Physical activity in different domains and health-related quality of life: A population-based study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between physical activity (PA) in different domains (job-related, domestic, transportation, and leisure-time) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: We used the long version of IPAQ and SF-36 to assess PA and HRQoL, respectively, in a random sample of 1,076 Croatian inhabitants. Results: Multiple regression analyses showed a significant relationship between PA and Vitality, Mental Health, and mental summary component score in female participants and Physical Functioning, Bodily Pain, Social Functioning, Mental Health, and physical summary component score in male participants (multiple R range, 0.14-0.21). Leisure-time PA was positively related to HRQoL (β range, 0.11-0.18), whereas transportation (β range, -0.10 to -0.14) and domestic (β range, -0.10 to -0.12) PA was inversely related to HRQoL when adjusted for size of settlement, age, educational level, cigarette consumption, alcohol consumption, and body mass index. Conclusions: Our study added useful information to the body of evidence on the positive correlation between leisure-time PA and HRQoL. Since transportation and domestic PA were inversely related with several HRQoL scales, in future studies on the relationship between PA and HRQoL it is important to assess domain-specific PA and not only total PA. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.