Abstract
AimTo identify the factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among early elementary age children (5–6 years) from a general population sample.MethodsWe analyzed data of 4,202 children from the Generation R Study, a population-based cohort study in the Netherlands. Children's physical and psychosocial HRQOL were measured using the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form 28 (CHQ-PF28). Associations between socio-demographic characteristics (child age, sex, ethnic background, family situation, parental educational level, parental employment status, and net household income), health-related lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and screen time), health conditions (number of chronic conditions, emotional and behavioral problems, and family functioning) and children's physical and psychosocial HRQOL were assessed using multivariate regression analyses.ResultsMean child age was 6.0 years (SD: 0.43); 63.6% had a majority (Dutch) ethnic background. Children with a non-western ethnic background, and children of unemployed mothers had a lower physical HRQOL (all p < 0.05). Older children, boys, and children from single-parent or low educated families had a lower psychosocial HRQOL (all p < 0.05). Children from a low income household family, children having chronic conditions or emotional and behavioral problems, or from families with relatively high “pathological family functioning” reported both lower physical and psychosocial HRQOL (all p < 0.05).ConclusionIndicators of adverse socioeconomic and family circumstances and indicators of child health problems were associated with lower HRQOL. Public health initiatives to improve HRQOL of children should prioritize children from a low socioeconomic status or with less favorable health conditions from early age onwards.
Highlights
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a broad, multidimensional construct including disease states and the person’s physical, psychological, and social well-being [1]
The results showed that the following factors were associated with a higher physical and psychosocial summary score: two-parent household, higheducated fathers, employed mothers, a high income household, having physical activity more than 1 h per day, screen time < 2 h per day, and no chronic disease
Our findings showed that children with a low family socioeconomic status, as indicated by low maternal education level, maternal unemployment, and low income household have a relatively lower physical or psychosocial HRQOL score
Summary
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a broad, multidimensional construct including disease states and the person’s physical, psychological, and social well-being [1]. It is been increasingly used as an additional health outcome among children to assess their physical and social functioning, physical and mental health, and to evaluate the effect of both clinical and population-based interventions [2]. WendelVos et al [5] suggested that health-related lifestyle behavior (e.g., physical activity, smoking, etc.) is an important predictor of HRQOL in both children and adults. Identifying whether and how the factors from these multiple domains have an impact on children’s HRQOL is important to subgroups of children who are at risk of impaired HRQOL
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