Quality of life across medical conditions and psychological factors: implications for population health management

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2016

Publication Title

Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Chronic Disease, Disease Management, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Stress, Psychological, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult

Abstract

PURPOSE: To identify the contributions of medical conditions and psychological distress to well-being within a non-clinical sample, stratified by age. It was predicted that medical conditions and psychological distress would be negatively associated with well-being. It was also predicted that psychological distress and medical conditions would account for significant variance in well-being. It was further predicted that psychological distress would mediate the relationship between medical conditions and well-being across the life span.

METHODS: 1,424,307 employees/health plan members that completed an HRA. SEM was used to characterize relationships among medical conditions and psychological distress in predicting well-being (QoL, HRQoL, and impairments in ADLs) in five adult age groups.

RESULTS: Medical conditions and psychological distress were negatively associated with well-being. As age increased, psychological distress was less associated with well-being. However, in those >75 years old, psychological distress had the largest association with well-being. All medical conditions, except cancer, were negatively associated with well-being. There were decreasing effects of medical conditions across the life span, with the exception of pulmonary disease which increased. Psychological distress mediated the relationship between medical conditions and well-being, with chronic pain having the greatest mediation across the life span.

CONCLUSIONS: The analysis revealed differences in the contribution of psychological distress and medical conditions to well-being by age group. Additionally, the contribution of psychological distress was equitable to that of medical conditions, thus highlighting the importance of addressing psychological distress in medical populations for well-being. Findings suggest the relevance of age in well-being and the need for further longitudinal investigation.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Aged; Chronic Disease; Disease Management; Female; Health Status; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult

PubMed ID

26603738

Volume

25

Issue

6

First Page

1475

Last Page

1485

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