노인의 의사소통 관련 삶의 질에 대한 영향 요인: 삶의 질, 인지, 심리·정서적 요인과의 상관성을 중심으로

Factors Affecting Quality of Communication Life in Older Adults: Focused on the Relationship with Quality of Life, Cognition, and Psychoemotional Aspects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of communication life (QCL) in older adults as an overall context including psychological well-being, social support, communication skill, and accessibility to the communicative setting. Methods: This study was implemented on 22 normal older adults aged 65 and over. We examined the relation among QCL and other variables. These variables include quality of life, general/higher order cognition (organization/reasoning/problem solving/executive function), and psychoemotional aspects (self-efficacy/depression), which are based on factors associated with quality of life for older adults and have a direct influence on communication. The present study also explored predictors associated with QCL. Results: Quality of life, general/higher order cognition, and self-efficacy had a significant positive correlation with QCL. A significant negative correlation between QCL and depression was observed. Education, general cognition, organization, self-efficacy, and depression were powerful predictors of QCL. Conclusion: These findings illustrate a variety of factors influencing QCL, and contribute to drawing up measures to improve it. The result creates a momentum for a better understanding of age-related cognitive-linguistic change throughout the life span.