The Development of a Quality of Life Model Based on Metacognitive Beliefs with the Mediation role of Perceived Stress in the Elderly

This study aimed to provide a model of metacognitive beliefs and perceived stress to help better understand the quality of life of the elderly. To this end, a sample of 377 subjects was selected by the available sampling method among the elderly over 60 years of age living in Tehran in 2018 and was evaluated using WHO Quality of Life-BREF, Metacognition Questionnaire-30 by Wells & Cartwright-Hatton and perceived stress scale-14 by Cohen, Kamarck & Mermelstein. The data were evaluated using path analysis by statistical software SPSS-20 and AMOS-20. Results showed that there is a significant negative correlation between perceived stress and quality of life in the elderly. There is a negative and significant relationship between metacognitive beliefs (including negative beliefs about irresponsibility, positive beliefs about worries, cognitive confidence, need for control of thoughts) and quality of life in the elderly. The findings also confirmed the role of perceived stress mediated in the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and the quality of life of the elderly. Based on the findings, training of metacognitive strategies as an effective mechanism for modification of metacognitive beliefs is an appropriate way to improve the quality of life of elderly people and it is suggested to add it to relevant interventions.