Ethnicity and Quality of Life

Abstract

As Gabriel and Bowling (2004) note, the concept of quality of life (QoL) is used to refer to both macro (societal, objective) and micro (individual, subjective) definitions. Bowling (2004) distinguished eight different models of QoL within these two broader categories: objective standard of living; health and longevity; satisfaction of human needs; life satisfaction and psychological well-being; social capital; ecological and neighbourhood resources; health and functioning; cognitive competence, autonomy, self-efficacy; etc.; and values, interpretations, and perceptions. Within the research on ethnicity and QoL in old age this same diversity is evident and there is less research available. Recently, Moriarty and Butt (2004) noted that very little of the work on QoL has focused on people from minority ethnic groups. Furthermore, the literature on ethnicity includes a large number of different ethnic and subcultural groups within many different host nations. These two factors, the relatively few studies focusing in the area, together with the fact that those that do often deal with different ethnic groups in different countries, mean there is insufficient research to draw international conclusions on ethnic groups generally or on particular ethnic groups.