Quality of life
The term quality of life is usually the factors are known that make up the living conditions in a society or for their individuals. In common parlance, the degree of well-being ( subjective well-being ) is primarily a human or a group of people described with quality of life. One factor is the material prosperity, but in addition there are a number of other factors such as education, job opportunities, social status, health, nature and others. One speaks in these factors also from intangible wealth.
Quality of life is a fundamental issue in philosophy, medicine, religion, economy and politics. Some scientists believe that the assessment of their quality of life happens after a very subjective criteria. Others speak of the individual quality of life ( here more precisely the feeling of happiness ) had a largely depending on the temperament individually predetermined amount (English: set point ) to the back sweep the individual for short-term changes. The research in recent years increasingly recognizes strong statistical correlations between life satisfaction and the external factors mentioned above.
Thus, it seems possible to achieve an increase in the perceived quality of life by improving external factors, and that at least some people in the long term. Moreover, she is also influenced by the type of individual attention.
- 2.1 Official statistics
- 3.1 Democracy and Quality of Life
- 3.2 Economic and Social Policy Relevance
- 3.3 Health policy relevance
- 3.4 Quality of life and cancer
- 3.5 Heilpädagogische Relevance
Term
Term development
The term Quality of Life was first used in the 1920s by Arthur Cecil Pigou. The U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson used it in 1964 in his presidential campaign and later in a speech on the state of the nation. Popular the term was only in the 1970s. In the German -speaking area of the former German Chancellor Willy Brandt, according to sources was one of the first to use it in public, in a government statement.
In medicine since the 1980s, he plays a bigger role. In the U.S., Tibor Scitovsky joined in 1976 the development of a growing consumption without a corresponding increase in satisfaction of the people in affluent societies with the concept joyless economy ( joyless economy). His works were mainly the relationship between consumption and enjoyment of life.
Term discussion
The WHO definition is: "Quality of life is the subjective perception of a person about their position in life in relation to the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. "
"On the question of which fields to include quality of life, there are different views. After a basic WHO definition includes quality of life in the style of " health " in physical, mental, and social being of an individual (WHO 1949). Several authors emphasize that quality of life includes less the objective availability of tangible and intangible things, but the degree to which a desired by the individual state of physical, mental and social well -being achieved. "
Measurement of quality of life
Quality of life is according to general scientific opinion is a multidimensional construct that is not directly detected, but can only be reproduced in its sub-areas on indicators.
For the measurability of quality of life, there are different theoretical approaches. " The Objectivists start from the basic assumption that there are identifiable basic needs whose satisfaction determines the well-being. The observable living conditions can by outsiders according to scientific or moral standards are measured. " This theory has been incorporated into the policies of the so-called welfare states. In contrast, the subjectivist emphasize the individual's perception of one's own life situation. "The American Quality of Life Research is of the opinion that quality of life is increasingly determined in the course of social development by intangible assets. Since happiness, satisfaction and anxiety can be assessed only by the citizens themselves but also the measurement of the quality of life through which the interview must take place. " This survey, for example, identify so-called happiness indicators that the subjective well-being in a time and place comparable number is placed.
Also, another aspect of quality of life, the period of prosperity in the sense of standing at leisure time is studied in this context. He can have objective factors such as the weekly and annual working time and the extent of familial obligations are measured, or by surveys on subjective factors such as the perception of time constraints. Quality of life in the sense of self-determined time is sometimes referred to as the " real luxury " of modern Central Europeans.
Quality of life can be measured individually and collectively. For this purpose, the parameters of quality of life must be sufficiently defined. Both the determination of parameters such as the setting of standards for these parameters are the subject of conflicts of men. The Oral Health Impact Profile, for example, is a questionnaire for measuring oral health- related quality of life. One reason for difficulties in measuring is the high number of possible parameter with different weighting. But even for such data sheets are available to evaluation procedures.
Official statistics
Collect statistical offices and agglomerate data quality of life indicators are. In Germany, these do 14 State Statistical Offices and the Federal Statistical Office; at EU level, Eurostat does this; at the UN level UNSTATS ( static list of many offices here).
Two guidelines of doing statistical offices in the EU, the "GDP and Beyond" Communication and the Stiglitz -Sen - Fitoussi Commission report. Within Eurostat has a ' Sponsorship Group on Measuring Progress, Well-being and Sustainable Development ', among other things, the statistics adapt changing information needs per se and to increase their relevance with regard to well-being and sustainable development.
