Association between Stunting Prevention Behaviors and Quality of Life among Adolescent Girls: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lebak District, Indonesia

Abstract

Adolescent girls constitute a strategic group in the prevention of intergenerational stunting through the establishment of healthy lifestyle behaviours from an early age. However, evidence regarding the relationship between stunting prevention behaviours and quality of life remains limited. This study aims to analyse the relationship between stunting prevention behaviours and quality of life among adolescent girls in Lebak Regency, Indonesia. The study employed an observational analytical design using a cross-sectional approach involving 113 adolescent girls selected at random from a senior secondary school. Stunting prevention behaviours were measured using a health behaviour questionnaire, whilst quality of life was assessed based on the dimensions of satisfaction, productivity, independence and social participation. Analysis was performed using Kendall’s tau correlation test. The results showed a statistically significant positive association between stunting prevention behaviour and overall quality of life (r=0.349; p<0.001), as well as across all dimensions of quality of life (r=0.181–0.268; p<0.05), although the strength of the association ranged from weak to moderate. These findings suggest that adolescents with better stunting prevention behaviours tend to have a better quality of life. However, as a cross-sectional design was used in a single school, the study results cannot be used to draw conclusions about a cause-and-effect relationship. A longitudinal study that accounts for confounding factors is required to confirm these findings.