Method:  Elderly in the community were surveyed  using the HRH scale, the Spiritual Well-being Scale and the WHOQOL-100, which calculates a general QoL score, as well as 6 domain scores (Physical Health, Psychological Health, Level of Independence, Social Relationships, Environment, Spirituality).  The sample included 105 women, 55 men from Mexico City and 87 women and 43 men from London for a total of 290 subjects.

Results:  The Mexican sample reported higher levels of spirituality while the British subjects reported significantly higher HRH and QoL. Across the sample, there were significant correlations between spirituality and HRH with a combined effect on QoL.  Among the Mexican sample, the strongest predictors of levels of independence and psychological health were social relationships and spirituality and among the British, HRH and physical health were the strongest predictors of level of independence.

Conclusions: Culture and location play an important role in the QoL of the elderly. Interventions for the elderly in the community are not universal. In this study, the Mexican sample reported much higher levels of spirituality and spirituality was linked with both independence and psychological health. However, in the British sample, HRH and physical health were more important for independence.  These findings indicate that the culture of the elderly influences the elements of QoL that are important for independence and likewise that  factors such as spirituality and HRH vary in their importance to the QoL according to the culture of the elderly.

See more of Quality of Life: International Perspectives on Aging
See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)