Classifying and Characterizing the Development of Self-Reported Quality of Life Among the Chinese Elderly: A Twelve-Year Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Background To promote healthy aging, the information about the development of quality of life (QoL) is of great importance for health researchers and policymakers. Up to now, the longitudinal explorations of the heterogeneity in the change of QoL under the Chinese context were largely limited. The current study aimed to identify potential different development patterns of QoL and the influential factors using a large, longitudinal, and nationally representative sample of the Chinese elderly. Methods We adopted a five-wave longitudinal dataset from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), and a total of 1,645 elderly aged 65 and over were obtained. QoL was measured using a self-report item during the longitudinal process. We utilized the conditional growth mixture model (GMM) with time-invariant covariates to explore various development patterns and associated factors. Results Three subgroups with distinct trajectories of self-reported QoL were identified: the High-level Steady Group (17.08%), the Mid-level Steady Group (63.10%), and the Low-level Growth Group (19.82%). Results also indicated that several factors predicted distinct trajectories of self-reported QoL. Those elderly who received enough financial resources, had adequate nutrition, did not exhibit any disability, engaged in leisure activities, and did less physical labor or housework at the baseline were more likely to report a higher level of QoL over time. Conclusions There existed three development patterns of self-reported QoL among the Chinese elderly, and these subgroups differed in several baseline factors. These findings provided valuable implications for the maintenance and improvement of QoL among the Chinese elderly.