Factors affecting the health‐related quality of life in community‐dwelling elderly people

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of the health‐related quality of life of elderly people in Korea by applying the Andersen model. Design and Sample This study was a descriptive survey. Participants were 240 elderly people over 65 years of age living in a community. Measures A hierarchical multiple regression was performed to analyze the factors related to the health‐related quality of life, including predisposing, enabling, and need factors, and health behaviors. Results Need factors, that is, self‐reported health status, were the most significant in influencing the health‐related quality of life of the elderly people; predisposing factors were age and education level, and enabling factors were income and activities of daily living. Conclusion The findings of this study can be used to develop a community‐based intervention program and to establish a policy for improving the quality of life of elderly people.