title: Health-related quality of life and recognition of desertification among inhabitants of the Loess Plateau region of China: findings for city and village communities.
abstract: This article elucidates the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) the recognition of desertification among people living in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China. HRQOL was assessed with a three-dimensional survey of general health perception, vitality, and general mental health based on a 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). Scores for general health perception were approximately the same in the city and the village communities. Vitality and mental health scores were significantly lower for women in the village communities than for other groups. In the village communities, HRQOL was significantly and positively correlated with income. The inhabitants of the village communities were more satisfied with their life situation than those in the city, in spite of the economic gap between them. Levels of recognition of desertification were lower in the village communities than in the city.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Administration and Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Nishi-cho, Yonago, Japan. muhaosheng@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Haosheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurozawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Guobin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Pulin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsunekawa
authors.forename: Nishino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shunichiro
authors.forename: Takehiko Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004782:Environmental Health; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013383:Suburban Population; D014505:Urban Population