Applied Research in Quality of Life

Publications in this journal

• Article: Association Between Fulfilment of Expectations and Health-related Quality of Life after Gastric Bypass.

  S G Pristed, H K Omar, J P Kroustrup
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  ABSTRACT: The objective was to examine the relationship between fulfilment of expectations and health-related quality of life 4 and 12 months after gastric bypass. A follow-up study based on patients undergoing gastric bypass at Aalborg Hospital - Aarhus University Hospital during February 2008 to December 2009. Health-related quality of life was assessed by Short Form 36 and summarized into the physical component summary and the mental component summary. Information on expectations was questionnaire based. Associations were analysed by linear regression. Included were 87 gastric bypass patients. Compared with patients with fulfilled expectations having expectations partly fulfilled -7.3 (-11.3; -3.3) or not having expectations fulfilled -11.2 (-18.8 ; -3.5) was associated with low a mental component summary 4 months after surgery. At 12 months follow-up patients who reported not to have expectations fulfilled had a low mental component summary score -16.3 (-26.5; -6.2) when compared to their counterparts with fulfilment of expectations. Not having expectations to changes in general well-being fulfilled is associated with low mental component summary. This is seen at follow-up points 4 and 12 months after gastric bypass.
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 03/2013; 8(1):101-111.
• Article: A mixed methods approach to vulnerability and quality of life assessment of waste picking in urban Nigeria

  Nzeadibe, T.C, Anyadike, R.N.C. and Njoku-Tony, R.F
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  ABSTRACT: Quality of life (QoL) studies have become acceptable globally as indicators of how well a people are living. They are increasingly being used to identify and design areas of intervention to raise the wellbeing of a population. While studies on livelihoods in the informal waste recycling system of developing country cities have also been on the increase in recent years, assessments of the QoL expectations within the livelihoods framework in the informal waste recycling sector seem surprisingly few. Studies of this nature have also not been undertaken in the context of Nigerian socio-political, cultural and economic environment. Applying mixed methods approach to the livelihood activity of waste picking in the commercial city of Aba in southeastern Nigeria, this paper identifies predominant social indicators relevant to the Aba scavengers, waste pickers’ perceptions and QoL expectations, and potential outcomes of meeting the QoL expectations of waste pickers in the area. It also categorizes pickers’ vulnerabilities into four levels of increasing magnitude. Given that African social dynamics do not always or often find expression, fully or partially, in figures, the paper stresses the need to apply ethnographic and qualitative research methods in assessment of QoL and wellbeing in the informal waste recycling system. It further argues that integrating QoL assessments into public decision-making and social policy in Nigeria will contribute significantly towards meeting some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while also engendering sustainable urban livelihood outcomes
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 12/2012; 7(4):351-370.
• Article: Hope and Flourishing in an Iranian Adults Sample: Their Contributions to the Positive and Negative Emotions

  Siamak Khodarahimi
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  ABSTRACT: The this study was purposed to examine the validity of dispositional hope, state hope, and flourishing measures, to investigate the relationships between hope, flourishing and emotions, and to explore the roles of gender, age, ethnicity, marital status, and the level of education on these constructs in an Iranian sample. Participants included 300 individuals (15–80 years old) that randomly selected from Eghlid city in the north of Fars province, Iran. A demographic questionnaire and four selfrating inventories were used in this study. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated a one-dimensional structure for dispositional hope, state hope and flourishing constructs in this sample. Dispositional hope, state hope, and subjective flourishing constructs were positively and negatively related to positive and negative emotions. The level of education showed the significant role on state hope and flourishing. State hope and subjective flourishing explained 14 and 8 % of variances in positive emotions and negative emotions respectively. Keywords Dispositional and state hope . Flourishing . Emotions . Demographics
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 08/2012;
• Article: Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life After Stroke: A Brief Tool

