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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-021-01793-x |
| _version_ | 1818833092738023424 |
|---|---|
| author | Chichen Zhang Yuan Cai Yaqing Xue Xiao Zheng Xiaozhao Yang Jiao Lu Lihong Hou Mimi Li |
| author_facet | Chichen Zhang Yuan Cai Yaqing Xue Xiao Zheng Xiaozhao Yang Jiao Lu Lihong Hou Mimi Li |
| author_sort | Chichen Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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) (R 2 = 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T02:13:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-734673d184e34c9292c9067fb440d3a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7525 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T02:13:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-734673d184e34c9292c9067fb440d3a72022-12-21T20:40:33ZengBMCHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes1477-75252021-05-0119111010.1186/s12955-021-01793-xExploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in Shanxi, China: a structural equation modelChichen Zhang0Yuan Cai1Yaqing Xue2Xiao Zheng3Xiaozhao Yang4Jiao Lu5Lihong Hou6Mimi Li7School of Health Management, Southern Medical UniversitySchool of Management, Shanxi Medical UniversitySchool of Health Management, Southern Medical UniversitySchool of Health Management, Southern Medical UniversitySchool of Sociology and Anthropology Sun Yat-Sen UniversitySchool of Management, Shanxi Medical UniversityThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Shaanxi University of Chinese MedicineJincheng People’s HospitalAbstract 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) (R 2 = 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-021-01793-xQuality of lifeInfluencing factorsEmpty nesters |
| spellingShingle | Chichen Zhang Yuan Cai Yaqing Xue Xiao Zheng Xiaozhao Yang Jiao Lu Lihong Hou Mimi Li Exploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in Shanxi, China: a structural equation model Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Quality of life Influencing factors Empty nesters |
| title | Exploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in Shanxi, China: a structural equation model |
| title_full | Exploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in Shanxi, China: a structural equation model |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in Shanxi, China: a structural equation model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in Shanxi, China: a structural equation model |
| title_short | Exploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in Shanxi, China: a structural equation model |
| title_sort | exploring the influencing factors of quality of life among the empty nesters in shanxi china a structural equation model |
| topic | Quality of life Influencing factors Empty nesters |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-021-01793-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chichenzhang exploringtheinfluencingfactorsofqualityoflifeamongtheemptynestersinshanxichinaastructuralequationmodel AT yuancai exploringtheinfluencingfactorsofqualityoflifeamongtheemptynestersinshanxichinaastructuralequationmodel AT yaqingxue exploringtheinfluencingfactorsofqualityoflifeamongtheemptynestersinshanxichinaastructuralequationmodel AT xiaozheng exploringtheinfluencingfactorsofqualityoflifeamongtheemptynestersinshanxichinaastructuralequationmodel AT xiaozhaoyang exploringtheinfluencingfactorsofqualityoflifeamongtheemptynestersinshanxichinaastructuralequationmodel AT jiaolu exploringtheinfluencingfactorsofqualityoflifeamongtheemptynestersinshanxichinaastructuralequationmodel AT lihonghou exploringtheinfluencingfactorsofqualityoflifeamongtheemptynestersinshanxichinaastructuralequationmodel AT mimili exploringtheinfluencingfactorsofqualityoflifeamongtheemptynestersinshanxichinaastructuralequationmodel |