Exploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in Shanxi, China: a structural equation model

Abstract

Background As China’s aging trend intensifies and the proportion of empty nests increases, the health-related quality of life of the elderly is the focus of social attention. Previous studies focused on the quality of life of the elderly, rather than empty nesters, and lacked the discussion of the mechanism of influencing factors. Thus, this study aimed to explore the influencing factors of the quality of life (QOL) and interaction mechanisms among empty nesters in Shanxi Province, China, so as to provide practical reference for improving the QOL of empty nesters. Methods A total of 4901 empty nesters in Shanxi Province, China, were selected using multi-stage random cluster sampling method in this cross-sectional study. The quality of life was assessed with the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Multiple linear regression analysis (stepwise) was performed to examine the factor associated with QOL. Structural equation model (SEM) approach was conducted to test the direct and indirect association between QOL influencing factors with QOL. Results The average QOL score of empty nesters was 63.34 (SD = 17.23). The multiple linear regression revealed that gender, age, education, monthly income, drinking status, exercise frequency, physical examination frequency, attention to daily nutritional health, relationship with a spouse and relationship with children were significant predictors of the empty nester’s QOL (P < 0.05) (R2 = 0.128). SEM showed that behavioral lifestyle had a direct effect on QOL (β = 0.446, P < 0.001). Socio-economic status had an indirect effect (β = 0.288, P < 0.001) on QOL through behavioral lifestyle. The family relationship had an indirect effect (β = 0.115, P < 0.001) on QOL. Conclusion Behavioral lifestyle was the strongest influencing factor in the quality of life among empty nesters, followed by socio-economic status and family relationships. Thus, maintaining a healthy behavioral lifestyle was important to improve the QOL of the empty nesters. Our findings provide a concrete and strong reference for the formulation of targeted intervention strategies.

The association between health-promoting-lifestyles, and socioeconomic, family relationships, social support, health-related quality of life among older adults in china: a cross sectional study

“…The result was like the results of current research, socioeconomic status would affect HPLP through neighborhood or social psychological factors [ 33 ]. The higher the socioeconomic status, the richer the social resources are available to the individuals [ 20 ]. In previous research, Yang found socioeconomic status such as age, education and the source of income, family relationships such as family structure were influencing factors of elders’ social activity [ 34 ].…”

“… health-related quality of life (QOL) The short form 36 health survey (SF-36) is a 36-item valid quality of life questionnaire with 2 sub-scales on physical health and mental health. The Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) were used in this study [ 20 ]. The Chinese version of the SF-36 has been extensively validated.…”

Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life and Its Associated Factors Among Older Adults in Urban and Rural Areas

“… 13 Despite many local studies have explored HRQoL associated factors, most of them either concentrated on Chinese rural or urban area separately, 14 , 15 or people with certain chronic diseases such as hypertension 16 or special groups such as empty nesters. 17 Furthermore, living in rural areas have been identified as a risk factor for HRQoL in several local studies of older adults. A study using the SF-36 to measure HRQoL indicated that rural older population had the lowest HRQoL.…”

Factors Associated with the Adult Children’s Willingness to Utilize Elderly Medical Escort Service for Outpatient Visit In China: A Mixed-methods Research

“…Therefore, medical escorting has become one of the most pressing needs for the elderly population. However, in uenced by the one-child policy, the coexistence of multiple seniors with senior and junior (four grandparents, two parents, and one child) in Chinese households has become increasingly prominent, which is called the "4-2-1" single-family structure [7]. Furthermore, with the unbalanced development of regional economies and urbanization, a large number of young rural laborers have migrated to developed areas, intensifying the empty nesting [8].…”