Feifei Xu (Corvinus University) will present “The Impact of Socioeconomic Status, Mental Health Outcomes and COVID-19 Factors on Health-Related Quality of Life in Elderly Adults” on April 25th, 2025, at 10:30 AM, in room QA405.
Abstract:
This study examines the influence of socioeconomic factors, mental health outcomes, and COVID-19-related experiences on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older Hungarian adults. Specifically, it explores the direct and indirect effects of socioeconomic status (SES) and COVID-19-related factors on HRQoL, with mental health outcomes acting as a mediator. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 25 to June 8, 2021, involving 398 participants aged 65 and older. Self-reported measures included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for HRQoL, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze relationships between HRQoL and key predictors, with mental health outcomes examined as a mediator. SEM analysis revealed that gender was significantly associated with HRQoL, with females reporting higher HRQoL than males. SES factors were not direct predictors of HRQoL, but depressive symptoms strongly influenced HRQoL, while anxiety symptoms showed no significant association. COVID-19-related factors, particularly infection severity and quarantine status, significantly impacted HRQoL. These findings highlight the critical role of mental health as a mediator between SES, COVID-19-related factors, and HRQoL, emphasizing the need for targeted mental health interventions to support older adults.