Abstract
BackgroundMinority groups have a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but there is little information if this finding also applies to children. In this study, we compared HRQOL between young children with and without migrant parents.MethodsTwo cross-sectional studies of culturally diverse preschool populations in Switzerland: Ballabeina (40 preschools, 258 girls and 232 boys aged 4 to 6 years) and Youp’là Bouge (58 child care centers, 453 girls and 522 boys aged 2 to 4 years). Most children were born in Switzerland (Ballabeina: 92.3%; Youp’là Bouge: 93.7%). Number of migrant parents was considered as the main exposure. HRQOL was measured using the 23-item Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory.ResultsChildren of migrant parents had a significantly lower HRQOL total score (mean ± SD, Ballabeina: 84.2 ± 9.1; 82.7 ± 9.6 and 81.7 ± 11.7 for children with none, one or two migrant parents, respectively; Youp’là Bouge: 83.8 ± 8.6; 82.9 ± 9.5; 80.7 ± 11.7, all p < 0.05). Similar results were found in Ballabeina and Youp’là Bouge for social, school and physical functioning (all p < 0.05), but not for emotional functioning. The differences in HRQOL measures were partly mediated by children’s place of birth, parental education, paternal occupational level, children’s BMI, screen time and physical activity in one study (Ballabeina), but not in the other (Youp’là Bouge).ConclusionIn preschoolers, children of migrant parents have lower HRQOL than children of non-migrant parents. These differences are only partly mediated by other sociocultural characteristics or lifestyle behavior. These families may need assistance to prevent further inequalities.
Highlights
Minority groups have a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but there is little information if this finding applies to children
The association of parental migrant status with HRQOL was tested in the subgroup of children who did not speak a foreign language at home or who had no parents with low educational level
This study shows that preschool children with migrant parents present reduced HRQOL levels compared to preschool children for which both parents are Swiss
Summary
Minority groups have a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but there is little information if this finding applies to children. We compared HRQOL between young children with and without migrant parents. In the US, minority groups have been found to have a lower quality of life [5,6], but there is little data extending these findings to schoolchildren and adolescents [7,8]. To the best of our knowledge, only one study conducted in Spain addressed HRQOL in migrant adolescents. It is possible that parental migrant status might influence children’s well-being. This may be mediated through differences in lifestyle behaviors of the children, the socioeconomic situation of the family, access to health care or cultural and language gaps [15]. We are not aware of any study investigating the impact of parental migration on HRQOL in children
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
