Quality of life among adolescents: a cross-sectional study using the SF-12 questionnaire]

Adolescence is a stage of life when potentially harmful behaviors to health can be initiated. For this reason, the assessment of quality of life at this age is useful to identify higher risk groups that may prejudice general well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life and associated factors in a sample of 754 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19. For the measurement of quality of life a Portuguese language version of the 12-item short-form (SF-12) Health Survey questionnaire was used. The results revealed that satisfactory levels of quality of life are higher with the frequent practice of physical activities and the absence of conditions such as work activities and the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The female sex was correlated with lower scores in mental aspects of quality of life.