Abstract
adults with and without displacement experience in World War II as a biographical feature. The study aims to identify predictors of current QoL and to consider the relevant aspects of QoL for older people.
Methods: In a survey of n = 420 persons (equally distributed to displaced and nondisplaced group) QoL, socio-demographic, age-related, psychological, psychosocial and trauma-related variables were assessed. Subjective QoL in old age was predicted by these variables. To validate these quantitative results, qualitative interviews (n = 130 from the total sample) were conducted in which the participants rated their current QoL on a scale (1–5) and subsequently described it verbally.
Results: Participants rated their recent QoL as good. Social integration, depression, and attitudes towards ageing proved to be significant predictors of QoL. Socio-demographic variables did not significantly predict of QoL. Traumatic experiences during World War II have no direct effects on the QoL in old age. Qualitative analyses confirm the results and show that QoL is characterized by topics of health, current living situation, attitudes, leisure activities and social contacts.
Conclusion: In addition to known predictors of QoL, attitude towards ageing with its subscales made a contribution to predict QoL. Qualitative interviews showed that QoL is perceived and described in a differentiated fashion by older adults. The assessment of recent QoL is based on current needs and living conditions. The verbal descriptions of QoL also contained statements about attitudes toward ageing and positive mental attitudes while ageing.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.