Anxiety, Depression, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Quechua-Speaking Individuals in Peru: The Moderating Role of Gender and Age

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between anxiety/depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a Quechua-speaking population in Peru, as well as the moderating role of gender and age. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was employed, including 198 participants who completed the PHQ-4 and the SF-8. RESULTS: The results showed significant inverse correlations between anxiety/depression and physical health (r = -.66) and mental health (r = -.45). Regression models explained 55.5% of the variance in physical health (R² = .555) and 27.6% in mental health (R² = .276). Moderation analyses confirmed that neither gender (p > .05) nor age (p > .05) significantly modified these relationships, indicating a consistent impact of emotional distress across groups. CONCLUSIONS: In Quechua-speaking contexts in Peru, anxiety and depression exert a homogeneous effect on HRQoL, regardless of individuals' gender and age.