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The aim of this cross-sectional study is to examine if neglect is associated with self-rated health (SRH) and if neglect mediates the association between selected factors and self-rated health, among older men and women. The analyses were based on face-to-face computer-assisted personal interviews conducted with 1632 randomly selected community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and more from among the general population of Lesser Poland. The regression models' analysis revealed that elder neglect was associated with self-rated health, and the mediation analysis demonstrated that neglect mediates the association between frequency of church attendance and SRH, as well as between marital status (being a widower vs being married) and SRH, among men. These observations can be helpful in better under- standing of the broad context of elder neglect in order to develop instruments for an efficient improvement of older adults' health and quality of life. In addition to this, the study underlines the role of social networks and social engagement as factors which might protect against neglect, and thus improve self- rated health of older people.

Objectives: The study explores the direct and indirect associations (i.e., through the extent of the level of loneliness and perceived social support) between internet use for instrumental purposes and the quality of life (QoL) among elderly females and males in Poland., Material and Methods: The analysis was based on 2001 face-to-face interviews performed among randomly selected individuals aged ≥65 years from the general population. The collected data was weighted to generalize the study sample for the reference population. The analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression models. The mediation effect was tested according to the Baron and Kenny approach., Results: The obtained results indicate that internet use for instrumental purposes is directly related to a better QoL of elderly Polish males. This positive effect among men also occurs indirectly, through the decrease in loneliness levels as well as the increase in social support scores. It has also been shown that among elderly females, the effect of internet use for instrumental purposes is not related to a better QoL, either directly or indirectly., Conclusions: Internet use for instrumental purposes seems to be important in enhancing a successful life among elderly male adults. However, these technologies are not associated with better QoL among females. Practitioners should be aware of these gender differences. The study adds to the previous studies by demonstrating that the feeling of loneliness and social support mediates the relationship between internet use for instrumental purposes and QoL among elderly males, whereas among elderly females this effect does not occur. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(2):169-85., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

Purpose: Developing valid and reliable instruments that can be used across countries is necessary. The present study aimed to test the comparability of quality of life scores across three European countries (Finland, Poland, and Spain)., Method: Data from 9987 participants interviewed between 2011 and 2012 were employed, using nationally representative samples from the Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe project. The WHOQOL-AGE questionnaire is a 13-item test and was employed to assess the quality of life in the three considered countries. First of all, two models (a bifactor model and a two-correlated factor model) were proposed and tested in each country by means of confirmatory factor models. Second, measurement invariance across the three countries was tested using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis for that model which showed the best fit. Finally, differences in latent mean scores across countries were analyzed., Results: The results indicated that the bifactor model showed more satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices than the two-correlated factor model and that the WHOQOL-AGE questionnaire is a partially scalar invariant instrument (only two items do not meet scalar invariance). Quality of life scores were higher in Finland (considered as the reference category: mean = 0, SD = 1) than in Spain (mean = - 0.547, SD = 1.22) and Poland (mean = - 0.927, SD = 1.26)., Conclusions: Respondents from Finland, Poland, and Spain attribute the same meaning to the latent construct studied, and differences across countries can be due to actual differences in quality of life. According to the results, the comparability across the different considered samples is supported and the WHOQOL-AGE showed an adequate validity in terms of cross-country validation. Caution should be exercised with the two items which did not meet scalar invariance, as potential indicator of differential item functioning.

Purpose: Gender-related differences in life expectancy, prevalence of chronic conditions and level of disability in the process of ageing have been broadly described. Less is known about social determinants, which may have different impacts on quality of life in men and women. The investigation aims to reveal gender-related differences in social determinants on quality of life assessed by a multi-pathway model including health, social, demographic and living place characteristics., Methods: The study group consisted of 5099 participants aged 50+ representing general populations of three different European regions (Finland, Poland, Spain) who participated in COURAGE in EUROPE Project. Standardized tools were used to measure quality of life (WHOQOL-AGE) and social determinants (COURAGE Social Network Index, OSLO-3 Social Support Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, participation scale and trust). A multipath model considering exogenous predictors (demographic, economic), mediators (social) and endogenous outcome (QOL) was created to reveal the role of determinants. Gender-related differences were investigated across three age categories: 50-64; 65-79 and 80+., Results: The model (RMSEA = 0.058; CFI = 0.939) showed the effects of all of the investigated determinants. Gender-related differences in the association between social constructs and QOL were observed for social networks in the group of 80+, for social support in the group of 50-64 and 65-79 years, and for social participation in the group of 65-79 years. Males benefited more (in QOL) from social networks and social support, and women from social participation., Conclusions: The research provides valuable knowledge about the role of social determinants in QOL considering complex relations between different social constructs. Additionally, the results showed gender-related differences in the associations between social networks, social support, social participation and QOL, suggesting that men might benefit more from the interventions in the first two. Although our research did not investigate the effects of interventions, the results show directions for future investigations, how to shape social interventions at the population level to improve quality of life of older adults, and thus help achieve successful ageing.

