Quality of Life and Affective Well-Being in Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses
Author Information
Author(s): Anna Wikman, Jane Wardle, Andew Steptoe
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
Chronic illnesses are associated with reduced general quality of life and affective well-being in middle-aged and older adults.
Conclusion
Chronic illness is linked to lower quality of life and affective well-being, with varying impacts depending on the specific condition.
Supporting Evidence
- Stroke was associated with the greatest reduction in quality of life.
- Depression was most common in chronic lung disease.
- Multiple chronic conditions led to greater decrements in quality of life.
Takeaway
Having a chronic illness can make people feel less happy and satisfied with their lives, but some illnesses affect people more than others.
Methodology
This was a population-based, cross-sectional study using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, involving interviews and self-completion questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce bias in the identification of chronic conditions.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences, and relies on self-reported chronic conditions which may not be as accurate as clinical diagnoses.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 50 years and older, with a mean age of 65.14 years, and included 54.6% women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.005
Confidence Interval
CI 36.73–38.39 for stroke; CI 41.12–42.44 for cancer; CI 3.58–3.73 for happiness in stroke.
Statistical Significance
p<0.005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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