Abstract
BackgroundPhysical inactivity, sitting behaviour, and mental health problems are detrimental to health-related quality of life but typically are considered as independent determinants. This study tested how these factors clustered together as profiles of subgroups of people and whether the clusters differed as a function of physical and mental health-related quality of life.MethodsIn 2012, Australian adults (N =1,014) self-reported their physical and mental health-related quality of life, physical activity, sitting time, depression, anxiety, and stress using a web-based survey. Cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups of health behaviour and mental health profiles, and ANOVA was used to test for between-cluster differences in health-related quality of life.ResultsThree subgroups were identified: people with higher psychological stress (n =13%), people with higher amounts of sitting time (n =45%), and people with lower amounts of sitting time (n =42%). There were no differences in mental health-related quality of life between subgroups; however people represented by the subgroup of higher amounts of sitting time had significantly lower physical health-related quality of life than the other two subgroups, F(2, 1011) =10.04, p < .01.ConclusionsInterventions should consider that (1) physical activity, sitting time, and psychological distress are aspects of multifaceted behavioural-psychological profiles, and (2) reductions of sitting time may have major impacts for physical health-related quality of life.
Highlights
Physical inactivity, sitting behaviour, and mental health problems are detrimental to health-related quality of life but typically are considered as independent determinants
A strong evidence-base shows that physical activity is associated with lower psychological distress [9,10,11], and emerging research is suggesting that sitting time is associated with high psychological distress [12,13,14]
Data were used from participants that responded to questions about their Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical activity, sitting time, and mental health outcomes (N = 1,014)
Summary
Physical inactivity, sitting behaviour, and mental health problems are detrimental to health-related quality of life but typically are considered as independent determinants. Psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress symptoms), physical inactivity, and high amounts of sitting time are burdensome for health [1,2,3] and quality of life [4,5,6,7]. To this point, the research conducted on these topics has either focused on behaviour or psychological distress, but in reality, these constructs do not exist in isolation, but rather as an aspect of a person’s multifaceted behavioural-psychological profile [8]. The identification of more holistic profiles can be used to inform the development and implementation of interventions
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