Path Analysis of Functional Level,Environmental Factors,and Lifestyle Influencing Health and Quality of Life Among the Elderly

Abstract

Date Presented 03/28/20

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of functional levels, environment, and lifestyle of the elderly to their health and quality of life by using path analysis. Two hundred community-dwelling older people were involved. As a result of this research, it is evident that functional levels and physical activities affect health directly. Functional levels, activity participation, and nutrition also affect quality of life. This research can be a foundation to establish a model of the elderly’s lifestyle and health.

Primary Author and Speaker: Kang-Hyun Park

Contributing Authors: Ji-Hyuk Park

1) PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the direct and indirect effect of functional levels, environment and lifestyle of elderly on their health and quality of life and to analyzed path model. It was hypothesized that functional levels and environment would effect on lifestyles of elderly. And this lifestyle factors including physical activity, nutrition and activity participation would effect on health and quality of life of elderly. Therefore, we examined the potential influence of lifestyle approach to community dwelling elderly as a preventive approach.

2) DESIGN: The subjects consisted of 200 community-dwelling older adults. Data collection was conducted by using a self-administered questionnaire from April. 2019 to May. 2019. The data was analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0 programs. This study protocol was approved by the Yonsei University Ethical board(041849-201903-SB-033-02).

3) METHOD:

1) Functional level

In order to assess the functional levels including physical, motor, and cognitive ability of participants, Korean version of physical activity scale for the elderly(K-PASE) was conducted.

2) Environment

In order to measure the environment, three items of Adolescent Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire were used.

3) Physical activity

Simple lifestyle indicator questionnaire was used to measure the physical activities of participants.

4) Nutrition

Korean version of Nutrition Quotient for Elderly was conducted to assess the nutrition and diet pattern of the elderly

5) Activity participation

So as to conduct the frequency of activity participation, National health survey questions were selected

6) Health

Korean Versions of WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0(KWHODAS) was used

7) Quality of life

WHO quality of Life-Brief; WHOQOL-BREF

4) RESULTS: According to a confirmatory factor analysis of the model and the test of the structural equation model, significant effects were found at the 0.01 level. With six fit indexes for the model, in this case χ² 190.547(DF=109, p=.000), CFI=.906, GFI=.902, RMSEA=.061, a good fit was confirmed.

As a result, functional levels and physical activity affected health directly. In other word, The higher the functional level of the elderly, the higher the health level (β = .688, p = .000) as well as the elderly who participated more physical activity, they demonstrated the higher the health level (β = .150, p = .016). Also, lifestyle factors such as activity participation (β=.265, p=.005), nutrition affected the quality of life of elderly (β=.240, p=.001). In addition, although environment not affect health and quality of life directly, it influences on nutrition and activity participation. Therefore, management of functional levels, environment and healthy lifestyle would be essential so as to enhance health and quality of life of elderly.

5) CONCLUSION: As a result of this research, it is evident that functional levels and physical activities affect health directly. Also functional levels, activity participation, nutrition affect quality of life. This research can be a foundation to establish model of elderly’s lifestyle and health. This These findings are expected to be utilized for evidence in order to establish policies and services which are related to health and welfare of elderly.

References

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