Abstract
Background: Communication is important for the elderly to maintain existing social relationships while creating new relationships based on good communication skills to lessen psychological and emotional distress and lead a healthy life in advanced age. Aims: This study identifies the difference between the social network-based quality of communication life and the overall quality of life in the elderly and how much the quality of communication life affects the overall quality of life. Methods: This research includes a survey of the elderly aged 65 and over living in small cities of South Korea. Data sets of 201 elderly were analyzed. Results: This study found a significant correlation between the quality of communication life and the overall quality of life. Religion also influences the elderly's quality of communication life. The elderly's quality of communication life has 40% explanatory power of the overall quality of life. Conclusion: Consequently, senior citizens' quality of life will be improved through the enhanced quality of communication in addition to financial and health conditions by participating in various community activities similar to those provided by religion to increase opportunities for communication.