본 연구는 지난 10년간(2002-2012년)의 연구를 메타분석하여 노인의 삶의 질에 영향을 미치는 변인들의 효과크기를 살펴보았다. 분석결과를 통해 노인의 삶의 질과 관련된 후속 연구의 방향을 제시하고, 노인의 삶의 질을 높이거나, 저하시키는 변인들을 살펴봄으로써 노인상담이나 정책 수립에 실질적인 자료를 제시하고자 하였다. 분석대상의 자료는 국내 학회지 및 석·박사 학위논문 96편을 대상으로 하였다. 본 연구결과는 첫째, 노인의 삶의 질과 관련된 변인군 중 심리 변인군과 가족관계 변인군이 큰 효과크기를, 신체생리 변인군과 사회환경 변인군, 인구사회학적 변인군이 중간 효과크기를 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 인구사회학적 변인군 중 종교가 큰 효과크기를 나타냈고, 경제적 만족과 학력은 중간 효과크기를, 연령과 성별은 작은 효과크기를 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 신체생리 변인군 중 건강상태가 큰 효과크기를, 수단적 일상생활수행능력과 일상생활 수행능력은 중간 효과크기를 가진 것으로 나타났다. 넷째, 심리 변인군 중 우울, 자기효능감, 자아존중감은 큰 효과크기를 가진 것으로 나타났고, 정서적지지, 불안, 분노는 중간 효과크기를 보여주었다. 다섯째, 가정환경 변인군 중 부부관계, 자녀와의 친밀감은 큰 효과크기를, 가족지지와 가족관계는 중간 효과크기를 가진 것으로 나타났다. 여섯째, 사회환경 변인군 중 친구 및 이웃지지, 사회적지지, 여가참여, 사회활동참여는 큰 효과크기를, 지역사회복지서비스, 의료서비스는 중간 효과크기를 가진 것으로 나타났다.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the previous study on elders` quality of life. From 2002 to 2012, two hundred fifty-one articles published on academic journals and 418 masters` thesis and doctoral dissertation were collected. Of these studies, 96 articles which had a primary empirical data met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The results of this study were as follows: First, the most influential variables related to elders` quality of life was psychological variables followed by family relationship, physiological, social environment, and demographic variables in order. The effect size of psychological and family relationship were large while physiological, social environment, and demographic variables of effect size were moderate. Second, the most influential variable related to elders` quality of life among demographic variables was religion which had a large effect size followed by satisfaction of economic status, level of education, age, and sex orderly. Third, the most influential variable related to elders` quality of life among physiological variables was health status which had a large effect size followed by instrumental activities of daily living and activities of daily living which had medium effect size. Fourth, the most influential variable related to elders` quality of life among psychological variables was depression followed by self-efficacy, self-esteem, emotional support, anxiety, and anger in order. The effect size of depression, self-efficacy, and self-esteem were large while other variables had a medium effect size. Fifth, the most influential variable related to elders` quality of life among family relationship variables was marital relations followed by intimacy with children, family support, and family relations. The effect size of marital relations and intimacy with children were large while family support and family relations had a medium effect size. Sixth, the most influential variable related to elders` quality of life among social environment variables was friend and neighbors` support followed by social support, participation in leisure, participation in social activities, community`s welfare service, and health care service. All social environment variables except community`s welfare service and health care service had a large effect size.