A Study on Body Image, Sexual Quality of Life, Depression, and Quality of Life in Middle-aged Adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlations of body image, sexual quality of life (SQOL), depression, and quality of life, and to identify the influencing factors on quality of life of middle-aged adults in the community.

The participants of this study were 367 middle-aged adults. Data were collected through personal interviews using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression.

Body image, SQOL, depression, and quality of life according to the general characteristics and health-related characteristics commonly showed significant differences in age, level of education, duration of marriage, living arrangement, occupation, monthly income, presence of disease, exercise, stressor, frequency of sexual intercourse with spouse, and degree of deep sleep. Quality of life showed significant positive correlations with body image and SQOL, but a significantly negative correlation with depression. Body image, depression, education level, SQOL, and stressor, which accounted for 42.0% of the variance, were significant predictors influencing quality of life in middle-aged adults in the community.

To improve quality of life in middle-aged adults ahead of old age, an assessment of their body image, depression, SQOL should be made and a variety of nursing interventions should be followed to improve their positive body image, depression, and SQOL.