Gender differences in the dimensions of quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To explore gender differences and similarities in the dimensions of quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
Secondary analysis of the Multidimensional Quality of Life Scale--Cancer Version (MQOLS--CA) data from two different research studies.


METHODS
Multiple outpatient oncology sites.


METHODS
The typical female participant (n = 254) was 58 years old (SD +/- 11.3) with 14 years of education, married/partnered (64%), Caucasian (88%), and diagnosed with breast (47%) or colorectal (16%) cancer. The typical male participant (n = 222) was 60 years old (SD +/- 14) with 14.3 years of education, married/partnered (69%), Caucasian (85%), and diagnosed with colorectal (31%) or prostate (13%) cancer.


METHODS
Factor analytic procedures and reliability testing.


METHODS
QOL as measured by the MQOLS-CA, gender.


RESULTS
For women, two factors emerged from the analysis procedures-psychosocial well-being (7 items) and physical competence (6 items). For the men, two different factors emerged--vitality (8 items) and personal resources (4 items). None of the cancer-specific items from the MQOLS-CA loaded on any of the factors for either gender.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of QOL requires gender-specific questions to accurately address the dimensions of the concept of QOL in females and males.


CONCLUSIONS
Additional research is warranted to replicate these findings. Gender-specific interventions could then be developed and tested to maximize the QOL of all patients.
Dibble
S L
SL
Department of Physiological Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Padilla
G V
GV
Dodd
M J
MJ
Miaskowski
C
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D002140:California; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012723:Sex; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires