Percepção de controle e qualidade de vida: comparação entre idosos institucionalizados e não institucionalizados

Abstract

Introduction: Perceived control is a psychosocial resource, which has been associated to quality of life and well-being. Quality of life is a subjective and multidimensional construct. Perceived control refers to beliefs of managing own life. Elderly living in nursing homes are generally subject to numerous restrictions that can affect their perceived control and quality of life. Objective: To investigate perceptions of control – primary and secondary – and quality of life in elderly, in the city of Belém-PA, comparing the institutionalized ones with those living in the community, looking for association between these variables in these contexts of existence. This is an analytical study, observational, cross-sectional, in which 66 people aged between 60 and 96 years (21 men, 45 women; 33 institutionalized; 33 living in the community) were assessed through the instruments WHOQOL-OLD and ECOPSE. Results: Significant differences (p≤0,05) between institutionalized elderly and the ones living in the community were found. Beliefs of being in control are associated to satisfaction with achievements and interests in both groups; however, the association between control and autonomy is found only among community residents. Conclusion: Living in the community favors perceived control and quality of life; perceived control is associated with quality of life in a great number of dimensions in the elderly living in the community, compared to institutionalized ones.