Modern society is characterized by a duality in which the benefits of advanced science and technology—namely, increased convenience in daily life—coexist with negative consequences such as job insecurity and social isolation. In response to this complex social climate, there has been growing interest across diverse fields in strategies to enhance the quality of life for individuals, particularly within the domains of health and medical research [1].

Recognizing the importance of improving individual well-being, many countries have initiated national-level efforts, including the adoption of flexible work systems and telecommuting practices [2]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, technological advancements in digital platforms and artificial intelligence facilitated remote work and minimized physical contact. However, these same developments have also replaced or reduced the roles of human workers, contributing to increased employment uncertainty [3]. Such negative impacts can lead to psychological distress and maladaptive behaviors among workers, highlighting the need to increase awareness of these challenges and explore appropriate interventions [4].

Furthermore, previous research has shown that subjective health status is significantly affected by variables such as gender, age, type of employment, and socioeconomic status [5]. Accordingly, when seeking practical solutions to improve quality of life, it is essential to consider the demographic and occupational characteristics of the target population [6]. However, most previous studies have revealed that there are differences in variables depending on individual characteristics, but there are insufficient studies that show how they differ according to individual characteristics in detail.

Also, Quality of life is a multidimensional construct encompassing physical, psychological, and social domains, and it is generally regarded as an individual’s perceived state of well-being [7]. In this context, quality of life may be understood as the overall condition of one’s physical and mental health [8], as well as access to proper nutrition and sufficient sleep [9]. In addition, interpersonal relationships [10] and the broader socio-economic environment [11] also play critical roles in shaping one’s well-being.

While it is meaningful to analyze general factors affecting quality of life, a more effective approach involves examining these influences in conjunction with specific individual characteristics, such as gender, age, employment status, income level, and marital status. Further research is needed to clarify where and how such differences manifest across subgroups. According to Baltes [12], the factors that influence an individual’s health perception and behavior are not constant throughout the lifespan, as individuals undergo psychological and physiological changes with age. On the other hand, Prochaska and colleagues [13], who proposed the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change, emphasized that human behavioral changes occur in distinct stages, and the influencing factors can vary significantly across those stages. Therefore, a tailored analytical approach may provide more actionable and effective insights for improving quality of life across diverse populations. In South Korea, the adult suicide rate remains the highest among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) [14]. Suicide is widely recognized as both a personal and societal health indicator [15], and has been closely associated with anxiety and reduced quality of life [16]. Given this alarming national context, it is imperative to assess the health conditions of adult workers—key members of society—and to identify the factors that impact their well-being as a foundation for designing effective intervention strategies.

Therefore, the present study aims to examine differences in health-related quality of life, psychological and physical health, dietary habits, sleep duration, and physical activity among Korean adult workers according to gender, age, employment type (regular vs. non-regular), income level, and marital status. Furthermore, this study seeks to identify key factors influencing their health-related quality of life.

The results of this study are presented from two perspectives. First, the study identifies differences in several variables—health-related quality of life, psychological health, physical health, healthy eating habits, sleep time, physical activity — according to participants’ characteristics, including gender, age, educational level, employment type, marital status, and income level. Second, based on the previous analysis, health-related quality of life was found to differ significantly by gender, age, and employment type. Accordingly, additional analyses were conducted to determine the factors influencing quality of life within each of these demographic groups.

This study aimed to identify factors affecting the HRQoL among adult workers and to examine differences based on the characteristics of the subjects. The following discussion is based on the results of the analysis conducted for this research purpose. Firstly, differences were observed in HRQoL, psychological health variables (anxiety), physical health variables (degree of chronic disease), and physical activity based on the gender of workers. A study by Kaplan and his colleagues [26] reported that while women have longer lifespans than men, they experience more physical and psychological illnesses. Since then, numerous studies have indicated that there are differences in HRQoL based on gender [27]. In addition to adult populations, many studies have shown that women tend to have a lower HRQoL compared to men across various disease conditions and among older adult groups [28].

