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Work-Recreation Balance, Health-Promoting Lifestyles and Suboptimal Health Status in Southern China: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Listed:
  • Shengwei Wu

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Zhengzheng Xuan

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Fei Li

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Wei Xiao

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Xiuqiong Fu

    (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Pingping Jiang

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China)

  • Jieyu Chen

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China)

  • Lei Xiang

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China)

  • Yanyan Liu

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China)

  • Xiaoli Nie

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China)

  • Ren Luo

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China)

  • Xiaomin Sun

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China)

  • Hiuyee Kwan

    (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Xiaoshan Zhao

    (School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
    Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China)

Abstract

Suboptimal health status (SHS)—an intermediate state between health and illness—refers to functional somatic symptoms that are medically undiagnosed. Although SHS has become a great challenge for global public health, very little about its etiology and mechanisms are known. Work-recreation balance is a part of work−life balance, and is related to stress which greatly influences health status. We therefore carried out a cross-sectional investigation between 2012 and 2013 within a clustered sample of 24,475 individuals aged 15−60 years from a population in southern China. In so doing, we hoped to illuminate the associations between work-recreation balance conditions, healthy lifestyles, and SHS. Work-recreation balance conditions were categorically defined by frequency (“rarely, sometimes, or always”). Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II) was used to evaluate the level of healthy lifestyles, and the medical examination report and Sub-Health Measurement Scale V1.0 (SHMS V1.0) were both used to evaluate health status. The ratio of SHS (46.3%) is higher than health status (18.4%) or disease status (35.3%). Overall, 4.9% of respondents reported the lowest level of work-recreation balance, and they scored lower on both the HPLP-II and SHMS V1.0 compared with those who frequently maintained a work-recreation balance. Significant association was found between work-recreation balance behaviors and healthy lifestyles ( p < 0.001) after demographic adjustment. In comparison with those reporting a frequent work-recreation balance, individuals whose work-recreation balance was categorically “rare” were 1.69 times as likely to develop SHS (odds ratio (OR): 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49–1.92), and those with infrequent work-recreation balance (“sometimes”) were 1.71 times more likely to develop SHS (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.62–1.81). These findings suggest that work-recreation balance conditions are significantly associated with, and seem to be accurate behavioral indicia of a healthy lifestyle. Poor work-recreation balance is associated with increased risk for SHS; thus, a healthier lifestyle that maintains a work-recreation balance should be promoted in order to reduce the development of SHS or disease in southern China.

Suggested Citation

  • Shengwei Wu & Zhengzheng Xuan & Fei Li & Wei Xiao & Xiuqiong Fu & Pingping Jiang & Jieyu Chen & Lei Xiang & Yanyan Liu & Xiaoli Nie & Ren Luo & Xiaomin Sun & Hiuyee Kwan & Xiaoshan Zhao, 2016. "Work-Recreation Balance, Health-Promoting Lifestyles and Suboptimal Health Status in Southern China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:3:p:339-:d:66127
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jingfeng Yuan & Wen Yi & Mengyi Miao & Lei Zhang, 2018. "Evaluating the Impacts of Health, Social Network and Capital on Craft Efficiency and Productivity: A Case Study of Construction Workers in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-25, February.
    2. Tao Xu & Guangjin Zhu & Shaomei Han, 2020. "Prevalence of Suboptimal Health Status and the Relationships between Suboptimal Health Status and Lifestyle Factors among Chinese Adults Using a Multi-Level Generalized Estimating Equation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-15, January.

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