Quality of Life in Older Adults: Evidence from Mexico and Ecuador

Abstract

Older adults are a growing population group in Latin America, hence the importance of deepening studies, proposals, and policies to guarantee their well-being. This article analyzes the perception of quality of life in older adults from Mexico and Ecuador and its association with several socioeconomic variables. The study design was cross-sectional. The sample comprised 450 older adults, 238 from Mexico and 212 from Ecuador. The WHOQOL-OLD Quality of Life Questionnaire and a set of sociodemographic variables were used. The results showed a higher perception of quality of life in the Mexican sample regarding most of the dimensions, except for sensory skills and social participation. An association was also found between sensory skills and sports practice, as well as between social participation and education level. The study achieves a binational approach to the reality of older adults in Latin America and confirms that there are differences in each sample that are due to the particularities of each reality. This research contributes to deepening the reality of the elderly, especially in Ecuador, where the quality-of-life studies in all age segments must be strengthened.