title: Health-related behavior and quality of life among the elderly: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between health-related behaviors and quality of life among the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out including 1,958 elderly living in four areas in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, 2001/2002. Quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36-Item Short Form Health Survey instrument. This instrument's eight subscales and two components were the dependent variables. Independent variables were physical activity, weekly frequency of alcohol consumption and smoking. Multiple linear regression models were used to control for the effect of gender, age, schooling, work, area of residence and number of chronic conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical activity was positively associated with the eight SF-36 subscales. The stronger associations were found for role-physical (β=11.9), physical functioning (β=11.3) and physical component. Elderly individuals who consumed alcohol at least once a week showed a better quality of life than those did not consume alcohol. Compared to non-smokers, smokers had a poorer quality of life for the mental component (β=-2.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results showed that physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption and no smoking are positively associated with a better quality of life in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brasil. margareth.guimaraes@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Margareth Guimarães
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Marilisa Berti de Azevedo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Chester Luiz Galvão
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: César
authors.forename: Moisés
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldbaum
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carandina
authors.forename: Maria Cecília Goi Porto
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alves
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires