Quality of life measures for depressed and non-depressed Chinese older people.

AIM

To compare the perception of quality of life (QoL) between depressed and non-depressed Chinese older people in Hong Kong and examined the factors that influence this perception.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 80 older people with a diagnosis of depression and 179 non-depressed controls.

RESULTS

The depressed group had a lower rating in perceived QoL in all aspects than the non-depressed group. Level of depression and functional abilities were predictors of quality of life ratings for the both groups and activities of daily living was the predictor of quality of life for the depressed group only. The study identified the subjective perception of QoL amongst depressed older people is significantly lower than that amongst non-depressed older people. Depression affects the bio-psychosocial status of Chinese older people. This study provides insight for healthcare professionals in planning innovative services to meet their health needs.