The effect of self-rated-health (SRH) on the quality of life (QoL) of older adults across the world: evidence from a global ageing survey 'The future of retirement'

In social science and public health earlier research has persistently reported significant socio-economic inequalities in health, inequalities in the use of health care, and self-rated-health (SRH) among older adults. However, relatively little attention is paid to the link between SRH and the overall quality of life (QoL) of older adults. Using the data collected in the Future of Retirement Survey (FoR) the study explores the linkages between the self-rated-health and quality of life among older adults in 21 countries and territories in five major regions of the world. The QoL was assessed by two survey instruments designed to capture subjective as well as objective appraisals of individual quality of life. Both bivariate and multiple analyses were performed to examine the impact of SRH on the QoL. The analyses reveal that there are health inequalities across different age cohorts and this is consistent for all selected countries and territories. As expected the proportion reporting poor health increases with age in most countries. The net effect of health on QoL has also been analysed using ordered logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender. Age plays an important role alongside with health on the overall quality of life. The study also reveals that women are found to be more likely to have been depressed compared to their male counterparts.

Conference held in Cairo, December 20-23, 2009.