Anxiety, a psychological health factor, is found to be higher in women than in men; however, the incidence of chronic diseases is greater in men than in women, and physical activity levels are significantly higher in men. Additionally, when examining the values of variables by age, individuals in their 50s exhibit a lower quality of life. Although this group demonstrates more positive and healthier eating habits compared to other groups, they also experience a higher incidence of chronic diseases and shorter average sleep time. Numerous studies have reported that women have a higher incidence of chronic diseases than men, along with elevated psychological health factors such as anxiety, and lower levels of physical activity [29, 30]. However, in the context of Korea, it is essential to confirm that men in adulthood, excluding the elderly, have a higher prevalence of major chronic diseases related to the cardiovascular system compared to women [31]. Furthermore, considering that the prevalence of chronic diseases significantly impacts HRQoL [32], this suggests that multiple factors collectively influence HRQoL.

Conversely, the research findings indicate that HRQoL varies based on gender, age, and employment type. In light of these characteristics, we aimed to identify the factors influencing their quality of life. The results revealed differences in influence among men, women, permanent position worker, and temporary position worker; however, psychological health, physical health, and physical activity were found to significantly impact their HRQoL. As noted by Gabriella and Martin [33], there is a growing crisis in the psychological health of adult workers amidst the rapid changes in their lives, with anxiety exerting a substantial influence on HRQoL. Additionally, these findings support previous research indicating that regular physical activity positively affects HRQoL [34].

However, the analysis of factors affecting HRQoL by age revealed that these influencing factors varied across different age groups. For individuals in their 20s, only psychological health factors were found to impact HRQoL. In contrast, those in their 30s experienced influences from psychological health factors, physical activity, and a healthy eating habits. For individuals in their 40s, both psychological and physical health factors, along with physical activity, were significant influences. Meanwhile, adult workers in their 50s showed that psychological health factors and physical activity were the primary determinants of HRQoL. It is important to note that while several factors have been identified as influencing HRQoL, it may be misleading to assert that only a few are significant. A study focusing on individuals in their twenties indicated that they do not perceive the presence of chronic diseases as particularly important [35]. This age group, typically at the peak of their physical and mental development, often lacks awareness of the need for healthpromoting behaviors due to the absence of noticeable healththreatening symptoms [36]. Even in cases where individuals are in preclinical stages of chronic illness—such as pre-hypertension or pre-diabetes—they often fail to recognize the seriousness of these conditions and the importance of adopting healthy behaviors. Consequently, the presence of chronic disease or levels of physical activity may not significantly influence the HRQoL among individuals in their twenties. Nevertheless, continuous research using diverse methodologies is necessary to further explore this relationship. Importantly, HRQoL appears to vary by age group, highlighting the need to consider age-specific differences in influencing factors when developing strategies to enhance individual HRQoL.

It is also important to note that psychological health variables significantly impact the HRQoL. This study demonstrates that psychological health variables exert a substantial influence on the HRQoL of workers across various circumstances. As Larsson and his colleagues [37] noted, individuals in society can experience emotional loneliness; this underscores the importance of psychological health in modern society, where personalized networks are prevalent.

Just as a healthy population is crucial for a nation, a healthy workforce is essential for a company. Given the research [38] indicating that organizations prioritizing employee health and safety are better positioned to attract and retain top-performing talent, the findings of this study warrant discussion from a social perspective.

These findings highlight the need for organizational-level health strategies that move beyond physical health promotion to also address psychological well-being. For example, workplace wellness initiatives could incorporate regular mental health screenings, employee assistance programs, and stress management workshops to support workers’ psychological health. Such comprehensive programs not only enhance employees’ HRQoL but may also improve job satisfaction, productivity, and employee retention. Therefore, organizations should consider tailoring their wellness programs to address age- and role-specific psychological risk factors within their workforce.

This study identified that anxiety, a psychological factor, significantly impacts the HRQoL of adult workers. Additionally, the degree of chronic disease prevalence and physical activity, which were used as indicators of physical health, also exerted an influence. It was further observed that the factors affecting HRQoL vary by age.

Adult workers are key members of society in many respects, and their HRQoL plays a crucial role in fostering a healthy nation. Therefore, it is essential to develop targeted strategies for this demographic. In particular, strategies should be tailored to address the distinct factors affecting different age groups. Furthermore, given the strong influence of psychological health on HRQoL, it is imperative to explore and implement methods to enhance their psychological well-being.