Designing a Model of Quality of Life in Elderly based on Perceived Stress and Tolerance of Distress

Background & objectives: Limiting the network of personal communications and inadequacies in the physical and social dimensions leads to stress perception which may have significant effects on the quality of life of the elderly. So, coping with the challenges of this phenomenon and the using appropriate strategies to improve the physical, mental and social health of the elderly is important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develope a model of distress tolerance and perceived stress for investigating the elderly quality of life.   Methods: The present study was a correlational study which used a modeling method. The sample size was 377 elderly people over 60 years of age living in Tehran in 2018. They were selected by available sampling method and were evaluated using WHOQOL-BREF, distress tolerance scale (DTS) and perceived stress scale (PSS-14). The data were evaluated using path analysis by statistical softwares SPSS-20 and AMOS-20. Results: Results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between perceived stress and quality of life in the elderly (p<0.01). Also, There was a significant positive correlation between distress tolerance and quality of life in the elderly (p<0.01). Furthermore, the findings confirmed the role of perceived stress connecting distress tolerance to quality of life of elderly. Conclusion: According to our findings, we can suggest that the training to increase distress tolerance and performing interventions to empower the elderly against stress would be an appropriate way to improve the elderly quality of life. Also, this can prevent the psychiatric disease and social problems of the elderly.