Is the Evaluation of the Global Quality of Life Determined by Emotional Status?

• Published in: Quality of life research Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 1347 - 1356
• Main Authors: Heinonen, H, Aro, A R, Aalto, A M, Uutela, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.10.2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Correlation coefficients; Depressive disorders; Emotional states; Emotions; Female; Finland; Holistic Health; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pain; Pain Measurement; Personal Satisfaction; Psychometrics; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social perception; Statistical discrepancies; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Wellbeing; Finland
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1023/B:QURE.0000040788.12947.b9

The present study investigated relationships between global QOL perceptions and well-being dimensions. Especially our goal was to evaluate the impact of generally recognised four broad dimensions of QOL (physical, functional, social and emotional well-being) on global QOL perceptions, additionally person's satisfaction with life achievements and economical situation were measured as well as social demographic variables. The subjects were a representative sample of Finns (n = 4613, from 25 to 65 years) of the FINRISK-97 study. Correlation coefficients and models of hierarchical regression indicated that physical, functional and social well-being as well as sociodemographic factors and satisfaction with life achievements are important factors of global QOL perceptions both among males and females. However percentages of variances explained with these measures were only moderately high, ranging from 1 to 10%. After measures of emotional well-being were entered into the models of hierarchical analyses of regression, variances explained grew dramatically over 20%. The results of the study indicated that global QOL judgements are likely to be based on current emotional state.