Among OAWE, depressive symptoms are strongly linked to reduced QOL, and the importance of integrated mental health screening and intervention for OAWE underscores the importance of integrated mental health screening and intervention.
Abstract
Background
In the U.S., about one million people with active epilepsy are adults aged 55+. Older adults with epilepsy (OAWE) experience complex health conditions that compromise quality of life (QOL). The contribution of depressive symptom dimensions to health-related QOL remains underexplored in OAWE.
Methods
We analyzed baseline data from 13 epilepsy self-management studies in the CDC-sponsored MEW-DB (Managing Epilepsy Well Database), including adults ages 55 and older (N = 198). The primary outcome was health-related QOL, assessed via the 10-item Quality of Life in Epilepsy scale (QOLIE-10), which was inverse rank normalized (mean = 0, SD = 1). Primary predictors included the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) total score, cognitive and somatic symptom sub scores, and suicide ideation. Multivariable mixed-effects linear regression was used to assess associations. Models included a random intercept for originating study.
Results
Participants were x̄ = 60.8 years (range: 55-79); 60.6% female and 68.7% White. On average, participants had mild depressive symptoms (mean PHQ-9 = 8.3). Depressive symptom severity was significantly associated with worse QOL. Cognitive (β = 0.17 SD, 95% CI: 0.12-0.21, p = 5.6 × 10-13), somatic (β = 0.19 SD, 95% CI: 0.14-0.23, p = 3.3 × 10-17), and total depressive (PHQ-9 total) symptoms (β = 0.10 SD, 95% CI: 0.08-0.12, p = 3.8 × 10-21) were associated with worse QOLIE-10 total scores when adjusting for likely confounders. Suicide ideation was not associated with QOLIE-10 (β = 0.07 SD, 95% CI: -0.15 to 0.29, p = 0.51). Past 30-day seizure occurrence was associated with worse total QOLIE-10 only when depressive terms were excluded from the multivariable model (β = 0.38 SD, 95% CI: 0.05-0.72, p = 0.024).
Conclusions
Among OAWE, depressive symptoms are strongly linked to reduced QOL. These findings underscore the importance of integrated mental health screening and intervention for OAWE.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine the clinical factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) of older adults with severe dementia in long-term care facilities.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study. Eligible participants were aged ≥ 65 years and at a severe stage of dementia. The dependent variable (QoL) was assessed using the Chinese version of the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia Scale (QUALID-C). The independent variables included demographic data, behavioural symptoms, depression, cognitive function, self-care function, physical activity level and activity involvement.
RESULTS
A total of 81 participants (female= 70, mean age = 89.41 ± 6.68) were recruited. Behavioural problems and non-sedentary time were significantly associated with overall QoL in the multiple regression model (adjusted R2= 0.346, p = 0.001). Pain level, behavioural problems, non-sedentary time, involvement in daily activities, and length of stay were significantly associated with the discomfort QoL subscale in multiple regression (adjusted R2= 0.362, p = 0.000). For the comfort scale, behavioural problems were the only significant variable in the multiple regression model (adjusted R2= 0.256, p = 0.008).
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that addressing behavioural problems and increasing non-sedentary time may enhance the overall QoL and alleviate discomfort in individuals with severe dementia in residential units.
S. Leung, T. Kwok· Aging & Mental Health· 0 citations
OBJECTIVES
To synthesize evidence on determinants of quality of life (QoL) among older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) within an aging-relevant biopsychosocial framework.
METHODS
A narrative review was conducted using Scopus. The search was performed in September 2025 and included peer-reviewed articles published between 2007 and 2025. Eligible studies examined QoL or health-related QoL among adults aged 60 years and older with T2DM. Screening was conducted independently by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Forty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized narratively.
RESULTS
The included studies varied in design, region, and QoL measurement. QoL was shaped by interconnected clinical, psychological, cognitive, functional, behavioral, pharmacological, social, and sociodemographic determinants. Greater clinical and treatment-related burden, depression, diabetes-related distress, cognitive impairment, functional limitation, and reduced mobility were generally linked with poorer QoL. Self-management, physical activity, treatment adherence, caregiver competence, and social support were generally linked with better QoL.
CONCLUSIONS
QoL in later-life diabetes reflects interactions among disease burden, emotional and cognitive vulnerability, functional capacity, self-management, and social-caregiving context.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
QoL-oriented care should include psychological, cognitive, medication, functional, and social-caregiving assessment, alongside age-sensitive self-management support.
