Applied Research in Quality of Life最新文献

Purpose

The objectives were to 1) systematically evaluate the Minnesota Long-Stay Resident Quality of Life (QoL) Survey based on validity, reliability, parsimony, relevance, and ability to discriminate facility performance; and 2) arrive at a new version of the survey and composite scoring approach.

Methods

Data consisted of Minnesota nursing home resident QoL surveys, conducted through annual face-to-face interviews in 2017 (10,007 residents, 355 facilities), 2018 (9,884 residents, 352 facilities), and 2019 (9,896 residents, 347 facilities). Validity was evaluated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha values. Parsimony and relevance were assessed using content validity, construct validity, correlation, frequency of endorsement, and percentage missing. The ability to discriminate facility performance was assessed by examining the distributions of facility QoL scores.

Results

The current domain structure has unbalanced items ranging from 4 to 9 across the eight domains; 28 items fit as well or better empirically under an alternative domain structure; and four items are redundant and could be dropped from the survey without loss of information. The current facility QoL scores do not discriminate well in facility performance because of the lack of item balance and a ceiling effect.

Conclusion

The proposed revisions result in a shorter, more balanced, more discriminating, and more valid QoL survey, while maintaining a high level of reliability. The revised survey allows the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and others who might adopt the survey, to better assess nursing facility performance on aspects of QoL that are meaningful to residents.

Canada is one of the world’s important migration poles. For several decades, immigration has contributed to Canada’s ethnic, economic, cultural and diversity development. This paper examines the associated factors of sense of community belonging among immigrants using a pooled data from the 2011–2018 Canadian Community Health Survey. A secondary analysis of the Canadian Community Health Surveys, 2011–2018 was conducted. A subsample of the immigrant population (n = 64,680) was used for this analysis. All analyses were performed in STATA version 18. The article employed descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariate ordinal logistic regression models to analyze the association between immigrants' sense of community belonging and various demographic and socio-economic predictors. The results indicate that 69.94% of immigrants reported a strong sense of community belonging. Overall, age, life satisfaction, personal income, homeownership, sex, and belonging to a visible minority were positively associated with a stronger sense of community belonging. Conversely, factors like higher household income, higher educational attainment, being single, lack of proficiency in official languages, and experiencing extreme life stress were associated with a weaker sense of community belonging. This research underscores the complex interplay between socio-economic status, personal circumstances, and immigrants' integration into their new communities. It points to the need for targeted policy interventions and community support programs that address the varied needs of immigrants to foster a greater sense of community belonging and facilitate successful integration. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on immigration, integration, and community belonging, emphasizing the importance of considering a wide range of factors in understanding and supporting immigrant populations in Canada.

This paper explores the characteristics, causes and consequences of the breakup process of binational couples. Previous research found significant differences in the separation processes of binational couples and usually conclude that they are at greater risk of separation. But most studies attempting to explain relationship breakdown processes are based on statistical data and therefore do not reveal the complexity of the decision process. In our study, based on interviews over a 12-year period, we analyze the importance and centrality of “cultural dissimilarity” to explain the separation processes of mixed couples. The data obtained allow to establish the significance of certain elements that add nuance to the theory of homogamy/heterogamy by showing how the ‘cultural distance’ is not a central argument in most breakup experiences but that it helps to shape the discourse.

Well-being (WB) is associated with healthier and longer lives, more social connections, and workplace success. However, assessment of WB is primarily based on self-report measures. This mixed-methods research examined how diverse adults described the sources of their WB and whether such views differed by education, race, and gender. Data came from midlife and older adults from the Midlife in the United States Study who responded to the question “What do you do to make your life go well?” (N = 2,118; 54% some college or less; 19% Black). We used directed content analysis to develop a codebook comprising 20 code groups. Three judges evaluated the presence of each code group within each open-ended response. Percent agreement among judges was strong (M = 0.91; range = 0.80-0.98). The most frequently mentioned sources of WB were Relationships, Positive Attitude, and Faith. Self-Awareness, Work, Coping, and Health themes were also common. Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher endorsed all code groups more than those with less education (ps < 0.01), except for Faith (p = .41). White adults endorsed all code groups more than Black adults (ps < 0.001), except Black adults endorsed Faith more than White adults (p < .001). Gender differences in WB code groups and correlations between code groups and self-reported WB are also reported. Findings point to key sources of WB and patterning by social structural forces, suggesting that social structural factors relate to how WB is experienced and described.

In psychology and public health domains, there is a strong interconnection between life satisfaction, an individual’s cognitive evaluation of one’s life, and health status. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in global lifestyle adaptations, including reduced physical activity (PA), potentially impacting life satisfaction. This study examines the relationships between life satisfaction, PA levels, PA venue preferences, and the influences of COVID-19 on PA. The study utilized data from the European Commission’s Eurobarometer, (GESIS, Cologne. ZA7888 Data file Version 1.0.0, 2022), which collected data across all 27 European Union (EU) Member States. The survey included around 1,000 residents in each EU Member State, 15 years and older. A total of 26,569 respondents were included in the analysis. 77.8% of participants reached the recommended PA levels by the World Health Organization (WHO). Men, young adults, singles, and rural residents had higher rates of achieving optimal physical activity levels. The study used four generalized linear models to examine the impact of selected variables on life satisfaction. The results indicated that both overall and daily life satisfaction were influenced by similar factors, including age, places for PA, COVID-19 impact on PA, and achieving recommended PA levels. Furthermore, the interaction between outdoor PA venues and COVID-19 impact on PA significantly affected life satisfaction, while no significant interaction was observed for indoor PA venues and COVID-19. The current study provides insights into mental health and PA in the post-pandemic period, accounting for different age groups across the EU.

As teleworking gains widespread global acceptance as a prevalent work arrangement, it is crucial to understand its implications for life satisfaction. Despite the increasing adoption of teleworking, few studies have examined the specific mechanisms through which it influences life satisfaction. This study used data on 358 married Singaporean women spanning six waves from 2018 to 2022, and applied path analysis to explore the effects of teleworking on life satisfaction mediated by work–life balance, workplace relationships, and working hours. The findings suggest a positive association between teleworking and life satisfaction, with work–life balance as a mediating factor. Although teleworking is associated with worsened workplace relationships and decreased working hours, the mediating effects of these factors on life satisfaction are not significant. Organizations should consider the potential benefits of teleworking for work–life balance and life satisfaction while also weighing its drawbacks.