Health-Related Quality of Life and Frequency of Physical Activity in Spanish Students Aged 8–14

José I. Calzada-Rodríguez, Ángel M. Denche-Zamorano, Jorge Pérez-Gómez, María Mendoza-Muñoz, Jorge Carlos-Vivas, Sabina Barrios-Fernandez and José Carmelo Adsuar
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José I. Calzada-Rodríguez: Health, Economy, Motricity and Education (HEME) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Ángel M. Denche-Zamorano: Health, Economy, Motricity and Education (HEME) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Jorge Pérez-Gómez: Health, Economy, Motricity and Education (HEME) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
María Mendoza-Muñoz: Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Jorge Carlos-Vivas: Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Sabina Barrios-Fernandez: Social Impact and Innovation in Health (InHEALTH) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
José Carmelo Adsuar: Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: The study of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents has important implications in terms of policy, education, and health. Data on the time spent in physical activity (PA) and in sedentary activities in this population are worrying. We aim to analyze possible differences in HRQoL and PA levels between sexes and age groups in Spanish students aged between 8 and 14 years, as well as to assess the relationship between HRQoL and the frequency of PA in this population. A total of 3197 participants (1610 boys and 1587 girls) from 8 to 14 years old were recruited. Mquality and Mapping Child Health Utility instrument (Chu9d) were used as HRQoL indicators. A medium positive association between PA and HRQoL concerning the Spanish school population was found. HRQoL was higher among students aged 8 to 12 than 13 to 14. Moreover, when children start secondary education, both sexes seem to lose the quality of life. Similarly, PA decreases among girls over the years, although it seems to increase among boys. Thus, PA levels and HRQoL are directly associated in Spanish schoolchildren aged between 8 and 14 years. However, this HRQoL decreases in children over the years. Practical implications include the need to support education and physical activity programs to improve HRQoL in children and adolescents.

Keywords: physical activity; HRQoL; Spanish National Health Survey; school population; secondary education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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