RESUMO
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Although studies have examined the relationship between variables associated with active aging and quality of life (QoL), no studies have been identified to have investigated the effect of a structural model of active aging on QoL in a representative sample of older people in the community. OBJECTIVE: To measure the domains and facets of QoL in older people and identify the effect of the structural model of active aging on the self-assessment of QoL. DESIGN AND SETTING: This cross-sectional analytical study included 957 older people living in urban areas. Data were collected from households using validated instruments between March and June 2018. Descriptive, confirmatory factor, and structural equation modeling analyses were performed. RESULTS: Most older people self-rated their QoL as good (58.7%), and the highest mean scores were for the social relationships domain (70.12 ± 15.4) and the death and dying facet (75.43 ± 26.7). In contrast, the lowest mean scores were for the physical domains (64.41 ± 17.1) and social participation (67.20 ± 16.2) facets. It was found that active aging explained 50% of the variation in self-assessed QoL and directly and positively affected this outcome (λ = 0.70; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Active aging had a direct and positive effect on the self-assessment of QoL, indicating that the more individuals actively aged, the better the self-assessment of QoL.