Healthy Habits Factors and Stress Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in a Peruvian Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Anderson Francisco Vilchez-Chavez,1,* Eidi Bernal Altamirano,1,* Wilter C Morales-García,2 Liset Sairitupa-Sanchez,3 Sandra B Morales-García,4 Jacksaint Saintila5 1Public Health Postgraduate Unit, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru; 2School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru; 3School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru; 4Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Cientifica Del Sur University, Lima, Peru; 5School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Señor de Sipan University, Chiclayo, Peru*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wilter C Morales-García, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru, Email [email protected] Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Señor de Sipan University, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Peru, Email [email protected]: Healthy habits contribute to the prevention of diseases and, therefore, improve the health-related quality of life of people. However, stress is one of the main risk factors associated with serious health problems in the individual. Therefore, the literature suggests a relationship between healthy habits, stress, and health-related quality of life.Objective: To assess the factors of healthy habits and stress associated with health-related quality of life in a Peruvian adult population.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 540 Peruvian citizens aged between 18 and 60 years. A questionnaire was applied on the Google Forms platform to be completed online, using the “Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire” and the PSS-4 to assess healthy habits and stress, respectively. Health-related quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQol-5D.Results: In the multivariate analysis, stress was the most associated factor with quality of life. Physical activity, drug consumption, tobacco consumption, rest habits, and a balanced diet were healthy habits associated with quality of life.Conclusion: Physical activity, rest habits, and a balanced diet improve health-related quality of life, while drug or tobacco consumption and stress are associated with a lower health-related quality of life.Keywords: adults, healthy habits, health-related quality of life, stress, Peru

Keywords

• adults
• healthy habits
• health-related quality of life
• stress
• peru