  Mary Russell, Martin Dempster, Michael Donnelly
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  ABSTRACT: Routine assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can be time consuming and burdensome for a person with stroke. Therefore the aim of this study was to develop and test a brief instrument for assessing HRQoL among people with stroke. The Quality of Life after Stroke Scale (QLASS) was constructed from items within the Quality of Life Index-Stroke Version and the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire. It was administered to 92 people with stroke at three points in time: immediately after discharge from hospital, 6months and 12months later. Results suggest that the QLASS has 19 items which represent three factors: emotional functioning, mastery and fatigue which correlate with valid measures of health status and activities of daily living. The QLASS is proposed as a brief, valid HRQoL tool for use among people with stroke. KeywordsQuality of life–Stroke–Questionnaire validity
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 05/2012; 6(1):41-51.
• Article: Erratum to: Examining Walkability and Social Capital as Indicators of Quality of Life at the Municipal and Neighborhood Scales

  Shannon H. Rogers, John M. Halstead, Kevin H. Gardner, Cynthia H. Carlson
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 05/2012; 6(2):215-216.
• Article: Thomas E. Jordan, A Review of “The Quality of Life in Seventeenth-Century Ireland”

  C. B. Claiborne
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  ABSTRACT: In “The Quality of Life in Seventeenth-Century Ireland,” Thomas Jordan brings a historian’s perspective to quality-of-life studies. The book raises questions about the determinants of quality-of-life, tangible outcomes and appropriate measures to assess societal well-being.
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 05/2012; 4(4):387-389.
• Article: Pleasure and Meaning: The Two Foundations of Happiness

  Jiyun Wu
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 05/2012; 5(1):79-80.
• Article: How Does Residents’ Satisfaction with Community Services Influence Quality of Life (QOL) Outcomes?

  M. Joseph Sirgy, Tao Gao, Robert F. Young
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  ABSTRACT: Grzeskowiak et al. [Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy 33(2):1–36, 2003] conducted a study that empirically tested a model that integrates the relationships among determinants and outcomes of residents’ satisfaction with community services. We build on their model in attempt to explain how residents’ satisfaction with community services influence satisfaction with the community at large (community well-being) and satisfaction with life (quality of life). Specifically, we hypothesized and empirically demonstrated for the most part that satisfaction with a variety of community services (e.g., services related to housing, education, government, healthcare, employment, religion, public safety, retailing, transportation, and leisure) affect satisfaction with the community and life overall through satisfaction in a variety of life domains (e.g., family, social, leisure, health, financial, cultural, consumer, work, spiritual, and environmental domains).
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 05/2012; 3(2):81-105.
• Article: Health Related Quality of Life After Percutaneous Coronary Revascularisation in Patients with Previous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts: A Two-Year Follow Up Study

  Girish N. Viswanathan, Gnanamoorthy Mayurathan, Tony Hildreth, Stephen G. Worthley, Azfar G. Zaman
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  ABSTRACT: Percutaneous coronary revascularisation [PCR] improves angina and health related quality of life [HRQOL] compared to standard medical therapy. It is unknown whether PCR has the same benefits for patients with a history of CABG. Over a period of 5years, we assessed HRQOL of patients undergoing PCR using Part 1 of the Nottingham Health Profile [NHP] at baseline 3, 12 and 24months. We compared HRQOL after PCR in 255 patients with CABG to 2680 without. There were more males [81.1% v 69.6% p = 0.002] and older patients [mean age 60.1years v. 58.0 p = 0.03] in CABG group. Perceived HRQOL improved at 24months for pain, energy and emotional reaction but the improvement was less in the CABG group. However, mean NHP scores at 24months for those with CABG had returned to baseline levels for sleep [34.9] and for physical function was worse than at baseline [22.0 vs 30.7]. This relationship persisted after adjustment for male sex, history of previous MI and coronary stent usage. Patients with previous CABG had less improvement in HRQOL after PCR. Further work is needed to assess the benefits and cost effectiveness of PCR in these patients. KeywordsPercutaneous coronary revascularisation–Coronary artery bypass surgery–Health related quality of life–Nottingham health profile
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 05/2012; 6(3):311-324.
• Article: Societal QOL is More than the Sum of QOL of Individuals: The Whole is Greater than the Sum of the Parts

