School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA.
J Rural Health. 2012 Fall;28(4):339-47. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2011.00403.x. Epub 2012 Feb 6.
The proportion of people over 65 years of age is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and their numbers are expected to increase in the next decade. This study used Andersen's behavioral model to examine quality of life (QOL) in a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults 65 years and older according to geographic location. Specifically, associations between 3 dimensions of QOL (health-related QOL [HQOL], social functioning, and emotional well-being) and needs and health behaviors were examined.
The 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination survey was linked with the 2007 Area Resources File via the National Center for Health Statistics' remote access system. Frequencies and distribution patterns were assessed according to rural, adjacent, and urban locations.
Older adults reported high levels of QOL; however, rural older adults had lower social functioning than their urban counterparts. Older blacks and Hispanics had lower scores than whites on 2 dimensions of QOL. Associations between QOL and needs and health behaviors varied. Although activities of daily living were associated with all 3 dimensions, others were associated with 1 or 2 dimensions.
The lower scores on social functioning in rural areas suggest that rural older adults may be socially isolated. Older rural adults may need interventions to maintain physical and mental health, strengthen social relationships and support, and increase their participation in the community to promote QOL. In addition, older blacks and Hispanics seem more vulnerable than whites and may need more assistance.
农村地区 65 岁以上人口比例高于城市地区，预计未来十年这一数字还将增加。本研究采用安德森行为模型，根据地理位置考察了全国代表性的社区居住 65 岁及以上成年人的生活质量（QOL）。具体而言，研究考察了 QOL 的 3 个维度（与健康相关的 QOL [HQOL]、社会功能和情绪健康）与需求和健康行为之间的关联。
2005-2006 年全国健康与营养调查与 2007 年地区资源档案通过国家卫生统计中心远程访问系统进行了链接。根据农村、相邻和城市地点评估了频率和分布模式。
老年人报告了高水平的 QOL；然而，农村老年人的社会功能比城市老年人低。黑人老年人和西班牙裔老年人在 2 个 QOL 维度上的得分低于白人。QOL 与需求和健康行为之间的关联各不相同。尽管日常生活活动与所有 3 个维度都相关，但其他维度与 1 个或 2 个维度相关。
农村地区社会功能得分较低表明农村老年人可能处于社会孤立状态。农村老年人口可能需要干预措施来保持身心健康，加强社会关系和支持，并增加他们对社区的参与，以提高 QOL。此外，黑人和西班牙裔老年人似乎比白人更脆弱，可能需要更多的帮助。
