Relationships between Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms and the Quality of Life, and Life Style of Junior High School Students

Abstract

To examine relationships between cumulative fatigue symptoms and the quality of life (QOL), and life style of junior high school students, questionnaires were administered to 289 students in Okinawa. Cumulative fatigue symptoms were assessed using the Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Index (CFSI). The factor structure of QOL was examined with a principal component analysis. The results were as follows. For the QOL, 6 factors were extracted: Family and living environment factor, school life factor, leisure time factor, allowance factor, community activity factor, and friendship factor. The cumulative contribution was 53%. It was revealed that CFSI selection rates correlated with gender and grade, and life style. When controlling influence of the other variables, the QOL factors except community activity factor showed significant influence on CFSI selection rates. However, the influence of gender and grade, and lifestyle became rather weak. When observing the variables which showed significant influence, the QOL factors were negatively correlated with CFSI selection rates. The person having high QOL score showed low CFSI selection rates. Girls showed higher CFSI selection rates than boys. 3rd graders showed higher CFSI selection rates than 1st graders. Regular exercise, hours of sleep, regular breakfast, ways of commuting, and hours of study at home were also correlated CFSI selection rates. This study showed that life of junior high school students could be taken from the viewpoint of QOL and that QOL was correlated with their cumulative fatigue symptoms more than life style.