The IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences
Volume I – Issue – I

The IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences
Volume I – Issue – I

The IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences
Volume I – Issue – I

The objective of the study is to offer a review of the instruments designed for measuring the
subjectively assessed quality of life of seniors. At present it is possible to notice an increase of
interest in the issue of the quality of life of specific groups of population; in addition, there is
a large number of tools for its measuring. The aim of the present study is to provide a systematic
review of generic and specific instruments for measuring quality of life of seniors which have
been published in peer-reviewed journals and whose psychometric parameters have been
verified. The search procedure formed a part of a larger retrieval search in which we analyzed
4829 abstracts in EBSCO and ProQuest Central full-text databases. We found 831 instruments
which claimed to be measuring quality of life and were verified their reliability or validity. We
identified 3 groups of instruments suitable for use in the senior age-group: generic
methodologies applicable to adults in general, 7 generic tools and 9 specific tools designed
exclusively for the senior age. The paper presents the measures designed for seniors who were
analyzed and compared with regard to their psychometric parameters, purpose and theoretical
framework utilized for their construction. In conclusion the authors of the study provide
recommendations for the use of the selected methodologies for measuring the subjectively
assessed quality of life of seniors.

Keywords: quality of life, generic instruments, specific instruments, review, seniors

Sharo Shafaie
Deborah G. Wooldridge