Healthcare

Background: Population aging has increased attention on the quality of life and successful aging of older adults. Objective: To examine urban–rural differences in subjective quality of life and self-rated successful aging, explore associations with psychosocial factors, and identify predictors of successful aging, including potential moderating effects of place of residence and chronic illness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 403 adults aged ≥ 60 years in Eastern Croatia. Measures included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Self-assessment of Successful Aging Scale (SSAS), and the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests (Mann–Whitney U, Spearman’s correlation), linear regression, and moderation analyses. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained (Class: 602-01/24-12/02; IRB: 2158/97-97-10-24-36). Results: Rural participants reported lower PWI scores (p = 0.005) and self-rated successful aging (p < 0.001) than urban participants. Active community involvement was positively associated with quality of life (Rho = 0.46; p < 0.001), whereas regret about missed opportunities and past actions was negatively associated (Rho = −0.20; p < 0.01). Regression analyses explained 48.3% of the variance in SSAS, with higher PWI scores being strongly associated with higher SSAS scores, and rural residence and chronic illness being associated with lower SSAS scores. Moderation analyses indicated that the association between PWI and SSAS was consistent across different environmental contexts and in the presence of illness. Conclusions: Older adults living in rural areas reported lower quality of life and self-rated successful aging compared with those in urban and suburban areas, with subjective wellbeing emerging as a key predictor. Promoting social engagement and addressing psychosocial barriers may enhance successful aging, particularly in rural populations. Findings suggest that social engagement and psychosocial support are associated with higher level of perceived successful aging, indicating potential areas for future community-based or healthcare interventions.

Background/Objectives: This study examines prisoners’ quality of life by investigating which aspects of imprisonment conditions—including perceptions of the physical environment—best predict overall satisfaction with the prison (OSP). A key question is whether the staff–prisoner relationship is the single most important dimension, which is frequently emphasized in the literature but has scarcely been tested quantitatively. Methods: Data stemmed from a survey conducted in three closed prisons in Norway in 2022 (response rate: 63%, n = 163). The dependent variable was assessed by asking: “Generally speaking, on a scale from 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with this prison?” This outcome was regressed on seven subscales from the Prison Climate Questionnaire and four single-item measures of the physical environment that have been shown to influence health and well-being. Results: As expected, the quality of staff–prisoner relationships had a unique statistical impact on OSP. Ratings of the outdoor areas and the view from the cell were about equally strong predictors. No statistically independent effects were observed for perceived quality of relationships with fellow prisoners, reintegration measures, receiving visits, personal safety, autonomy, access to natural light and a global rating of the prison building (noise, temperature, layout, etc.). Conclusions: This study further emphasizes the importance of staff–prisoner relationships in shaping prisoners’ experiences and perceptions of imprisonment. Moreover, it provides new insights into the significance of the physical environment for prisoners’ overall perceptions of prison quality, which is likely to affect their mental health and well-being. These findings have potential implications for the design and siting of new correctional facilities and for improving the quality of existing ones.

Background: Seaweed consumption is a major source of dietary iodine in Korea, particularly among lactating women during the postpartum period. This practice raises concerns regarding short-term iodine excess and its potential effects on thyroid function. We examined the prevalence of thyroid disease and hormone abnormalities 1 year after childbirth among postpartum women with varying levels of seaweed-derived iodine intake. Methods: Between 17 July 2021 and 10 December 2021, 147 postpartum women were enrolled within two weeks after childbirth at postpartum care centers in Korea, which provide structured residential maternal and infant care, including standardized meals, during the early postpartum period. Participants provided informed consent and completed baseline questionnaires and dietary assessments. Iodine intake, including seaweed soup consumption during the 8-week postpartum period, and infant growth indicators were evaluated. A total of 81 participants completed the 1-year follow-up. At follow-up, dietary records, thyroid disease prevalence, hormone levels, urinary iodine concentration, and infant growth indicators were assessed. Results: At 1 year, none of the 81 participants had thyroid disease. The prevalence of abnormal triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was analyzed by iodine-intake quartiles, revealing no significant differences (T3: p = 0.4175; FT4: p = 0.1591; TSH: p = 0.9344). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the evidence regarding an association between short-term postpartum iodine intake and thyroid outcomes one year after childbirth remains inconclusive. Owing to the limited sample size, high attrition, and observational design, the study may have been underpowered to detect clinically meaningful differences, and potential effects cannot be excluded. Therefore, these results should be interpreted cautiously, and larger, well-designed longitudinal studies with repeated thyroid assessments are needed to better clarify the long-term implications of postpartum iodine exposure.