NEW DELHI, November 2026 : Stress may be more strongly associated with a decline in health-related quality of life among adults living with two or more chronic health conditions than among those without any long-term illnesses, according to a new study conducted in Finland.
The research, published in the journal Health Promotion International, also found that people with better health literacy — the ability to access, understand, evaluate and use health information — tended to report lower stress levels and better health-related quality of life.
Researchers said the findings underline the importance of addressing stress and improving access to clear health information while supporting people managing multiple chronic diseases.
"Living with several conditions can mean managing appointments, medication routines and information from different services. Our findings suggest that stress deserves particular attention when considering quality of life among people facing these demands," said study author Jing Zhou, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland.
Study examines 4,003 Finnish adults
The researchers analysed data from a cross-sectional, quota-based online survey involving 4,003 Finnish adults aged between 19 and 79. The survey was conducted in 2024.
Participants were asked whether they had any of 21 long-term health conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, migraine and back problems.
Nearly three out of four respondents reported having at least one chronic condition, while almost half said they were living with two or more conditions.
For the analysis, participants were divided into three groups: those without chronic conditions, those with one condition and those with two or more conditions.
The researchers found that the association between perceived stress and health-related quality of life varied according to the number of chronic conditions. It was strongest among adults managing multiple chronic diseases.
Among people with two or more conditions, a given increase in perceived stress was associated with an approximately twofold greater decline in quality of life compared with adults who had no chronic conditions.
The study defined perceived stress in terms of how unpredictable, difficult to control or overwhelming participants felt their lives had been during the preceding month.
Health literacy linked to lower stress
Health-related quality of life was assessed across five areas of everyday health: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain or discomfort, and anxiety or depression.
The findings also indicated that adults with higher health literacy generally reported lower stress and better health-related quality of life.
Health literacy refers to an individual's ability to find, understand, assess and apply health information while making decisions about everyday healthcare.
However, the researchers noted that the main difference between the three study groups concerned the strength of the relationship between stress and quality of life. The relationship between health literacy and stress did not show the same variation across the groups.
They also found that much of the association between health literacy and quality of life was linked to perceived stress.
Need for clearer healthcare communication
The researchers said the findings highlight the importance of addressing health information requirements, practical healthcare demands and stress together, particularly for people living with multiple long-term conditions.
Managing several illnesses can involve frequent medical appointments, multiple medication schedules and information from different healthcare providers. These demands may add to the stress experienced by patients and affect their daily lives.
The study suggests that clear communication, assistance in navigating healthcare services and better coordination between healthcare providers could be particularly valuable for people managing multiple chronic conditions.
The researchers said healthcare support should take into account not only patients' medical requirements but also the stress associated with managing complex treatment and care arrangements.
Disclaimer: The findings are based on a cross-sectional online survey and indicate associations between perceived stress, health literacy and quality of life. They do not establish that stress directly causes a decline in quality of life or that higher health literacy independently prevents it.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
