The impact of illness acceptance, depression, and social support on health-related quality of life in older adults on hemodialysis: A descriptive study

Purpose: This study investigated illness acceptance, depression, social support, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older adults undergoing hemodialysis at primary and secondary healthcare facilities in Korea. Methods: Data were collected from 144 participants between July 19 and August 14, 2024, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The results showed that participants had a mean illness acceptance score of 18.43±6.99 out of 36, a mean depression score of 3.47±4.04 out of 27, a mean social support score of 67.72±17.00 out of 90, and a mean HRQoL score of 0.76±0.15 out of 1. Factors significantly influencing HRQoL were illness acceptance (β=.33, p<.001), depression (β=-.24, p=.003), and being man (β=-.21, p=.012). The model’s adjusted R2 was 31%, indicating its explanatory power. Conclusion: This study identified key factors influencing HRQoL, including illness acceptance, depression, and gender. Illness acceptance positively impacted HRQoL, whereas lower depression levels were associated with better HRQoL. Psychological support and tailored interventions are vital to improving HRQoL in this population.