Health-related quality of life in a population-based sample of men with long-term mental symptoms

Abstract

It is not known whether somatic factors related to overall health and lifestyles or psychological factors, including confirmed psychiatric diagnoses, are associated with the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of men in a population-based sample. The aim of this study was to investigate socio-demographic, somatic and psychological factors associated with HRQL in men having mental symptoms during the 7 previous years. This cross-sectional sample of men (n=63) was investigated in 2004–05 and was based on a previous three-phase follow-up study that began in 1998. Blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, serum lipids and testosterone levels were measured. Psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed with using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Several mental symptoms were assessed with standardized scales. HRQL was measured with the RAND-36 using the physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. A poor HRQL in PCS was found in 73% of men and in MCS in 54%. Depressive symptoms, life dissatisfaction, male symptoms of aging and alexithymia were associated with both impaired PCS and MCS scores. Hopelessness, lifetime and current diagnoses of major depressive disorder and signs of suicidality only associated with a poorer MCS score. Somatic factors describing lifestyles and overall health only weakly associated with HRQL. In general, HRQL was poor in men having long-term mental symptoms. Mental health factors were strongly associated with PCS and MCS scores of HRQL. In improving HRQL in men, both physical and mental domains should be targeted in preventive and curative strategies.