Background and Aims: Adherence to an optimal lifestyle defined as adequate physical activity (=150 minutes per week), no use of tobacco, moderate alcohol use (=1 drink/d for women or =2 drinks/d for men), and eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day has been associated with as much as 14 years of increased longevity and improved functional health status. Unfortunately, adherence to these four behaviors is relatively low in the United States. Furthermore, it is unclear the extent to which adherence to these health behaviors among working adults is associated with emotional health indicators such as self-reported stress, depression, depression risk, overall emotional health, and self-perceived general health. Improved understanding of this impact may hold significant potential for population health improvement strategies implemented via the worksite. The purpose of this investigation was to define the association of varying levels of self-reported optimal lifestyle with self-reported emotional health risks.
Methods: All data were self-reported and collected as part of a health assessment process implemented through employer-sponsored programs during the year 2007. The number of subjects (N total=28,897) reporting from zero to 4 behaviors were 77; 1,294; 8,162; 15,085; and, 4,279 respectively. Emotional health variables included
self-reported stress concerns, depression, depression risk based on personal history of depression, emotional health concerns, and self-perceived general health status.
Results: The ratio of the percentage of the population with a positive response if no optimal lifestyles are practiced/the percentage of the population with a positive response if 4 optimal lifestyles are practiced is 3.8 for stress concerns, 1.9 for depression, 14.2 for high risk for depression, 5.3 for emotional health concerns and 5.6 for self-perceived poor general health status.
Conclusions: Adherence to an optimal lifestyle is associated with lower rates of self-reported stress, depression, and poor perceived health status. The relationship is most likely bi-directional. If it is, enhanced focus and attention to population-based strategies that improve adherence to these four behaviors may positively affect a variety of emotional health outcomes, and addressing issues of emotional health may help individuals adhere to healthy lifestyles.