Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2025.66.390
Self-perceived quality of life, health, and physical activity among older adults: the roles of marital status and residence during the COVID-19 pandemic
Nada Pjevač Keleminić
; Department of Family Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Venija Cerovečki
; Department of Family Medicine, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Mirjana Kujundžić Tiljak
; Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology, and Medical Informatics, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Aim To examine the associations between marital status,
place of residence, self-reported health status, quality of
life, and physical activity among older adults during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 962 partici
pants aged 65 and older, surveyed between March 2020
and May 2023. Respondents were categorized according
to marital status (married/living with a partner, single, di
vorced, widowed) and place of residence (own home vs
nursing home). Standardized instruments were used: the
Short Form Health Survey-36 for health status, the Personal
Well-being Index for quality of life, and the Croatian short
version of the International Physical Activity Question
naire.
Results Respondents who were married or living with a
partner reported significantly higher levels of physical ac
tivity, better physical and mental health, and greater life
satisfaction than single, divorced, or widowed respondents
(P < 0.001). Community-dwelling respondents scored sig
nificantly higher on most health and quality-of-life indica
tors than nursing home residents, except for perceived fu
ture security.
Conclusion Marital status and living arrangements signifi
cantly affected the self-perceived health, physical activity,
and quality of life of older adults during the COVID-19 pan
demic. The results emphasize the importance of social sup
port and residential context in promoting healthy aging.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
352558
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2025.
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