than the non-empty nest elderly , and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).⑤The scores of Empty nest elderly were significantly lower than the non-empty nest elderly in PF, VT, SF, RE, MH and quality of life scores, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). Relatively empty nest elderly has no statistically difference in all dimensions except in RP. Different types of empty nest elderly has statistically difference in the scores of PF, RP, BP, GH, RE, MH and QOL (P <0.05).⑥The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of quality of life of the empty nest elderly were place of residence, age, education level, family, per capita income, loneliness, physical exercise, sleep, the type of chronic disease, ADL, social support scores.Conclusions①The quality of life of the empty nest elderly in Yueyang area was lower than the non-empty nest elderly. There was no significant difference in quality of life betweem relatively empty nest elderly and absolutely empty nest elderly. The quality of life of elderly living alone was significantly lower than the elderly living with their partner and the the elderly living with their and grandchild live.②The activity of daily living of the empty nest elderly in Yueyang area was better than the non-empty nest elderly, but the social support was less than the non-empty nest elderly.③The influencing factors of quality of life of the empty nest elderly were place of residence, age, education level, family, per capita income, loneliness, physical exercise, sleep, the amount of chronic disease, ADL, social support scores.