Anxiety and Quality of Life in Older Adults: The Role of Satisfaction With Open Elderly Care Centers

The growing global population of older adults has led to increased research on psychiatric conditions in later life. Anxiety and depression are frequent in this population but are often underdiagnosed due to their overlap with physical illnesses. Most existing research indicates a negative relationship between psychological distress and quality of life in the elderly. This study aimed to examine the relationship between anxiety, satisfaction with Open Elderly Care Centers, and quality of life, while also exploring the role of gender. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 349 older adults attending Open Elderly Care Centers in Greece. Participants completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS), the OPQOL-35 quality of life questionnaire, and a demographic survey. Correlational analysis and independent tests were conducted. Higher levels of anxiety were significantly associated with lower quality of life (r = –0.21, p < 0.001), with a stronger effect among men (r = –0.44). Women reported higher anxiety scores but also slightly higher quality of life. Satisfaction with care services showed no significant correlation with quality of life, and gender had no moderating effect on this relationship. The findings confirm a negative link between anxiety and quality of life in older adults, supporting previous literature. The lack of association between satisfaction with care and quality of life highlights the complexity of these relationships. Gender differences in emotional response may merit further exploration. Article visualizations: