Differences in quality of life in rural and urban populations

Abstract

Background and purpose: To examine the predictors of health related, quality of life in rural and urban populations. Methods: Parents and grandparents of students from 20 randomly selected primary schools in urban and rural areas of Kirikkale, Turkey were questioned for health-related quality of life (HRQL) and psychological distress, using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) Health Survey and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), respectively, which were returned by their children. Results: Of 13,225 parents and grandparents 12,270 returned the questionnaires, for an overall response rate of 92.7%. SF-12 physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and overall scores were lower in participants from rural than those from urban areas. Mean HADS overall score was higher in subjects from rural than those from urban areas (16.6±6.8 vs. 14.8±6.8, P=0.0001). A linear regression model showed associations between SF-12 overall, PCS, and MCS scores with HAD total score after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, smoking, income, and education. Conclusions: Quality of life scores in subjects vary between areas. Psychological distress in subjects in rural areas may account for the poorer scores of quality of life in rural areas.

Explaining rural/non-rural disparities in physical health-related quality of life: a study of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina

“…Studies have documented that individuals with musculoskeletal complaints report physical HRQL scores 2.0 points lower than controls, and people with asthma and irritable bowel syndrome both average 2.7 points lower than those without the conditions [36]. Differences in our study also are comparable to those found in previous studies of rurality and HRQL [1][2][3][4]. We therefore conclude that the lower physical HRQL scores among rural participants in this study are likely to be meaningful.…”

“…Extant studies also do not establish whether the observed rurality/HRQL relationship is causal [1][2][3][4]. Theoretically, differences in HRQL could be the result of selection processes, culture, and/or genuine influences from the rural context.…”

“…Kovac and colleagues similarly do not identify reasons rural residents--rural Caucasians in particular--manifest worse HRQL [3]. Oguzturk identifies predictors of HRQL, but notes that this does not explain why rural residents' have lower HRQL [4].…”

“…In a study of counties in Alabama, Kovac and colleagues verify that disparities exist along the rural/urban divide and argue that these differences are unequally distributed along racial lines, with rural Caucasians exhibiting the lowest HRQL [3]. Oguzturk likewise demonstrates rural/urban differences and identifies factors that negatively correlate with HRQL, including male gender, smoking, age, body mass index (BMI), psychological distress, and, surprisingly, income [4].…”

Life satisfaction and real estate living conditions in late adulthood

“…The overall picture shows that the participants in Slovenia who live in rural environment expressed considerably higher sense of life satisfaction (the average level of agreement is 4.82) than those who livein urban areas (the average level of agreement is 4.54). The influence of the urban or rural environment in this regard is still not well understood in the scientific community (Oguzturk, 2008). Tavaros, Bolina, Dias, Ferreira and Haas (2014) in their research found that the elderly in rural areas had higher scores of quality of life than residents in urban areas both in most domains and facets.…”