Table 1 Description and analysis of QOL among empty nesters in Shanxi China
Characteristics | N (%) | QOL score (mean ± SD) | t/F | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gender | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Male | 2546 (51.95) | 64.59 ± 17.21 | 5.291 |  < 0.001 |
 Female | 2355 (48.05) | 61.99 ± 17.16 |  |  |
Age | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 60–69 | 2440 (49.79) | 65.34 ± 16.66 | 51.381 |  < 0.001 |
 70–79 | 1910 (38.97) | 62.47 ± 17.30 |  |  |
 80– | 551 (11.24) | 57.51 ± 17.93 |  |  |
Residence | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Urban | 1714 (34.97) | 66.26 ± 16.92 | 8.790 |  < 0.001 |
 Rural | 3187 (65.03) | 61.78 ± 17.20 |  |  |
Education | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 No formal education | 1500 (30.61) | 59.10 ± 17.05 | 39.872 |  < 0.001 |
 Primary school | 1573 (32.10) | 63.12 ± 16.85 |  |  |
 Secondary school | 1068 (21.79) | 65.67 ± 16.54 |  |  |
 High school | 531 (10.83) | 68.59 ± 17.44 |  |  |
 Junior college | 111 (2.26) | 70.75 ± 15.35 |  |  |
 University or higher | 118 (2.41) | 68.66 ± 17.89 |  |  |
Marital status | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Married | 3341 (68.17) | 64.84 ± 17.07 | 27.066 |  < 0.001 |
 Single (never married, divorced, widowed) | 1560 (31.83) | 60.39 ± 16.59 |  |  |
Monthly income | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 None | 1676 (34.20) | 58.80 ± 17.22 | 86.308 |  < 0.001 |
  < 1000 RMB | 1371 (27.97) | 63.16 ± 16.18 |  |  |
 1000–3000 RMB | 1287 (26.26) | 66.48 ± 16.61 |  |  |
  > 3000 RMB | 567 (11.57) | 70.09 ± 17.45 |  |  |
Smoking status | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Never | 3214 (65.58) | 62.97 ± 17.25 | 2.178 | 0.113 |
 Quit smoking | 709 (14.47) | 64.11 ± 17.08 |  |  |
 Smoking | 978 (19.95) | 64.01 ± 17.29 |  |  |
Drinking status | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Never | 3417 (69.72) | 62.61 ± 17.40 | 6.997 |  < 0.001 |
 Occasionally | 1168 (23.83) | 64.98 ± 16.66 |  |  |
 Often | 206 (4.20) | 64.79 ± 16.92 |  |  |
 Every day | 110 (2.25) | 66.10 ± 17.24 |  |  |
Exercise frequency | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 None | 1304 (26.61) | 58.67 ± 17.83 | 92.062 |  < 0.001 |
 1–2 times per week | 1663 (33.93) | 61.72 ± 16.21 |  |  |
 3–5 times per week | 1208 (24.65) | 66.67 ± 16.06 |  |  |
 6 or more times per week | 726 (14.81) | 69.93 ± 17.22 |  |  |
Physical examination frequency | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Never | 380 (7.75) | 62.74 ± 16.81 | 57.857 |  < 0.001 |
 Irregular | 2256 (46.03) | 62.85 ± 16.82 |  |  |
 Regular physical examination every few years | 925 (18.88) | 69.50 ± 16.85 |  |  |
 Annual physical examination | 1340 (27.34) | 60.10 ± 17.24 |  |  |
Attention the daily healthy diet | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 No | 152 (3.10) | 56.02 ± 17.95 | 44.939 |  < .0001 |
 Less | 1326 (27.06) | 59.82 ± 17.39 |  |  |
 More | 2547 (51.97) | 64.35 ± 16.83 |  |  |
 Most | 876 (17.87) | 67.02 ± 16.76 |  |  |
Participation in social activities | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 None | 730 (14.89) | 58.89 ± 19.06 | 37.517 |  < 0.001 |
 Low | 2309 (47.11) | 62.39 ± 17.14 |  |  |
 Moderate | 1445 (29.49) | 66.18 ± 16.06 |  |  |
 High | 417 (8.51) | 66.63 ± 16.04 |  |  |
Relationship with spouse | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Have no spouse or bad | 591 (12.06) | 57.02 ± 17.02 | 86.996 |  < 0.001 |
 Close | 4310 (87.94) | 64.67 ± 16.89 |  |  |
Relationship with children | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Have no children or bad | 537 (10.95) | 54.54 ± 17.19 | 107.049 |  < 0.001 |
 Close | 4364 (89.05) | 65.07 ± 16.72 |  |  |