The application of selected methods of multivariate statistical analysis to study objective quality of life in Polish and Belarusian regions

The concept of life quality has been studied by specialists from a variety of scientific fields: economics, social geography, sociology, psychology, medicine, political sciences, and others. This contributes to the complementariness of the notion and broadens its interdisciplinary perspective, but on the other hand, it leads to a lack of unanimity in terms of the definition and measurement of the quality of life. Meanwhile, all developed countries in the world regard enhancing life quality as a priority of state policy. With the further advancement of our civilisation, quality of life will become a major issue in economic development. Therefore, monitoring this aspect of economic life, at both country and regional level, seems to be of particular significance. The paper aims to assess the suitability of selected methods of multivariate statistical analysis for the construction of a synthetic measure of objective quality of life. The study employs two methods of constructing synthetic measures of objective life quality: the linear ordering method – TOPSIS, and factor analysis. The results obtained by means of multivariate statistical analysis methods made it possible to create ratings of Polish and Belarusian regions in terms of objective quality of life and to further divide the regions into typological groups.

Diversity of quality of life of inhabitants in rural gminas in Świętokrzyskie voivodship

The aim of this article is to diagnose and evaluate selected aspects of the objective quality of life in rural gminas of Świętokrzyskie voivodship. An attempt was made to determine spatial differences in the quality of life in 2010 and 2015, using the taxonomic method and cluster analysis. The subject of the survey were rural gminas, where the quality of life analysis is carried out much less frequently than in the case of urban gminas, whereas these units are characterised by significant disproportions in the quality of life within the voivodship. In rural gminas of Świętokrzyskie voivodship the quality of life is improving, however, there are significant disproportions in the objective evaluation of the quality of life.

The Use of Multi-Criteria Taxonomy in the Study of Objective Quality of Life in Polish Voivodeships

The article attempts to compare the living conditions of the population living in rural communities of West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The analysis used data for 159 indicators in the following areas of life: natural environment, demographics, social aspects, municipal infrastructure and housing, economic aspects, education and schooling, culture and tourism, and transport. The application of a multi-criteria taxonomy method allowed the author to take into account all the spheres of life altogether and to differentiate a group of voivodeships that are similar in terms of the examined phenomenon. On the basis of the conducted study it was found that Poland’s regions demonstrate a high degree of differences in terms of the objective quality of life.

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN VARIABLES OF SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL IMPAIRMENTS

Aim of the work: to reveal the association between the objective quality of life and its subjective estimation by patients with mental disorders according to some indicators of quality of life specific to mental disorder. The first part of the work reviews the main disorders and their psychological and social consequences, the definition and indicators of quality of life and its objective estimation, the influence of social, psychological factors and patient’s condition on the subjective estimation of quality of life. The second part contains questionnaire data collected from 100 adult patients during their stay at the hospital. The respondents estimated their own health mostly as good, although the majority of them were long term patients with frequent readmissions, jobless due to their condition, and living on disablement allowances and social support. Some had irregular jobs or were engaged in some craft. Most of them resided with their relatives and estimated their living conditions as partially or rather satisfactory. The respondents’ social communication was limited to their nearest relatives and everyday needs. A few were regularly involved in community activities. Most patients were satisfied with their social communication, however participation in community activities did not respond to their expectations. Most people with mental disorders believed they could go on their own in everyday life, however they had difficulties in contacting other people and keeping relations with them. The respondents also believed that due to mental illness their life changed and its quality became poorer. They attributed themselves to unlucky people, nevertheless they considered their life in the whole satisfactory or good. They would like to modify their life, but just a few were convinced to be able to manage on their own. They would like to be supported by their relatives and workers of various institutions.