Association between perception of wellness and health related quality of life, comorbidities, modifiable lifestyle factors and demographics in older Australians

Aim: The associations between perceived wellness and health‐related quality of life, comorbidities and modifiable lifestyle factors in older adults were explored. Methods: Self‐administered questionnaires including the Perceived Wellness Survey and the 36‐Item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study version two were distributed to 328 community‐living adults aged 65 years and over. Results: Results showed positive associations between perception of wellness and health‐related quality of life. General health ( r (249) = 0.66, P < 0.01), vitality ( r (249) = 0.59, P < 0.01) and mental health ( r (249) = 0.52, P < 0.01) had the strongest association with perceived wellness; and social functioning ( r (249) = 0.3, P < 0.01) and pain ( r (249) = 0.36, P < 0.01) the lowest. Perceived wellness was influenced by hearing, mobility, memory, chronic disease, exercise, gambling and single status. Conclusion: The study identified that perceived wellness in older adults is a multidimensional construct.