Factors associated with the quality of life of elderly men

Abstract

This was an analytical, cross-sectional household survey study aimed at describing the sociodemographic characteristics, health and quality of life of elderly men, and to verify the socioeconomic and health factors related to quality of life. Participants in this study included 804 elderly men. Data were collected using the following instruments: Older Americans Resources and Services scale (OARS), the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults (WHOQOL-OLD). Descriptive analysis, student's t-test, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression (p<0.05) were used. The prevalent characteristics were: individuals 60-70 years old, married, 4-8 years of education, and a minimum wage income. The lowest quality of life scores were in the physical domain and autonomy facet, and were associated with: the absence of a companion, education, low income, higher number of comorbidities, and functional disability. Functional disability had the strongest influence on the quality of life, except for the physical domain and intimacy facet.