Active ageing and quality of life – cross-sectional and reciprocal longitudinal associations

Background Active ageing (AA) at individual level refers to striving for good quality of life (QOL) through activities as per one’s goals, abilities and opportunities. Aims First, to assess the associations of QOL and the components of AA: goals, abilities and opportunities to act, and activity. Second, to study the reciprocal associations of AA and QOL. Methods 961 community-dwelling people aged 75, 80 or 85 years participated in the AGNES study and 663 responded four years later. AA was quantified using the University of Jyväskylä AA Scale (UJACAS, 17 activities self-rated for will, opportunity, ability, and activity; range 0-272). QOL was assessed with the 13-item Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL-brief, range 13–65). Theory-driven path model and longitudinal cross-lagged model were constructed and their fit with observed data tested. Results Will, opportunity and ability to act and the level of activity were associated with each other and with QOL. Longitudinally AA and QOL scores declined (UJACAS Mean, M, 200, SE 1.4 vs. M 186, SE 1.3; QOL M 55, SE 0.2 vs. M 53, SE 0.2; p < 0.001 for both). In the longitudinal cross-lagged model, AA and QOL were associated at baseline and follow-up and showed moderate to strong stability over time. A significant cross-lagged path emerged from baseline AA to the follow-up QOL (β = 0.25, 95% CI 0.19–0.32). Discussion and Conclusions When growing old individuals may promote their QOL through their approach to life by balancing their activity as per their goals, opportunities and abilities.