Quality of life in the elderly: Role of functional autonomy and psychological states

The purpose of this study was to assess whether functional autonomy (FA) and the psychological states of distress, depression, anxiety and somatization in the elderly predicted their quality of life (QoL). Participants in this quantitative correlational study were 184 elderly individuals. QoL was measured using the Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire (Bowling, 2009), FA was measured using the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (Katz et al., 1970) and psychological states were measured using the Four dimensional symptom questionnaire (Terluin et al., 2006). Results indicated that distress, depression, anxiety, somatization and functional autonomy predicted eight different dimensions of quality of life. The need for psychosocial interventions involving social support as well as psychological support was addressed.