Impact of health and fitness-related behavior on quality of life

Abstract

While the relationships between (a) health behavior and health status and (b) health status and perceived quality of life (QOL) have received some attention, the association between health behaviors and QOL has not been determined. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effects of health behaviors on QOL that are independent of the effects of health status. A sample of approximately 5 000 randomly selected U.S. Navy personnel was split into halves and analyses performed on each to establish the replicability of the findings. At step one of a multiple regression procedure, health status variables were forced into the equation; next, health behavior variables were entered. As expected, the block of health status variables was significantly related to QOL: self-assessed health and fitness status and lower reporting of physical symptoms accounted for 16% and 18% of the variance in QOL for the two subsamples. After controlling for health status, two behavioral measures made unique contributions to the prediction of QOL: behaviors related to avoiding unnecessary risks as a driver or pedestrain and avoiding or minimizing accidents. Wellness maintenance behaviors also were associated with QOL in one subsample. After controlling for health status, health behavior measures contributed an additional 11% and 6% of the explained variance in QOL for the two subsamples. Results indicate that health behaviors influence QOL independently of health status.