Health-related quality of life and its determinants among school-going adolescents in Garhwal division of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Background Adolescents are exposed to environmental factors and different developmental processes that impact their health. The study aims to assess the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of school-going adolescents and its associated determinants. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 634 randomly selected adolescents from 13 randomly selected schools in Uttarakhand, India. They were screened using the short version of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire. Along with physical activity and fitness assessment, the Global School-based Student Health Survey questionnaire was administered. The transformed HRQoL domain scores were calculated using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. A univariate and multivariable linear regression model was applied to identify the determinants of HRQoL. Results There were 324 (51.1%) boys and 310 (48.9%) girls. The mean (± SD) age of students was 14.4 (± 1.4) years. The highest mean (± SD) score was 72.3 (± 21.0) for the social relationship domain and the lowest mean (± SD) was 55.6 (± 15.0) for the physical domain. The age, parents using any form of tobacco, a history of ever consuming alcohol and physical fitness were significantly associated with HRQoL domain scores. The non-dominant back stretch test was also associated (Beta coefficient; SE; p-value) with physical (-4.1; 1.4; 0.002), psychosocial (-3.9; 1.5; 0.010) and environment (-3.5; 1.4; 0.014) domain scores. Conclusion All domains of HRQoL need improvement to address the unaccounted psychological, social and mental well-being of adolescents. Addressing substance abuse in the family and promoting physical fitness in school would help improve HRQoL among them.