Results
The 2005 NHANES sample contained 911 adults 65 years
or older with no missing values in the 16 variables
described earlier (see Table 1). Our initial sample was
1,189, but 278 had missing data on one or more of the 16
variables we extracted or created. Missing data were more
common in older people who were less likely to be married
and had worse ADL function, more memory problems,
lower physical activity levels, and worse QOL in all three
dimensions. The majority of the final sample of 911 were
female (56.8%), and their average age was 73.6 years.
Most identified themselves as white (84.9%), with 8.2%
black and 5.1% Hispanics. Their family size was an average
of 1.9 people, and 57.8% were married. The majority
had a high school degree or more education (72%) and
were above the poverty threshold (poverty index 2.67). On
average, these older adults reported 2.5 chronic conditions
and no difficulty to some difficulty with ADL function
(score = 21.27). Only 14% reported memory problems and
few had been depressed in the last two weeks
(score = 2.22). The average score on physical activity
(1.96) indicated that most of the sample stood or walked a
lot during the day, but did not have to carry or lift things
very often. On average, participants received health care
two to nine times a year. The HQOL score was 1.22,
indicating an average of more than five but less than ten
unhealthy days in the last 30 days. The average score on
social functioning was high at 5.16, indicating that most
had at least two close friends and had attended church or
other religious services more than once in the last year. The
average score on emotional well-being was 1.74, indicating
that most people had someone to provide emotional support
and received all the emotional support they needed in
the past year.
When examined individually, all the needs and health
behavior variables were significantly associated with at
least one QOL dimension, controlling for age, gender, race,
family size, marital status, education, and poverty index
(Table 2). Specifically, lower ADL function, memory
problems, and more depression were associated with