Objective To understand the health-related quality of life of rural residents in northern Guangdong and to explore its influencing factors with the aim of providing a reference for future development of measures to improve the quality of life of rural residents. Methods This survey used the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions（EQ-5 D-3 L） questionnaire to conduct a household survey for residents of a rural area in Guangdong Province. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed and 197 valid questionnaires were returned. SPSS 18.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results Ordered from high to low

the proportions of respondents who chose "no problem" in each dimension were self-care（94.4%）

mobility（85.3%）

usual activities（79.2%）

anxiety/depression（62.4%） and pain/discomfort（45.2%）. The dimension with the highest proportion of respondents choosing "having severe problem" is usual activities（3.5%）. Logistic regression analysis showed that low education level and outpatient visits or hospitalizations within the past year were the risk factors for the respondents’ having problem in the dimension of mobility（P<0.05）. Old age is a risk factor for the respondents’ having problem in the dimension of usual activities（P<0.05）. Old age

low education level and outpatient visits or hospitalizations within the past year were the risk factors for the respondents’ having problem in the dimension of pain/discomfort（P<0.05）. Old age and low education level were the risk factors for the respondents’ having problem in the dimension of anxiety/depression（P <0.05）. Chronic disease and outpatient visits or hospitalizations within the past year were the factors influencing the EQ-VAS scores of the respondents（P<0.05）. Conclusion Age is an independent risk factor for the respondents to have problems in the dimensions of usual activities

pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. In view of this

relevant departments and families with elderly members should pay more attention to the elderly

urge them to go to the hospital for regular medical examinations

and at the same time carry out health education and health promotion interventions

so as to improve the quality of life of the elderly.