Abstract
BackgroundThe objective of the study was to assess the effect of changes in mental health status on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents aged 8 - 18 years.MethodsA representative sample of Spanish children and adolescents aged 8-18 years completed the self-administered KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire at baseline and after 3 years. Mental health status was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Changes on SDQ scores over time were used to classify respondents in one of 3 categories (improved, stable, worsened). Data was also collected on gender, undesirable life events, and family socio-economic status. Changes in HRQOL were evaluated using effect sizes (ES). A multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of poor HRQOL at follow-up.ResultsResponse rate at follow-up was 54% (n = 454). HRQOL deteriorated in all groups on most KIDSCREEN dimensions. Respondents who worsened on the SDQ showed the greatest deterioration, particularly on Psychological well-being (ES = -0.81). Factors most strongly associated with a decrease in HRQOL scores were undesirable life events and worsening SDQ score.ConclusionsChanges in mental health status affect children and adolescents' HRQOL. Improvements in mental health status protect against poorer HRQOL while a worsening in mental health status is a risk factor for poorer HRQOL.
Highlights
The objective of the study was to assess the effect of changes in mental health status on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents aged 8 - 18 years
In comparison with cross-sectional studies, longitudinal studies help to provide a clearer picture of the direction and magnitude of change in HRQOL, to identify factors associated with change over time, to identify vulnerable populations or dimensions in which changes are most marked, and to confirm the results of cross-sectional studies
HRQOL deteriorated over time in all 3 categories and on almost all of the KIDSCREEN-52 dimensions and the index
Summary
The objective of the study was to assess the effect of changes in mental health status on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents aged 8 - 18 years. Mental health status has been shown to be significantly correlated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in both adult [1] and pediatric [2] populations. Determining the association between changes in mental health status and changes in HRQOL is important because it allows us to examine the extent to which improvements in psychopathology correspond to improvements in quality of life and, to investigate the effect of a deterioration or persistence of mental problems in terms of their impact on burden of disease
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