The Relationship between Seven Health Habits (Alameda 7) and Health-related Quality of Life

Kwak, Tae Hwan; Jee, Sun Ha; Nam, Chung Mo; Lee, Soon Young

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between 7 health habits and health-related quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaires.
METHODS
The subjects for this study were 550 workers in Seongnam City, Kyonggi Province, Korea. Data were collected by using constructed questionnaires from 11 September 2004 to 25 September 2004. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS.
RESULTS
There were positive relationships of favorable health habits as indicated by Alameda 7 to health-related quality of life. After controlling for the effects of confounding cofactors that included age, sex, diseases, and other health habits, multiple regression analysis indicated as follows. 1) The item of 'eating breakfast everyday' were significantly related to the grade of social function (SF) and bodily pain (BP). 2) The item of 'sleeping for 7~8 hours a day' were significantly related to all domains of the SF-36 except physical function (PF). 3) The item of 'normal Body Mass Index' were significantly related to the grade of Role limitations-emotional (RE). 4. The item of 'regular physical exercise' were significantly related to the grade of general health (GH), physical function (PF), Vitality (VT), and mental health (MH). Other health habits like not snacking between meals, never smoking, and low alcohol consumption were not associated with any of the SF-36 profiles.
CONCLUSION
There were positive relationships of favorable health habits to health-related quality of life. It is important to have favorable health habits for good health-related quality of life.