  M. Joseph Sirgy
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  ABSTRACT: I submit that we are too focused on individual-level happiness research at the expense of societal level QOL research. That is, societal QOL cannot be simply treated as the sum of the happiness of individual citizens. In making this assertion I review and discuss Abott Ferris’ latest book: Approaches to Improving the Quality of Life (published by Springer, 2010). KeywordsSocietal QOL research–Individual-level QOL research–Happiness research
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 05/2012; 6(3):329-334.
• Article: Comparison Theory in Economic Psychology Regarding the Easterlin Paradox and Decreasing Marginal Utility: a Critique

  Robert A. Cummins
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  ABSTRACT: This paper challenges the assumption within Economics that the relationship between money and subjective wellbeing is determined by processes of cognitive comparison. An alternative explanation for such well known phenomena as the Easterlin Paradox and Decreasing Marginal Utility are provided through a consideration of affect. The theoretical basis for such explanations relies on theory from Psychology usually overlooked by Economists, such as affect heuristics and Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis. The presented evidence for this alternative source of explanation melds psychological theory with empirical data. It is concluded that affective processes offer a coherent alternative explanation for the phenomena under discussion. KeywordsEasterlin paradox–Decreasing marginal utility–Subjective wellbeing homeostasis–Comparison theory–Affect heuristic–Money–Happiness–Homeostatically protected mood
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 6(3):241-252.
• Article: Happiness, Income, and Beyond

  Mariano Rojas
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  ABSTRACT: This commentary to Carol Graham’s paper deals with the nature of the relationship between income and happiness. Carol Graham focuses her contribution on what I call the positive-coefficient hypothesis in economic theory; which states that, on average, well-being rises with income. The hypothesis was first questioned by Richard Easterlin’s pioneering work and it has captured a lot of attention from happiness researchers during the last decade. My contribution deals with a related hypothesis, which I call the close-relationship hypothesis in economic theory. The hypothesis states that a person’s income is a good predictor of his or her well-being. I show that this hypothesis is rejected by happiness research, and I discuss the implications of this rejection. KeywordsHappiness–Income–Domains of life–Poverty
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 6(3):265-276.
• Article: Examining the Association Between Body Mass Index and Weight Related Quality of Life in Black and White Women

  Tiffany L. Cox, Jamy D. Ard, T. Mark Beasley, Jose R. Fernandez, Virginia J. Howard, Ronnete L. Kolotkin, Ross D. Crosby, Olivia Affuso
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  ABSTRACT: Obesity not only increases risk for morbidity/mortality, but also impacts the quality of life of obese individuals. In the United States, black women have the highest prevalence of obesity of any other group with approximately 80% of black women over age 20 having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25kg/m2. We aimed to examine the association between BMI and quality of life in this high risk population compared to this association in white women, using the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL)-Lite questionnaire. Data from 172 black women (mean BMI = 35.7; age = 40.5) and 171 white women (mean BMI = 35.5; age = 40.4) were collected between 2000 and 2010 analyzed in 2010. The mean IWQOL-Lite total score was 81.6 for black women compared to 66.9 for white women, a statistically significant difference. Hierarchical linear regression models revealed a significant BMI-by-race interaction indicating that the relationship between BMI and IWQOL-Lite score was moderated by race. Our findings suggest notable differences in weight-related quality of life in black and white women. At similar BMIs, black women consistently reported better quality of life than white women on all IWQOL-Lite subscales. The greatest difference in IWQOL-Lite scores between black and white women was seen in the self-esteem subscale. Additional research is needed to understand how to incorporate the weight perspectives of black women into weight management messages and interventions. KeywordsQuality of life–Women–Black–Weight
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012;
• Article: Quality of Life and Compact Development Policies in Bandung, Indonesia

