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The Relative Contribution of Domains of Quality of Life to Overall Quality of Life for Different Chronic Diseases

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Abstract

This study examined the contribution of the quality of life (QoL) domains physical, social and psychological functioning to the explanation of overall QoL. Various disorders may differentially affect QoL domains due to disease-specific factors and, consequently, the relationship between QoL domains and overall QoL may vary between diseases. We therefore studied this relationship for several diseases as well as the differential impact of these diseases on QoL. The present study had a cross-sectional design. We selected patients (aged 57 years and older) with one of the following eight chronic medical conditions: lung disorder, heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, back problems, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, or dermatological disorders. The total group of respondents included 1457 patients and 1851 healthy subjects. Regression analyses showed that the domain of psychological functioning contributed to overall QoL for all disorders, whereas physical and social functioning contributed to overall QoL for some disorders. Differences were found between most patient groups and healthy subjects with respect to physical functioning; with respect to social and psychological functioning some groups differed from the healthy group. Explanations for the findings and implications for clinical practice are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Centre for Healthcare Research (NCH), University of Groningen, The Netherlands

    R. Arnold, A.V. Ranchor, R. Sanderman, R. Sanderman & T.P.B.M. Suurmeijer

  2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

    R. Arnold, A.V. Ranchor & T.P.B.M. Suurmeijer

  3. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

    R. Sanderman

  4. Department of Health Care Studies, Medical Sociology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

    G.I.J.M. Kempen

  5. Department of Social Psychiatry, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

    J. Ormel

  6. Department of Sociology/Interuniversity Centre for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS), University of Groningen, The Netherlands

    T.P.B.M. Suurmeijer

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  1. R. Arnold
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  2. A.V. Ranchor
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  3. R. Sanderman
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  4. G.I.J.M. Kempen
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  5. J. Ormel
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  6. T.P.B.M. Suurmeijer
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Arnold, R., Ranchor, A., Sanderman, R. et al. The Relative Contribution of Domains of Quality of Life to Overall Quality of Life for Different Chronic Diseases. Qual Life Res 13, 883–896 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QURE.0000025599.74923.f2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:QURE.0000025599.74923.f2

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