Abstract Book of the 2nd Global Conference on Aging and Gerontology
Year: 2025
DOI:
[PDF]
Quality of Life in Polish and Slovak Seniors Aged Over 60 Years
Bożena Kowalczyk, Bożena Zawadzka, Kinga Kowalewska
ABSTRACT:
Population aging is constantly thrusting the issue of the “quality of life” of the elderly to the forefront of social problems in all countries of the world. Studies of the subjective perception of the quality of life of the elderly in countries similar in terms of sociodemographic characteristics are an important cognitive factor in improving the care provided by health care professionals to older adults.The aim of the study was to investigate perceived quality of life level in Polish and Slovak seniors aged over 60 years. The survey was conducted among 1,534 people aged over 60 years living in a domestic environment. Of the Polish respondents, 831 people lived in Malopolska province while 703 people from Slovakia lived in Prešov province. The Polish and Slovak versions of the standardized WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire were used to evaluate quality of life. In all tests, a significance level of 0.05 was adopted.The average perceived quality of life (p=0.000) and average satisfaction with one’s health (p=0.001) was significantly higher in the Polish seniors than in the Slovak seniors. Physical health (p=0.00) was perceived significantly better among the Polish seniors than among the Slovak seniors, while perception of psychological function (p=0.000) and environmental conditions (p=0.029) were significantly better among Slovak seniors than among Polish seniors. The overall level of quality of life for people aged over 60 years in Poland and Slovakia was good. Both Polish and Slovak respondents reported being more satisfied with their quality of life than with their health state.
keywords: people aged 60+, WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire, quality of life