Objective To examine the quality of life and its influencing factors among rural elderly in poverty areas of Shanxi province.

Methods We conducted a face-to-face household survey among 270 residents aged ≥ 50 years selected with convenient sampling in 7 villages of a poor county in Shanxi province between December 2016 and January 2017. Demographics and living conditions of the participants were collected with a unified questionnaire. Pearson chi-square test, nonparametric tests, and logistic regression were adopted in data analyses.

Results The average age was 66.39 ± 8.00 for the 223 participants aged 60 years and above finally included into the study. For all the participants, the score of Activity of Daily Life Scale (ADL) was 16.59 ± 7.24 and the proportion of the participants with impaired ADL was 33.9%. The risk factors for the impaired ADL were elder age (odds ratio OR = 7.309, 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 2.033 – 26.277), being an empty-nested elderly (OR = 2.149, 95% CI: 1.035 – 4.462), and not at work (OR = 2.476, 95% CI: 1.101 – 5.567) and with better sleep was a favorable factors against impaired ADL (OR = 0.550, 95% CI: 0.351 – 0.862). The mean overall personal wellbeing index for the participants was 7.17 ± 1.66 and the top three domain scores reported by the participants were 8.72 ± 1.45 for harmony atmosphere in the village, 8.36 ± 1.57 for relationship with other people, and 7.60 ± 2.31 for personal safety. The hindering factors for perceived happiness were being unmarried (OR = 0.389, 95% CI: 0.156 – 0.972) and suffering from chronic disease (OR = 0.360, 95% CI: 0.146 – 0.889); whereas better sleeping in was a promoting factor for personal wellbeing (OR = 1.473, 95% CI: 1.027 – 2.114).

Conclusion Among the elderly in poor rural areas of Shanxi province, the quality of life is poor and the impaired activity of daily life is obviously serious but the personal wellbeing is relatively high; the situations are influenced by sleeping status and other factors. The results suggest that measures should be taken to improve quality of life of the elderly.