Quality of Life, an Extremely Complex Concept

Great number of studies have been conducted regarding “Quality of Life” in different fields of science. Today, information on quality of life’s related factors is more than ever. However, with increasing knowledge, complexity of the concept has been more revealed. As a result, for a full grasp of its definitions and considering synonym terminologies, many new questions have been raised. The present article based on accessible research reports aims at gaining a comprehensive understanding of the quality of life concept and its different domains. Very briefly, it deals with the history of quality of life in different scientific perspectives. Through a review of the studies on relations and interconnectedness of objective and subjective aspects of life, “Interactive Model“ for understanding quality of life is discussed. Research findings of recent decades, provides evidences that the effects of social, psychological, economical and environmental variables on overall satisfaction of life or variety of its domains  (such as work, family, health, housing, social relationsand …) differs among societies as well as social groups. It seems with continuous changes of factors related to quality of life, in addition to individuals’ unique experiences of the world, and changes resulted from passage of time, we should not expect a single pattern of “Good Life“ for everybody and everywhere. Individuals’ quality of life to a great extend depends on social, cultural and values of the society and thereby it is a contextual phenomenon.