  Sigit Dwiananto Arifwidodo, Ranjith Perera
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  ABSTRACT: The study explores whether Quality of Life (QOL) corresponds to the spatial pattern of urban system as a result of compact development policy practice in Bandung city, Indonesia. It examines the connection between QOL and selected attributes of compact development. A self-reported life satisfaction is used as a proxy for QOL based on a cross-sectional survey data from 400 respondents. The analysis shows that the changes in QOL significantly correspond to the change of different attributes of compact development. The result suggests that compact development policies in Bandung have not shown a desirable result in improving QOL of the urban residents. The result also indicates that the implementation of the policy is less beneficial in the context of developing countries. The study strengthens the existing argument that compact development policies need to be tailored to suit the context of developing countries, rather than just be taken for granted from the practices in developed countries. KeywordsQuality of life–Life satisfaction–Spatial planning–Compact development–Urban form
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 6(2):159-179.
• Article: Life Satisfaction in Persons with Late Effects of Polio

  Maria Larsson Lund, Jan Lexell
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  ABSTRACT: To assess satisfaction with life as a whole and with ten domains of life satisfaction in Swedish persons with late effects of polio, to describe the relationship with sex, age, marital status, use of mobility aids and self-perceived needs of instrumental support, and to compare the level of life satisfaction with a Swedish reference sample. A cross-sectional study of 160 persons with verified late effects of polio answered a postal questionnaire including the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11). A majority were to some degree satisfied with life as a whole and with all the ten domains of life satisfaction. Satisfaction with life as whole was not related to any of the sociodemographic or disability related factors and these factors had few relations to the ten domains of life satisfaction. The respondents were significantly less satisfied with life as a whole and with vocation, leisure, sexual life, activities of daily living, and somatic and psychological health compared to the Swedish reference sample, but were significantly more satisfied with economy and contacts with friends. Men and women with late effects of polio, regardless of age, marital status or disability, can experience a reduced life satisfaction. This emphasises the need to identify potential gaps between these persons’ aspirations and achievements in life and carry out appropriate rehabilitation interventions to enhance their life satisfaction. KeywordsPostpoliomyelitis syndrome–Quality of life–Rehabilitation–Disability evaluation
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 6(1):71-80.
• Article: Quality of Life in Old Age: Problematic Issues

  Rocío Fernández-Ballesteros
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  ABSTRACT: Quality of Life (QoL) is a concept widely used in gerontology, as well as in other fields such as anthropology, health sciences, psychology, sociology and political sciences. Historically, although Aristotle is considered as an antecedent, the term QoL emerged in about the sixties in scientific literature. In the field of ageing, it is considered as an outcome of projects, programmes, services or policies and is used for describing populations, contexts and individuals. QoL is considered by most experts as a multidimensional concept involving multiple domains (health, psychological, social and environmental), containing objective and subjective components. Nevertheless, in recent years, QoL has been reduced to the subjective appraisal, to health or to subjective psychological attributes such as well-being, happiness or life satisfaction. Moreover, conceptual confusions can be found between QoL and other concepts related to positive ageing. In this conceptually-driven paper, after reviewing a set of expert and lay conceptualizations of QoL and identifying the diversity of its components, three critical issues will be discussed: its reduction to health or to the subjective appraisal of a set of domains, the confusion of QoL with other subjective or positive concepts and, finally, its methodological reductionism to self-reports as an exclusive procedure for QoL data collection. From these criticisms some conceptual and methodological suggestions are proposed. KeywordsQuality of life–Old age–Well-being–Successful ageing
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 6(1):21-40.
• Article: Patterns of Fulfilment in the Domains of Work, Intimate Relationship, and Leisure

  Martin Pinquart, Rainer K. Silbereisen
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  ABSTRACT: Work, family/partnership, and leisure form the most important domains in most peoples’ lives. The present study investigated patterns of fulfilment in these domains among 1,974 German respondents. Eight groups were formed based on the combination of having experienced career progress (yes/no), having a satisfying intimate relationship (yes/no), and perceiving high levels of flow (Csikszentmihalyi 1997) during leisure activities (yes/no). Socioeconomic resources (educational attainment and income) as well as psychosocial resources differed between the success patterns, with most resources showing domain-specific positive associations with the criteria of success in life. Individuals with high levels of flow during leisure reported the highest levels of positive affect, whereas success in the field of work and intimate relationship added little. However, lowest levels of depressive symptoms were found in respondents who fulfilled at least two criteria of success. Further longitudinal research is needed for testing causal relationships between change in life success and change in aspects of psychological well-being. KeywordsLife success-Work-Family relations-Intimate relationship-Career progress-Leisure-Flow-Subjective well-being
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 5(2):147-164.
• Article: Physical Activity, Life Satisfaction, and Self-Rated Health of Middle School Students

