Notes on "Quality of Life"

What is "Quality of Life"? What does it denote? What parameters/attributes

can be used to measure QOL? QOL is increasingly refered to in evaluating
urban and rural areas, and in several other situations. Some definitions,
models and more ...
It is impossible to list all
the rich array of attributes
related to the concept of
The best way of approaching quality of life measurement is to
"Quality of Life", but measure the extent to which people's 'happiness requirements' are
literature has mentioned met - ie those requirements which are a necessary (although not
the following: sufficient) condition of anyone's happiness - those 'without which
QOL Attributes no member of the human race can be happy.'
Ability
Adaptation - McCall, S.: 1975, 'Quality of Life', Social Indicators Research 2, pp 229-248
Appreciation
Basic Needs
Belonging
Control
WHAT IS QOL? QOL may be defined as subjective well-being.
Demands and Recognising the subjectivity of QOL is a key to understanding this
responsibilities construct. QOL reflects the difference, the gap, between the hopes
Distress and expectations of a person and their present experience. Human
Diversity
Enhancement
adaptation is such that life expectations are usually adjusted so as
Enjoyment to lie within the realm of what the individual perceives to be
Envronment possible. This enables people who have difficult life circumstances
Expectations to maintain a reasonable QOL.
Experiences
Flexibility - Janssen Quality-of-life Studies
Freedom
Fulfilment
Gaps
Gender Quality of Life is tied to perception of 'meaning'. The quest for
Happiness meaning is central to the human condition, and we are brought in
Health touch with a sense of meaning when we reflect on that which we
Hopes
Identity have created, loved, believed in or left as a legacy.
Improvement
Inclusivity - Frankl VE. 'Man's search for meaning.' New York: Pocket Books, 1963.
Integrity/Intactness
Isolation
Judgements
Knowledge
Our definition of quality of life is: The degree to which a person
Lacks enjoys the important possibilities of his/her life. Possibilities result
Living Conditions from the opportunities and limitations each person has in his/her
Mismatches life and reflect the interaction of personal and environmental
Needs factors. Enjoyment has two components: the experience of
Opportunities
satisfaction and the possession or achievement of some
Perceptions
Pleasure characteristic, as illustrated by the expression: "She enjoys good
Politics health." Three major life domains are identified: Being, Belonging,
Possibilities and Becoming. The conceptualization of Being, Belonging, and
QOL Domain: existential Becoming as the domains of quality of life were developed from
QOL Domain: physical the insights of various writers.
QOL Domain:
psycological
 Religion The Being domain Belonging includes the Becoming refers to the
Safe includes the basic aspects person's fit with his/her purposeful activities
Satisfaction of "who one is" and has environments and also has carried out to achieve
Secure three sub-domains. three sub-domains. personal goals, hopes,
Security Physical Being includes Physical Belonging is and wishes. Practical
Self-esteem aspects of physical defined as the connections Becoming describes
Society health, personal hygiene, the person has with day-to-day actions such
Spirituality nutrition, exercise, his/her physical as domestic activities,
Status grooming, clothing, and environments such as paid work, school or
Stress physical appearance. home, workplace, volunteer activities, and
Truth Psychological Being neighbourhood, school seeing to health or
Well-being includes the person's and community. Social social needs. Leisure
Wishes psychological health and Belonging includes links Becoming includes
Working Conditions adjustment, cognitions, with social environments activities that promote
feelings, and evaluations and includes the sense of relaxation and stress
concerning the self, and acceptance by intimate reduction. These include
self-control. Spiritual others, family, friends, co- card games,
Being reflects personal workers, and neighbourhood walks,
values, personal neighbourhood and and family visits, or
standards of conduct, and community. Community longer duration
spiritual beliefs which Belonging represents activities such as
may or may not be access to resources vacations or holidays.
associated with organized normally available to Growth Becoming
religions. community members, activities promote the
such as adequate income, improvement or
health and social services, maintenance of
employment, educational knowledge and skills.
and recreational programs,
and community activities.

- Quality of Life Research Unit, University of Toronto

• Being physically able to get around.

Physical Being
B • My nutrition and the food I eat.
E • Being free of worry and stress.
Psychological
I Being
N • The mood I am usually in.
G • Having hope for the future.
Spiritual Being
• My own ideas of right and wrong.

B Physical • The house or apartment I live in.

E Belonging
• The neighbourhood I live in.
L
• Being close to people in my family.
O Social Belonging
N • Having a spouse or special person.
G
• Being able to get professional services
I Community (medical, social, etc.)
N Belonging
G • Having enough money.
B Practical • Doing things around my house.

E Becoming
• Working at a job or going to school.
C
O
M
I Leisure Becoming •
N
G