Objective To study the quality of life( Qo L) and its influential factors among outpatients with chronic hepatitis B or C. Methods Patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B or C between March 2012 and March 2014 were included in the hepatitis group,whereas volunteers presenting with neither significant physical nor mental diseases,who accompanied visiting patients or underwent physical examination,were involved in the control group. A survey using the Short Form- 36( SF- 36) Chinese version,the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire( CLDQ),and the Social Support Rating Scale( SSRS) were performed within the above groups. Results The SF- 36 scores of the hepatitis group were significantly lower than those of the control group in physical role,general health,vitality,social functioning,emotional role,and mental health( P < 0. 05). The CLDQ scores of the hepatitis group were significantly lower than those of the control group in systemic symptoms,role emotion,and anxiety( P < 0. 05). The hepatitis patients displayed significantly lower scores in all four scales of SSRS( P < 0. 05). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that age,sex,occupation,marital status,income,subjective support,and social support utilization significantly influenced the Qo L among hepatitis patients. Conclusion The Qo L of outpatients with chronic hepatitis B or C is poor. The Qo L of patients showing the characteristics of old age,female sex,divorce,farmer,lower income,less subjective support,and poor social support utilization require more attention to their Qo L. Medical workers should provide proper individualized health guidance for those patients.