  Keith J. Zullig, Rebecca J. White
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  ABSTRACT: Little research has examined the association between life satisfaction, self-rated health (SRH), and physical activity concurrently for middle school students. A convenience sample of 245 students in grades 7 and 8 was surveyed about physical activity, life satisfaction, and SRH using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2005 Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey. ANOVA analyses revealed significantly reduced life satisfaction for females who reported not engaging in vigorous physical activity during the past 7days [p < .01, effect size (ES) = .75]. Significantly reduced life satisfaction was detected for both males (p < .001, ES = .66) and females (p < .0001, ES = .80) who reported not playing on sports teams. Additionally, logistic regression analyses showed the odds of reporting fair/poor SRH increased 5.4 times for males (CI = 1.30–22.39, p < .05) and 30.9 times for females (CI = 3.74–255.43, p < .001) who reported not playing on sports teams. Preliminary findings suggest physical activity and sports participation is associated with improved life satisfaction and SRH for middle school students. In addition, although some gender differences were observed, consistent findings for sports participation suggest sports participation may carry multiple social, mental, and physical benefits for youth. KeywordsLife satisfaction–Self-rated health–Physical activity–Sports participation–Youth–Adolescents
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 6(3):277-289.
• Article: Quality of Life Among Patients with Mucopolysaccharidoses

  Akinori Hisashige
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  ABSTRACT: To investigate preference-based quality of life (i.e., utility) in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among proxy respondents. Preference-based quality of life of the six main subtypes of mucopolysaccharidoses was evaluated by utility measurement tools: visual analogue scale, standard gamble and time trade-off. Subjects were 93 medical students in a medical school and 6 medical experts on mucopolysaccharidoses in Japan. Group and individual interviews were carried out respectively. In standard gamble measurement among medical students, the mean utility value of mucopolysaccharidosis IH was the lowest (0.24), followed by mucopolysaccharidosis IIs (0.30) and mucopolysaccharidosis III (0.35). That of mucopolysaccharidosis IIm was the highest (0.76). The utility values of visual analogue sacle were significantly lower than those of standard gamble in all subtypes. All the correlation coefficients of utility values in each subtype of mucopolysaccharidoses between the three methods, using standard gamble as a reference standard, were statistically significant. The results among medical experts were similar to those among medical students. The utility values of patients with mucopolysaccharidoses were at low or medium levels. These results indicate that mucopolysaccharidoses pose a significant burden on overall health in these patients. KeywordsQuality of life–Utility–Child–Mucopolysaccharidosis–Standard gamble–Time trade-off
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 6(2):105-113.
• Article: The Association Between Physical Functioning and Self-rated General Health in Later Life: The Implications of Social Comparison

  Hongjun Yin, Swu-Jane Lin, Sheldon X. Kong, Kenza Benzeroual, Stephanie Y. Crawford, Donald Hedeker, Bruce L. Lambert, Naoko Muramatsu
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  ABSTRACT: Self-rated general health has been used widely in health surveys as a single-item measurement of health-rated quality of life. Heterogeneity in self-evaluation of health has been well documented, yet the causes of this heterogeneity are poorly understood. This study evaluated the moderating effects of age, aging, gender, race, education and income on the relationship between physical functioning and self-rated general health using social comparison theory as a guiding framework. A longitudinal mixed-effects regression model was used to analyze a cohort enrolled into the Health and Retirement Study in 1993 that was interviewed at baseline and during four subsequent waves. The results revealed that the association between physical functioning and self-rated general health is weaker among subgroups that tend to have lower health status; i.e., older individuals, non-Caucasians and less educated individuals. These findings suggest the usefulness of social comparison theory in explaining self-rated general health and provide the basis for future research. KeywordsPhysical functioning–Self-rated general health–Social comparison theory–Socio-demographic–Socio-economic
  Applied Research in Quality of Life 04/2012; 6(1):1-19.