Abstract
Rapid demographic changes increase interest in determinants associated with successful ageing closely linked to the ability to maintain good quality of life (QoL) by older people. Functional status, social and physical environment are considered as important contributing factors. The purpose was to assess whether functional status, social networks, social participation and the characteristic of surrounding build environment are predictors for better QoL among older (60+) and younger (<60) individuals. Population based follow-up study in Poland, Europe was performed in two phases in 2011 and 2015–2016; the mean follow-up time was 4.3 years. Analyses included 769 at 60+ (54.7% males) and 884 individuals at age <60 (59.5% males). WHOQOL-AGE, WHODAS-2.0, COURAGE Social Network Index, COURAGE Subjective Build Environment were measured during face-to-face interviews. Multiple linear regression used to find predictors for QoL revealed functional status and social participation as important predictors in both older (betas=0.34, 0.12) and younger groups (betas=0.30, 0.09). Additionally, quality of living place build environment and social networks predicted QoL in younger group (betas=0.14, 0.14). Analyses considering the change in functional status instead of the baseline status showed positive effect of social networks in both age groups. Functional status, social and build environment should be considered as key predictors of quality of life among older adults, therefore these should be of interest for health promotion strategies in ageing societies. Founded by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013, Grant 223071), Jagiellonian University Medical College (K/ZDS/005241), ATHLOS: Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies, EU Horizon 2020 No635316