Subjective wellbeing, health, and health-related quality of life of Nenets adolescents living in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Considering further development of the Arctic, the issues of subjective wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and self-assessment of the health of indigenous youth of the circumpolar territories of our country need attention.
 AIM: To assess the subjective wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and the risk of health disorders among adolescents in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug representatives of the indigenous population.
 MATERIAL AND METHODS: The subjective social wellbeing of Nenets adolescents aged from 14 to 17 years (n=51) and studying at a boarding school in the Yamal District was measured. The comparison group (n=18) consisted mainly of Russian adolescents studying in the same country. The PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales Life self-report questionnaire was used to measure health-related quality. The methodology for measuring subjective attitude involved calculating the PRS index of Cummins with the addition of a block of questions corresponding to satisfaction corresponding to the level of the region; a method for quantitative risk assessment of general pathological syndromes for assessing the state of health.
 RESULTS: There were no statistically significant ethnic and gender differences in the SWB components among Nenets and Russian adolescents. The health-related quality of life of adolescents, regardless of ethnicity and gender, was characterized by high rates of physical and social functioning. Results of self-assessment indicated that Nenets adolescents, unlike Russians ones, were dominated by individuals with a minimal risk of health disorders. Among the Nenets, the values of the risk of arterial hypertension, functional disorders of the liver, and borderline mental disorders were higher in girls than in boys. More than a third of positive-minded Nenets teenagers had a high risk of health problems. This is likely to complicate the realization of aspirations in various areas of life and the preservation of good social wellbeing in the future unless preventive health measures are taken.
 CONCLUSION: Parameters of social wellbeing of indigenous adolescents, such as subjective wellbeing, and health-related quality of life, are at a high level, and self-assessment of health is at an average level.