Quality of life : factors determining its measurement complexity

Abstract

Measuring quality of life is currently at the forefront of the various fields of science. In spite of a great interest in quality of life and many attempts to measure it, there is no method of quality of life measurement, which is grounded methodologically and accepted generally. Quality of life remains a contested concept, which is measured in different ways: analyzing one or several factors of quality of life (material well-being and GDP per person), using objective and subjective dimensions, creating composite indices. Following works and studies of scientists (Cummins, 1996; Diener & Suh, 1997, 1999; Easterlin, 1974, 1995, 2001; Hagerty et al, 2001; Layard, 2005, 2007; Veenhoven, 2000, 2005, 2009), who have analyzed quality of life and its measurement, the present article examines factors determining quality of life and complexity of their measurement. The article raises questions for discussion: what factors are involved in quality of life? How do they determine the quality of life in a particular country? Furthermore, on the basis of theoretical and empirical studies of quality of life, insights into opportunities for the development and implementation of quality of life studies are presented.[...]