Predictors of health‐related quality of life in a sample of children and adolescents: a school survey

Kristin Haraldstad, Knut‐Andreas Christophersen, Hilde Eide, Gerd K Nativg and Sølvi Helseth

Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2011, vol. 20, issue 21‐22, 3048-3056

Abstract: Aim. The aim is to study the health‐related quality of life in a school sample of children and adolescents aged 8–18 years and to examine the relationship between health‐related quality of life and the following variables; age, gender, perceived pain, body image, body mass index and bullying. Background. The study of health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents have received little attention compared with adults in health care research and still little is known about the associations between health‐related quality of life and other variables. Design. A cross‐sectional design was chosen. Method. We measured the health‐related quality of life using the generic questionnaire KIDSCREEN‐10. We administered the KIDSCREEN 52‐item, and the 10 items were selected from this according to the KIDSCREEN manual. Multilevel regression models were used to evaluate the associations between health‐related quality of life and the independent variables. Results. The sample included 1066 children and adolescents, 576 girls and 490 boys, with a response rate of 74%. The results show that body mass index was not significant associated with health‐related quality of life in full model. However, in addition to age, being bullied, pain and body image were significant associated with health‐related quality of life. Of these predictors, body image has the strongest impact in terms of explained variance in health‐related quality of life. Conclusion. The subjective sense of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with one’s body, perceived body image, is a powerful predictor of health‐related quality of life. Relevance to clinical practice. Knowledge about predictors of health‐related quality of life is especially important for public health nurses. Health promotion and intervention programmes that aim to strengthen psychosocial well‐being, especially those that strengthen body image, should be developed for both genders.

Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:20:y:2011:i:21-22:p:3048-3056

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