OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between sub-health status and the health-promoting lifestyle of employees.

METHODSA total of 5316 employees in a company in Guangdong were surveyed using sub-health measurement scale version 1.0 (SHMS V1.0) and the health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP-II). The former scale included 3 subscales of somatic sub-health, psychological sub-health and social sub-health, and the latter included 6 subscales of self-actualization, healthy responsibility, physical exercise, nutrition, interpersonal sensitivity and stress treatment.

RESULTSThe total healthy rate was 12.86% among the employees, with 76.76% and 10.5% in sub-health and disease states. The mean scores of HPLP-II was 115.95∓21.468 in the total population surveyed, 134.23∓24.72 in healthy employees and 114.69∓19.25 in the patients. There was a significant difference in the grades of health-promoting lifestyle between sub-healthy and healthy employees (P<0.05) as well as in the scores of HPLP-II and the scores of the 6 subscales (P<0.05). An appreciable correlation was found between sub-health status and the 6 subscales, and self-realization, physical exercise and stress management showed significant inverse correlation with sub-health status.

CONCLUSIONSub-health status is related to health-promoting lifestyle, and self-realization, physical exercise and management are the protective factors that influence sub-health status.