Influence of life experiences on perceived quality of life of adults and seniors.

Abstract

People’s life experiences largely determine their present. Their identity, their personality, their lifestyle, their interests, their routines, all this is largely determined by events in their life. Despite this, a large part of the research has focused on the study of stressful life events and their impact on physical and mental health. Therefore, the objective of this study is to describe the relationship between life experiences, both favorable and stressful, and different perceptions of quality of life, identifying consequently risk factors and protectors in order to promote active and healthy aging. For this purpose, we designed and administered an online questionnaire, PRAMA, to a sample of 1095 Spanish adults and elderly people. Descriptive and multivariate analyzes were performed using the general linear model. The results show a greater impact of stressful life experiences on the perceived quality of life. In this way, adults and seniors with a lower quality of life experience a greater number of negative emotions derived from these life experiences, to which there are greater effects in the short and medium term and a greater current impact. Likewise, they make greater use of maladaptive strategies such as denial, renunciation and self-criticism, to the detriment of active coping strategies. The results obtained here can contribute to the development of more successful psychological and social actions.

Keywords

• experiencias vitales
• calidad de vida
• adultos
• personas mayores