title: Quality of life and its correlates in octogenarians. Use of the SEIQoL-DW in Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The direct-weighted Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life, Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) is an individualised measure of QoL that has been little used in very elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered SEIQoL-DW during Wave 5 of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort 1921 Study (ABC1921) and sought statistical correlations with other variables in the data set. ABC1921 participants had been IQ-tested in 1932 at age 11. Since 1997, data about cognition, mental/physical function, personality, health, and socioeconomic status have been gathered in five waves of investigations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six out of 98 individuals, mean age 82.2, completed the SEIQoL-DW. Health, family, relationships, finances and social pastimes were the commonest cues nominated, but age/gender differences existed. The mean SEIQoL-DW score (74.0) was significantly lower than in an approximately 60% sample from Wave 3, the fall being greater in men. Variables statistically associated with Wave 5 SEIQoL-DW usually reflected current rather than past status [including Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) components and depression], although there were weaker correlations with years of education, housing in childhood, conscientiousness, and IQ in 1998.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SEIQoL-DW proved feasible and acceptable in community-dwelling octogenarians. Recent (i.e. statelike) rather than early or long-standing (i.e. traitlike) influences appeared to have the greater effect on QoL.
authors: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. d.g.seymour@abdn.ac.uk
authors: David Gwyn
authors: DG
authors: Seymour
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Starr
authors: Helen C
authors: HC
authors: Fox
authors: Helen A
authors: HA
authors: Lemmon
authors: Ian J
authors: IJ
authors: Deary
authors: Gordon J
authors: GJ
authors: Prescott
authors: Lawrence J
authors: LJ
authors: Whalley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom