W Himmel1. 1. Abteilung Allgemeinmedizin, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen. whimmel@gwdg.de
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore associations between lay concepts of health, quality of life and the health-related evaluation of daily activities. METHODS: A total of 221 persons (patients from general practice and adult as well as young members of sporting clubs) participated in the study (response rate: 84%). RESULTS: Health was often defined as "highest value of life"; "normal functioning of body and soul" and "complete well-being". Many persons considered sports, sleeping and leisure time being highly important for their health. The single dimensions of quality of life were associated with some health-related evaluations of daily activities, e.g., bodily functioning and health-related evaluation of television. Dividing the sample into persons who did or did not consider a certain concept of health (e.g., well-being) to be highly important had the following consequences: The quality of life was associated with different evaluations of daily activities in different strata; this association was sometimes negative, sometimes positive in different strata; more variance was explained by dividing the sample into different strata. CONCLUSIONS: The often contradictory associations between evaluation of everyday activities, lay concepts of health and quality of life should warn us not to think of health concepts and health actions in form of linear relations. Rather, health promotion should be more stronger oriented towards the individual's life conditions and his or her attitude to health.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore associations between lay concepts of health, quality of life and the health-related evaluation of daily activities. METHODS: A total of 221 persons (patients from general practice and adult as well as young members of sporting clubs) participated in the study (response rate: 84%). RESULTS: Health was often defined as "highest value of life"; "normal functioning of body and soul" and "complete well-being". Many persons considered sports, sleeping and leisure time being highly important for their health. The single dimensions of quality of life were associated with some health-related evaluations of daily activities, e.g., bodily functioning and health-related evaluation of television. Dividing the sample into persons who did or did not consider a certain concept of health (e.g., well-being) to be highly important had the following consequences: The quality of life was associated with different evaluations of daily activities in different strata; this association was sometimes negative, sometimes positive in different strata; more variance was explained by dividing the sample into different strata. CONCLUSIONS: The often contradictory associations between evaluation of everyday activities, lay concepts of health and quality of life should warn us not to think of health concepts and health actions in form of linear relations. Rather, health promotion should be more stronger oriented towards the individual's life conditions and his or her attitude to health.