Neighborhood environment and quality of life of older adults in eastern Nepal: findings from a cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMC geriatrics Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 679 - 14
• Main Authors: Sapkota, Krishna Prasad, Shrestha, Aman, Ghimire, Saruna, Mistry, Sabuj Kanti, Yadav, Krishna Kumar, Yadav, Shubash Chandra, Mehta, Ranju Kumari, Quasim, Rubina, Tamang, Man Kumar, Singh, Devendra Raj, Yadav, Om Prakash, Mehata, Suresh, Yadav, Uday Narayan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 13.08.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adults; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Care and treatment; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Community support; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Demography; Diagnosis; Environmental aspects; Ethnic diversity; Female; Health aspects; Health care; Humans; Life expectancy; Male; Middle Aged; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Neighborhood; Neighborhood Characteristics; Neighborhood context; Neighborhoods; Nepal - epidemiology; Nepal - ethnology; Older adults; Older people; OPQoL-brief; Political representation; Population; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Questionnaires; Residence Characteristics; Response rates; Risk factors; Social connectedness; Social exclusion; Social support; Surveys and Questionnaires; System theory; Nepal; Ethnic diversity; Neighborhood context; OPQoL-brief; Social connectedness; Older adults; Nepal; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1471-2318; 1471-2318
• DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05278-6

Quality of life (QoL) is a subjective measure reflecting individuals' evaluations based on their personal goals and values. While global research shows the role of neighborhood factors like ethnic diversity and socio-cultural dynamics on QoL, these are unexplored in the Nepali context. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between neighborhood environment and QoL among Nepali older adults in eastern Nepal. This cross-sectional study involved 847 non-institutionalized older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) from two districts in eastern Nepal. QoL was evaluated using the 13-item brief Older People's Quality of Life questionnaire, where a mean score of < 3 indicated low/poor QoL. The neighborhood environment, conceptualized across three domains (demographic, socio-cultural, and built environment), included ethnic diversity, connections with family, friends, and neighbors, cultural ties, residential stability, and rurality. Their association with QoL was examined using multivariable logistic regression. Around 20% of older adults reported poor QoL. Higher ethnic diversity (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04-0.36), moderate contact with family and relatives (aOR = 0.26, CI: 0.11-0.61), and high contact with neighbors (aOR = 0.09, CI: 0.03-0.21) were associated with lower odds of poor QoL. Conversely, high contact with friends (aOR = 2.29, CI: 1.30-4.04) and unstable residence (OR = 6.25, CI: 2.03-19.23) increased the odds of poor QoL. Additionally, among the covariates, chronic disease, tobacco use, unemployment, and lack of education were also significantly associated with poor QoL. Overall, the demographic environment, socio-cultural factors, and the built environment of the neighborhood influence QoL. Therefore, diversifying the neighborhood's ethnic composition, promoting social connections such as frequent contact with family, relatives, and neighbors, and ensuring residential stability can enhance the QoL of older adults.