Martaria Rizky Rinaldi, N. Hasanat, K. Yuniarti· Clinical Gerontologist· 0 citations
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic condition that can substantially affect quality of life (QoL) across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. Although self-care management and self-efficacy are recognized as important factors in diabetes outcomes, their contributions to QoL remain insufficiently examined in community-based populations. This study examined the predictive contributions of self-care management ability and self-efficacy to QoL among adults with T2DM in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. A cross-sectional predictive correlational design was employed among 150 adults with T2DM selected through total enumeration. Data were collected using the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ), Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES), and WHOQOL-BREF. Descriptive statistics and MM-estimator robust multiple regression with 1,000-resample bootstrapped confidence intervals were used following assessment of regression assumptions. Results showed significant regression models for physical health (Robust R² = 0.255, p < 0.001), psychological health (Robust R² = 0.114, p = 0.009), and social relationships (Robust R² = 0.194, p < 0.001). Dietary control (β = 0.232, p = 0.026) and glucose management (β = 0.257, p = 0.021) significantly predicted physical health. For psychological health, glucose management was a significant predictor (β = 0.254, p = 0.040), whereas dietary control was not significant (β = 0.219, p = 0.058). For social relationships, dietary control (β = 0.225, p = 0.030) and glucose management (β = 0.292, p = 0.009) were significant positive predictors. The environmental model was not significant (Robust R² = 0.105, p = 0.063). Findings indicate that specific self-care behaviors, particularly glucose management and dietary control, contribute to selected QoL domains, with physical health showing the greatest explained variance. Structural, socioeconomic, and contextual factors beyond individual self-care behaviors may more strongly influence environmental QoL.
John Art Pascua, Jonathan M. Laranang· Journal of Interdisciplinary...· 0 citations
Background: Caring for dependent children with chronic illnesses or disabilities constitutes a major public health challenge, subjecting family caregivers to prolonged physical and emotional stressors. Objectives: To quantitatively synthesize the relationship between depressive symptomatology and quality of life (QoL) in this population. Methods: A systematic review methodology with meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and Cochrane handbook recommendations. Databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Scopus were consulted up to February 2026. Results: Thirty-three original studies evaluating family caregivers of children under 18 years of age and reporting statistical data of association were included. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant moderate-to-strong negative association between depressive symptoms and overall QoL (r = −0.532; I2 = 9.51%), maintaining similar values across all analyzed domains (physical, mental, social and environmental) as well as the summary components of the SF-36 questionnaire. According to the GRADE criteria, the overall certainty of evidence was rated as low to very low across all QoL domains and SF-36 components. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that heightened depressive symptomatology is substantially associated with compromised well-being among family caregivers.
Francisco Segura-Galán, C. López-Martínez, Belén Gutiérrez-Sánchez et al.· Healthcare· 0 citations
Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a widespread health issue linked to high mortality rates, functional impairment, disability, increased healthcare expenses, reduced quality of life, and psychosocial dysfunction. Dysfunction in social participation, productivity, and sense of subjective well-being persists even after reduction in depressive symptoms. Achieving symptomatic remission is not enough in the treatment of depression, but also understanding, assessing functional impairment, and Quality of Life together with symptom severity should be a holistic approach for the treatment of depression.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study design was used. 60 individuals with depression samples were collected based on the purposive sampling method from a tertiary care hospital. Another 60 samples were collected from the general population for the normal control group on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: There were significant differences found in all four domains of QoL between the experimental and control groups, where the normal control group outperformed in all four domains of QoL with higher mean scores than the experimental group. The global score of the experimental group in WHODAS varies significantly (p=0.00) from the control group. The experimental group has higher dysfunction (83.28±10.29) in comparison to the control group (59.50±9.54).
Conclusions: Functional impairment and QoL functioning are significantly affected in persons with depression. Shifting focus from only depression symptoms severity to consideration of functional impairment and QoL functioning would be a holistic approach for depression assessment and management.
P. K. Sethi, Jashobanta Mahapatra· International Journal of Com...· 0 citations
In Taiwan, as a super-aging society, older women face unique challenges that affect their health and quality of life (QoL). The present 1-year longitudinal study was conducted to examine changes in physical and psychosocial health and the relationship between these factors and QoL from March 2023 to June 2024. Women (N = 114) aged over 60 years completed baseline assessments, which included demographic information and evaluations using standardized scales, and 48 completed the follow-ups conducted 1 year later. Findings showed a significant decline in QoL, particularly among those aged 75+ years (effect size = 0.630). Self-directed ageism, frailty, physical resilience, and depression were identified as critical associated factors affecting QoL. These results highlight the importance of developing tailored strategies for young-older (60-74 years) and old-older individuals (75+ years), focusing on preserving physical abilities, managing chronic illnesses, and enhancing psychosocial health, particularly for older women to improve their overall well-being and reduce societal caregiving costs.
Yen-Chun Wang, Yi-Jung Chen, Chieh-Hsiu Liu et al.· OTJR: Occupation, Participat...· 0 citations
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