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Towards the good life: a population survey of dimensions of quality of life

Towards the good life: a population survey of dimensions of quality of life
Towards the good life: a population survey of dimensions of quality of life
The aim of the analyses presented here was to explore subjective and objective components and predictors of self-rated quality of life (QoL). The vehicle for the study was a questionnaire module on perceptions of quality of life, which was commissioned by the authors for inclusion in the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Omnibus Survey in Great Britain. For the survey, 2033 randomly sampled adults aged 16 and over were interviewed in their own homes (77% response rate). Multiple regression analyses showed that relatively little of the variance in overall QoL ratings was explained by the objective, socio-demographic indicators (5%), and the addition of the health status indicator (reported longstanding illness) contributed nothing. The subjective ratings of life in self-nominated areas of importance explained the most, with those who did not prioritise the area at all as the referent (relationships, finances, own health, others'' health, work and social life). These variables contributed over twice as much as the objective and health status variables, indicating the relative importance of self nominated ''important areas of life'' over theoretically important, objective variables and reported illness. However, the final model still only explained a modest amount of the variance in quality of life ratings (16%), confirming the amorphous nature of quality of life.
health, life satisfaction, quality of life, well-being
1389-4978
55 - 82
Bowling, Ann
796ca209-687f-4079-8a40-572076251936
Windsor, Joy
382576d8-4056-4fa9-8a08-e51b6fb2ac5e
Bowling, Ann
796ca209-687f-4079-8a40-572076251936
Windsor, Joy
382576d8-4056-4fa9-8a08-e51b6fb2ac5e

Bowling, Ann and Windsor, Joy (2001) Towards the good life: a population survey of dimensions of quality of life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 2 (1), 55 - 82. (doi:10.1023/A:1011564713657).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The aim of the analyses presented here was to explore subjective and objective components and predictors of self-rated quality of life (QoL). The vehicle for the study was a questionnaire module on perceptions of quality of life, which was commissioned by the authors for inclusion in the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Omnibus Survey in Great Britain. For the survey, 2033 randomly sampled adults aged 16 and over were interviewed in their own homes (77% response rate). Multiple regression analyses showed that relatively little of the variance in overall QoL ratings was explained by the objective, socio-demographic indicators (5%), and the addition of the health status indicator (reported longstanding illness) contributed nothing. The subjective ratings of life in self-nominated areas of importance explained the most, with those who did not prioritise the area at all as the referent (relationships, finances, own health, others'' health, work and social life). These variables contributed over twice as much as the objective and health status variables, indicating the relative importance of self nominated ''important areas of life'' over theoretically important, objective variables and reported illness. However, the final model still only explained a modest amount of the variance in quality of life ratings (16%), confirming the amorphous nature of quality of life.

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More information

Published date: March 2001
Keywords: health, life satisfaction, quality of life, well-being
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 334706
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/334706
ISSN: 1389-4978
PURE UUID: 3dedb28a-8224-435c-a63d-7ce517d5977d

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Date deposited: 23 Mar 2012 14:56
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 10:36

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Contributors

Author: Ann Bowling
Author: Joy Windsor

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