Social conductance
Until the 70s, life moved in predetermined paths. Church, state and society pretended a canon of values. This meant for individuals much orientation but little options. From the 70s began a strong trend of individualization, which included a lot of options, but because of the values universe consequential offers little guidance. Quality of life, offering the ideal conductance because, in contrast to the sometimes very ideological values has the ability to connect ( collective aspect ) and the same individual can maneuver.
Research by Richard A. Easterlin, based on survey results in North America, pointed out that the hypothesis of a long-term individually fixed predetermined value of quality of life ( an individual setpoint or "set point " ) must be put into perspective. Thus, the long-term quality of life was little affected by economic factors, which is due to the fact that people would largely adjust almost completely to the new conditions; in contrast, would have to change in terms of the health and family long-term effect because here came only a partial adaptation to new conditions. Easterlin concluded from the fact that individuals would do well to use more time for family and health whenever possible. However, whether there is an actual influence of these factors in terms of a cause-effect relationship is controversial.
Democracy and quality of life
In federal and directly democratically organized community where life is better. This resulted in a survey of 6,000 Swiss. The increased autonomy and citizen participation related increases their quality of life considerably. It is interesting: the possibility to participate, the process benefits for the quality of life more important than the outcome of the political process itself In addition, the actions of politicians due to better control and accountability based more on the preferences of the citizens, which also acts quality of life enhancing.
Economic and Social Policy Relevance
To use economic growth as welfare and quality of life indicator can lead to distorted economic policies. Economic growth and rising incomes mean that is not necessarily a higher quality of life. Easterlin able to demonstrate that the West had annual per capita income has risen considerably in recent decades, but that had little effect on the perceived well-being of citizens ( Easterlin Paradox ). In Japan, the gross domestic product during the period 1958-1991 increased six-fold, the average life satisfaction remained constant. The U.S. GDP rose in the period from 1970 to the mid-90s by 20 %, while the subjective well -being has fallen slightly. For a sample of twelve European countries no significant relationship between GDP and life satisfaction was observed in the period 1975 to 1991. In China, real per capita income could be increased by a factor of 2.5 in the years 1994 to 2005, life satisfaction, however, is decreased. Quality of life as economic policy command variable would have the potential to trigger a growth spurt comparable with that of information and communication technology.
Quality of life not only offers an alternative welfare, but also an alternative Gerechtigkeitsmaß and thus another form of social policy as opposed to the traditional, which is based on the supply thinking. A special role is played by the concept of quality of life related to the topics of age, disability, euthanasia, life support and care in hospices. It is controversial what reason are entitled to a minimum of quality of life a society should grant an individual. Great Britain determined as part of its annual sustainability indicator survey for two years also indicators of quality of life, the citizens will, among other things according to their general satisfaction, their fear perception of crime, questioned their trust in their fellow citizens, the sporting activity or use of the park.
Public health relevance
The WHO defined quality of life as an overarching goal of health promotion. In the Bangkok Charter states: "The United Nations recognizes that the achievement of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of all people is no difference. Health promotion is based on this fundamental human right. This positive and comprehensive approach sees health as a determinant of quality of life including the mental and spiritual well-being. " In medicine there is for specific diseases, the model of " health -related quality of life " ( Health Related Quality of Life). For the WHP the "concept quality of life" has been developed.
Quality of life and cancer
The widespread disease of cancer requires the opinion of physicians and oncologists to improve the quality of life for cancer patients in the Federal Republic. With this objective supports the German Cancer Aid since 2013 with 356,000 euros donations the " Lindem study," said study at the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg. In this interview scientists about 10,000 healthy and sick people in all provinces according to their quality of life. The scientists want to " capture impairment of quality of life through a cancer and explore ways to avoid these drawbacks. " So the medical and psychosocial care of those affected is to be improved. According to current statistics of the Robert Koch Institute currently receive each year more than 490,000 people in Germany the diagnosis of cancer. The trend is rising. By the year 2050, this number could increase by a third.
Heilpädagogische Relevance
The concept of quality of life is of paramount importance in special education. It is internationally recognized for several years as the key concept of quality development for facilities for people with disabilities. The concept of quality of life can not only meet the basic needs of people with disabilities as well as those of carers to bring in a systematic context, but also has a high practical design force in the daily lives of special education facilities. The supporting factors for both people with disabilities and for their carers are the experience of autonomy, competence, social embeddedness (participation) and meaning.