The relationship between quality of life and adaptation to aging in elderly people

Objective : This studied aims to examine the relationship between quality of life and adaptation to aging in elderly individuals. Material and methods : This descriptive correlational study was conducted between May and December 2019 in Istanbul. The sample size was determined as 431, considering the elderly ratios (8.3%) published by the Turkey Statistical Institute. Data collected using the Diagnostic Information Form, the Standardized Mini Mental Test (SMMT), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Model (WHOQOL-OLD), and the Assessment Scale of Adaptation Difficulty for the Elderly (ASADE), and evaluated using descriptive statistics, comparative analyzes (Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis Test), and the Pearson's correlation analysis. Results : The mean age of participants was 75.30 ± 6.65 years, and 72.3% of them were male, 97.7% were single, 58.1% had chronic disease, and 63.1% were on medication. The WHOQOL-OLD mean score was significantly higher in married elderly individuals, those with chronic disease, and those with good friendship relations (p <0.05). The ASADE mean score was significantly higher in elderly individuals with chronic diseases and those without continuous drug use (p <0.05). There was a negative correlation between the elderly individuals' ASADE and WHOQOL-OLD scores (r=-0.312; p <0.05). Conclusion: As elderly people' adaptation difficulty to aging decreased, their quality of life increased. The quality of life and adaptation to aging in elderly individuals were affected by marital status, social security, chronic disease, and continuous drug use. Keywords: Elderly, quality of life, adaptation