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  4. Vol 6, Issue 1, 2026

Analysis on the quality of life and influencing factors of the lonely elderly in Changsha

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DOI: 10.23977/phpm.2026.060109 | Downloads: 3 | Views: 77

Author(s)

Wang Juntao 1, Shi Jing 1, Dai Mengjia 1, Li Chunyan 1

Affiliation(s)

1 School of Nursing, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China

Corresponding Author

Li Chunyan

ABSTRACT

The research aims to explore the quality of life and influencing factors of the lonely elderly in Changsha. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 173 lonely elderly living alone in communities and elderly care institutions in Changsha using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-100). It was shown that the quality of life of the lonely elderly in Changsha was at a medium level (80.93 ± 11.32 points). Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in quality of life and subjective well-being among the lonely elderly with different economic conditions, health conditions, living situations, and institutional elderly care preferences (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression further confirmed that economic conditions (β = -0.163～-0.296) and health conditions (β = -0.072～-0.438) were the core negative predictors of quality of life; living in an elderly care institution had a positive impact on the physical and environmental domains of quality of life for the lonely elderly (β = 0.196～0.258), but a negative impact on the social relationship domain (β = -0.229); institutional elderly care preferences significantly improved the quality of life in the environmental domain (β = 0.245). In a word, the quality of life of the lonely elderly in Changsha is influenced by multiple factors such as economy, health, living arrangements, and personal preferences. Comprehensive measures such as improving economic security and subsidy mechanisms, promoting medical and elderly care integration and health management services, strengthening social support and psychological care within elderly care institutions, and enhancing the transparency and accessibility of institutional environments are needed to improve their well-being in old age.

KEYWORDS

The lonely elderly; Quality of life; Influencing factors; Cross-sectional survey

CITE THIS PAPER

Wang Juntao, Shi Jing, Dai Mengjia, Li Chunyan. Analysis on the quality of life and influencing factors of the lonely elderly in Changsha. MEDS Public Health and Preventive Medicine (2026). Vol. 6, No.1, 67-77. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/phpm.2026.060109.

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