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Health‐related quality of life among subjects with long‐term mental symptoms in a population‐based sample
Author(s) -
SAHARINEN T.,
HINTIKKA J.,
NISKANEN L.,
KYLMÄ J.,
KOIVUMAAHONKANEN H.,
HONKALAMPI K.,
NIKKONEN M.,
HAATAINEN K.,
VIINAMÄKI H.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1365-2850
pISSN - 1351-0126
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2009.01513.x
Subject(s) - mental health , term (time) , sample (material) , quality of life (healthcare) , population , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , gerontology , clinical psychology , environmental health , psychotherapist , chemistry , physics , chromatography , quantum mechanics
Accessible summary• We examined HRQL, gender differences and correlates among subjects with long‐term mental symptoms in a population‐based sample. • There was no gender difference in HRQL. • Correlates of the poor Physical Component Summary scale were somatic diseases, alexithymic features in men, and a low level of education and the BDI score among women. Life dissatisfaction, alexithymic features in men, and frequent use of alcohol and the BDI score in women associated with the poor Mental Component Summary scale.Abstract Women have shown to have poorer health‐related quality of life (HRQL) than men. The purpose of this study was to examine HRQL, its gender differences and correlates among subjects ( n = 158) with long‐term mental symptoms in a population‐based sample. HRQL was assessed with the eight dimensions and the Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scales of RAND‐36. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were recorded and psychometric scales were administered. Psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV. HRQL was quite poor in all dimensions of RAND‐36 regardless of gender. Men and women had similarly poor scores for PCS and MCS. Mental health‐related factors were main correlates of HRQL and this knowledge could be used in nursing practice and in health promotion.