Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Journal of Aging and Health
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (3)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Bergland, A.
Right arrow Articles by Narum, I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Bergland, A.
Right arrow Articles by Narum, I.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Quality of Life Demands Comprehension and Further Exploration

Astrid Bergland, PhD

Oslo University College Faculty of Health Sciences

Ingrid Narum, MPhil

Oslo University College Faculty of Health Sciences

The intention of this study was to elucidate what the concept "quality of life" means to elderly women. A qualitative approach based on 282 women (age 75-93 years) showed that the participants were able to articulate what quality of life meant to them. Thinking about what makes for a good quality of life, 82.3% mentioned the importance of good social functioning, 68.8% mentioned good health, 22.3% mentioned good economic circumstances, and 14.9% mentioned the importance of living in their own flat or house. Six categories were identified based on the women’s descriptions: holism, relationships, activity and participation, pragmatic approach to health, belonging and social environment, and personal values. The lay perspective on quality of life is characterized by three qualities: preservation of continuity—sameness within change, power-empowerment, and the quest for meaning.

Key Words: concept • elderly • holism • meaning of life • quality of life

Journal of Aging and Health, Vol. 19, No. 1, 39-61 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0898264306296766
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?