Correlation between domains of quality of life and locus of health control in community resident elderly <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

AIMS: To analize the correlation between quality of life, locus of control and socio-demographic data in community resident elderly. METHODS: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was performed. The sample was constituted by 113 senior citizens with ages ranging from 60 to 98 years. The instruments used were a Socio-demographic Data Form, a Locus of Control Scale and a Short Quality of Life Evaluation (WHOQOL-Bref). For statistical analysis we used the Pearson correlation coefficient, the Student t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results with p values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was moderate positive correlation between the number of leisure activities and psychological domain of quality of life (r=0.320, p=0.001) and environment domain of quality of life (r=0.320, p=0.001). The results also indicated weak positive correlation between the physical domain of quality of life and locus of internality (r=0.220, p=0.019), years of education (r=0.206, p=0.029) and number of leisure activities (r=0.282, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: A correlation between the types of locus of control and quality of life in the elderly was demonstrated. In general, older people who had internal locus of control and also those who possessed a more active life showed a higher quality of life.