The Influence of Lifestyle Behaviors on Health-related Quality of Life: Results of a Non-Randomized Controlled Intervention Study
1
Institute of Medical Sociology, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
2
Institute for Health Services Research and Health Economics, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
3
Institute for Health Services Research and Health Economics, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
4
German Center for Diabetes Research, Partner Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
5
Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
6
Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A91
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Regular physical activity (PA) positively influences health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, it remains less clear how an overall healthy lifestyle, combining PA with other lifestyle behaviors, affects this relationship. The aim of this investigation was to examine associations between lifestyle behaviors, including PA, measured by an established lifestyle index, and HRQoL in the non-randomized controlled ‚10,000 Steps NRW‘ study.
METHODS:
Lifestyle behaviors (i.e., smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, German Health Update (GEDA) study, 2019, 2021; PA, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; alcohol intake, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and HRQoL (EuroQol 5-Dimension: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression) were assessed via telephone-based interviews with residents of two German cities. A lifestyle index was generated combining non-smoking, daily fruit and vegetable intake, PA (≥600 metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes/week), and no or moderate alcohol intake (≤6 drinks/week). For each lifestyle behavior, a 1 was assigned when participants adhered to evidence-based recommendations, a 0 when they did not, resulting in a score ranging from 0 to 4 points. Cross-sectional associations between adherence to a healthy lifestyle and HRQoL were examined using multivariable linear regression models.
RESULTS:
Of the 627 participants included in the analysis, 13% adhered to ≤2 favorable lifestyle behaviors, 31% to 3 behaviors, and 56% to all 4 behaviors. Adherence to all favorable lifestyle behaviors was associated with higher HRQoL compared to adherence to ≤2 favorable lifestyle behaviors [β (95% CI): 0.037 (0.013, 0.070)]. Each additional favorable lifestyle behavior was associated with higher HRQoL [β (95% CI): 0.017 (0.003, 0.031)]. When investigating individual lifestyle behaviors separately, PA, in particular, was linked to higher HRQoL [β (95% CI): 0.069 (0.028, 0.110)].
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings indicate that higher adherence to a healthy lifestyle is associated with higher HRQoL and suggest that PA may be the largest contributor to this association.
Regular physical activity (PA) positively influences health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, it remains less clear how an overall healthy lifestyle, combining PA with other lifestyle behaviors, affects this relationship. The aim of this investigation was to examine associations between lifestyle behaviors, including PA, measured by an established lifestyle index, and HRQoL in the non-randomized controlled ‚10,000 Steps NRW‘ study.
METHODS:
Lifestyle behaviors (i.e., smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, German Health Update (GEDA) study, 2019, 2021; PA, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; alcohol intake, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and HRQoL (EuroQol 5-Dimension: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression) were assessed via telephone-based interviews with residents of two German cities. A lifestyle index was generated combining non-smoking, daily fruit and vegetable intake, PA (≥600 metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes/week), and no or moderate alcohol intake (≤6 drinks/week). For each lifestyle behavior, a 1 was assigned when participants adhered to evidence-based recommendations, a 0 when they did not, resulting in a score ranging from 0 to 4 points. Cross-sectional associations between adherence to a healthy lifestyle and HRQoL were examined using multivariable linear regression models.
RESULTS:
Of the 627 participants included in the analysis, 13% adhered to ≤2 favorable lifestyle behaviors, 31% to 3 behaviors, and 56% to all 4 behaviors. Adherence to all favorable lifestyle behaviors was associated with higher HRQoL compared to adherence to ≤2 favorable lifestyle behaviors [β (95% CI): 0.037 (0.013, 0.070)]. Each additional favorable lifestyle behavior was associated with higher HRQoL [β (95% CI): 0.017 (0.003, 0.031)]. When investigating individual lifestyle behaviors separately, PA, in particular, was linked to higher HRQoL [β (95% CI): 0.069 (0.028, 0.110)].
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings indicate that higher adherence to a healthy lifestyle is associated with higher HRQoL and suggest that PA may be the largest contributor to this association.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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