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Gepubliceerd in: Quality of Life Research 9/2009

01-11-2009

Age and gender differences in health-related quality of life of children and adolescents in Europe: a multilevel analysis

Auteurs: Gisela Michel, Corinna Bisegger, Daniela C. Fuhr, Thomas Abel, The KIDSCREEN group

Gepubliceerd in: Quality of Life Research | Uitgave 9/2009

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Abstract

Objectives

To determine age and gender differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents across 12 European countries using a newly developed HRQOL measure (KIDSCREEN).

Methods

The KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire was filled in by 21,590 children and adolescents aged 8–18 from 12 countries. We used multilevel regression analyses to model the hierarchical structure of the data. In addition, effect sizes were computed to test for gender differences within each age group.

Results

Children generally showed better HRQOL than adolescents (P < 0.001). While boys and girls had similar HRQOL at young age, girls’ HRQOL declined more than boys’ (P < 0.001) with increasing age, depending on the HRQOL scale. There was significant variation between countries both at the youngest age and for age trajectories.

Conclusions

For the first time, gender and age differences in children’s and adolescents’ HRQOL across Europe were assessed using a comprehensive and standardised instrument. Gender and age differences exist for most HRQOL scales. Differences in HRQOL across Europe point to the importance of national contexts for youth’s well-being.
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Metagegevens
Titel
Age and gender differences in health-related quality of life of children and adolescents in Europe: a multilevel analysis
Auteurs
Gisela Michel
Corinna Bisegger
Daniela C. Fuhr
Thomas Abel
The KIDSCREEN group
Publicatiedatum
01-11-2009
Uitgeverij
Springer Netherlands
Gepubliceerd in
Quality of Life Research / Uitgave 9/2009
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9538-3

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