Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life among Black Individuals with Low-Incomes, Excess Weight, and Comorbid Chronic Conditions

Purpose: Black adults experience low health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Formative research is urgently needed to inform the development and implementation of tailored interventions to improve HRQoL among Black adults, particularly those with low incomes and chronic health conditions. The current study examined literature-derived socio-behavioral predictors of HRQoL among Black adults with low-incomes, multiple chronic conditions, and who have overweight/obesity.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Setting: Participants were recruited at four Black/African American congregations.

Subjects: Participants were 243 Black adults with a mean age of 63.10 and the majority with household incomes below $50,000.

Measures: Demographic Questionnaire, Strain Questionnaire (to assess forms of stress), Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (to assess depression), Health-Promoting Lifestyles Profile II (to assess engagement in healthy eating and physical activity), World Health Organization Quality of Life (to assess HRQoL), and height/weight.

Analysis: Linear regressions using least squares estimation.

Results: Levels of engagement in physical activity (β = .257, p < 0.001), physical stress (β = -.311, p < 0.001), and depression (β = -.261, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of physical HRQoL. Depression (β = -.182, p < 0.05) was a significant predictor of psychological HRQoL.

Conclusion: The present study highlights strategies to promote HRQoL among these Black adults. Efforts based on such strategies may curb the impact of low HRQoL on premature morality and promote health equity.

Keywords: health-related quality of life; well-being; Black; African American; adults; low-income; social determinants of health