Determinants of health-related quality of life in school-aged children: A general population study in the Netherlands

Background: Health related quality of life is the functional effect of a medical condition and/or its therapy upon a patient, and as such is particularly suitable for describing the general health of children. The objective of this study was to identify and confirm potential determinants of health-related quality of life in children aged 4-11 years in the general population in the Netherlands. Understanding such determinants may provide insights into more targeted public health policy. Methods: As part of a population based cross sectional study, the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) Parental Form 28 was used to measure health-related quality of life in school-aged children in a general population sample. Parents of 10,651 children aged 4-11 years were interviewed from January 2001 to December 2009. Results: Multivariate and regression analyses demonstrated a declined CHQ Physical Summary score for children who had >1 conditions, disorders or acute health complaints and who were greater consumers of healthcare; children with a non-western immigrant background; and children whose parents did not work. Lower CHQ Psychosocial Summary score was reported for children who had >1 conditions, disorders or acute health complaints, boys, children of single parents and obese children. Conclusion: The best predictors of health-related quality of life are variables that describe use of health care and the number of disorders and health complaints. Nonetheless, a number of demographic, socio-economic and family/environmental determinants contribute to a child's health-related quality of life as well

Correction: Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in School-Aged Children: A General Population Study in the Netherlands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125083.]

CHQ-PF28 scales, number of items per scale, and score interpretation.

<p>a. From the CHQ manual [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0125083#pone.0125083.ref002" target="_blank">2</a>]. Reproduced with permission from JM Landgraf.</p><p><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0125083#t001fn001" target="_blank">^a</a></p

General characteristics of study population (n = 5301).

<p>General characteristics of study population (n = 5301).</p

Difference in scale scores and summary scale scores between children with one of five common childhood conditions/disorders and children without reported chronic condition by General Linear Models when multiple conditions were excluded (n = 5301).

<p>Difference in scale scores and summary scale scores between children with one of five common childhood conditions/disorders and children without reported chronic condition by General Linear Models when multiple conditions were excluded (n = 5301).</p

Associations of sport participation with selfperception, exercise self-efficacy and quality of life among children and adolescents with a physical disability or chronic disease—a cross-sectional study.

Background: Little evidence is available about how sports participation influences psychosocial health and quality of life in children and adolescents with a disability or chronic disease. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to assess the association of sports participation with psychosocial health and with quality of life, among children and adolescents with a disability. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 195 children and adolescents with physical disabilities or chronic diseases (11% cardiovascular, 5% pulmonary, 8% metabolic, 8% musculoskeletal/orthopaedic, 52% neuromuscular and 9% immunological diseases and 1% with cancer), aged 10–19 years, completed questionnaires to assess sports participation, health-related quality of life (DCGM-37), self-perceptions and global self-worth (SPPC or SPPA) and exercise self-efficacy. Results: Regression analyses showed that those who reported to participate in sports at least twice a week had more beneficial scores on the various indicators compared to their peers who did not participate in sport or less than twice a week. Those participating in sports scored better on all scales of the DCGM-37 scale, on the scales for feelings of athletic competence and children but not adolescents participating in sports reported greater social acceptance. Finally, we found a strong association between sport participation and exercise self-efficacy. Conclusions: This study provides the first indications that participating in sports is beneficial for psychosocial health among children and adolescents with a disability. However, more insight is needed in the direction of the relationships. (aut. ref.