Quality of Life, Socioeconomic Well-Being and Heart Rate Variability in 16-18-Year-Old Girls Living in the Russian Arctic

Abstract

Background: 16-18-year-old girls represent the country's reproductive and employment potential, which is the basis for its future demographic and socioeconomic development. The study aimed to determine the heart rate variability (HRV) indicators that can be most interrelated with quality of life (QoL) and socioeconomic well-being in 16-18-year-old girls living in the Russian Arctic. Methods and Results: The study involved 53 girls aged 16-18 living in Arkhangelsk. The World Health Organization Brief Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), Family Affluence Scale (FAS II), Family Financial Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) were used. HRV parameters were determined at rest and during slow-paced breathing with a frequency of 6 respiratory cycles per minute (6SPB). In girls with HR 90 bmp and below, the increase of “Psychological Health,” “Social Relationship,” and “Environmental health” scores of WHOQOL-BREF was correlated with the decrease of sympathetic activity and with the increase of vagal activity during the 6SPB test. CIAS scores were positively correlated with sympathetic activity. The number of family vacations in the last year was correlated with a decrease in sympathetic activity. Conclusion:16-18-year-old girls with optimal resting HR living in the Russian Arctic have more significant correlations of HRV indicators with social, psychological, and environmental aspects of QoL, as well as with the risk of Internet addiction, and, to a lesser extent, with economic living conditions. The opportunity for young people in the Arctic region to spend vacations with their families several times during the year helps reduce cardiac stress.

Keywords

• quality of life
• socio-economic well-being
• heart rate variability
• girls
• arctic region