The aim of the study was to assess the similarities or differences in the psychosocial response to primary diagnosis of malicious or benign tumor in breast significantly influenced the quality of life in women in preoperative period. Health-related quality of life has been studied in the preoperative period in the group of 59 patients with malicious tumor and in the group of 130 women with benign tumor in comparison to 126 healthy women. Study was performed using self-administered questionnaire consists of The Rand Mental Health Inventory (three distress scores include depression, anxiety and loss of behavioral or emotional control; two well-being scores include general positive affect and emotional ties), COOP Charts (measuring nine dimensions of QOL), subscale focus on social support was used for the presented analysis; additionally questions concerning demographic and social characteristics of women as well as questions on illness behaviors have been involved. Statistical analysis was performed using multidimensional models of logistic regression. Results based on multidimensional logistic regression models showed higher risk of anxiety (OR=4,0; 95% CI=(1,8; 8,6)), depression(OR=3,0; 95% CI=(1,4; 6,2)) and distress (OR=2,5; 95% CI=(1,2; 5,3)) in women with malicious tumor in comparison to healthy women. Comparatively, higher risk of anxiety (OR=1,8; 95% CI=(1,0; 3,2)) and depression (OR=2,0; 95% CI=(1,2; 3,5)) among women with benign tumor in regard to healthy ones. Further examination of determinants of components of mental health among three analyzed group of women showed that among women with benign tumor higher risk of anxiety (OR=3,5; 95% CL=(1,2; 10,5)), depression (OR=3,2; 95% CI=(1,2;9,1)) and loss of behavioral or emotional control ((OR=4.3; 95% CI=(1,5;12,0)) as well as distress (OR=4,3; 95% CI=(1,5;13,0)) was related with considerable reduction of receiving support. Women with malicious tumor also indicated that slightly reduction of the received support was associated with higher risk of the loss of behavioral or emotional control (Isz=6,6; 95% PU=(1,4; 30,8)). Results confirmed that also diagnosis of benign tumor in breast is perceived as an event which significantly decreased quality of life in preoperative period. Interactions between medical staff - and patients with any change in breast should based on good verbal communication, giving information which help understanding by patients all aspects of diagnosis and expected treatment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess validity and reliability of the EORTC QLQ C30 and BR23 questionnaires among patients with breast neoplasm in Poland., Material and Methods: Analysis was done on the basis of research conducted at the First Department of General Surgery JUMC, Kraków, among 105 women. Two aspects of questionnaire validity have been analyzed: construct validity using principal component analysis and criterion validity evaluated by comparison of two clinical subgroups of patients. Reliability analysis was done by estimating internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and correlations between items and hypothesized scales. In addition, test-retest reliability was evaluated by calculating the correlation coefficient between two assessments, done 6 and 12 months after treatment., Results: All scales met Nunnally's criterion except for the scale of nausea and vomiting. Almost all variables met Kline's criterion, except for two variables: one from the scale of physical functioning and the other a part of the scale of systemic therapy side effects. High correlations obtained by the test-retest method confirmed the reliability of all scales. Analysis showed some fault in the theoretical validity of the scale of systemic therapy side effects. Nonetheless, criterion validity was confirmed for all scales., Conclusions: Results have confirmed the validity and reliability of the EORTC QLQ C30 and BR23 tests as instruments for quality of life evaluation in Polish patients.

The aim of this study was to examine if church attendance was associated with quality of life (QoL) and feeling of loneliness among older adults in Poland, and if feeling of loneliness mediated the association. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with randomly selected community-dwelling individuals aged 65+ from the general population, hospital patients, and social service users. Church attendance was positively associated with QoL regardless of confounding factors. Older adults attending church frequently felt less lonely and evaluated their health better. Feeling of loneliness mediated the association between church attendance and QoL. Religiousness should be considered as an important determinant of healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]