Social determinants of health and impact on quality of life in adolescents during a pandemic

Abstract

Background Social Determinants of Health (SDH) are linked to individuals' living conditions, influencing their Quality of Life (QoL). Objectives This study aimed to explore the association between SDH and QoL among Brazilian adolescents infected with COVID-19. Methodology This cross-sectional study analyzed 235 adolescents from 89 cities in a northeastern state of Brazil, registered in the Unified Health System's notification system. Statistical tests, including the Levene test for variance equality, Student's t-test, and ANOVA with a 95% confidence interval, were used, supplemented by the Games-Howell multiple comparison test. The study found lower scores in vitality and mental health domains. Males showed higher scores across all domains (p<0.001). Results Adolescents aged 10 to 14 scored higher in the vitality domain. Those who engaged in physical activity had better scores in general health, vitality, and mental health domains. Adolescents with sleep difficulties had lower scores in pain, general health, vitality, and mental health domains. Additionally, those living with high-risk individuals had lower scores in vitality and mental health domains. Conclusion SDH related to demographic factors, physical activity, and sleep quality significantly impacted adolescents' QoL, particularly affecting vitality and mental health.