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Disparities in health-related quality of life among healthy adolescents in a developing country - the impact of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status and weight status.
- Source :
- Child: Care, Health & Development; Nov2015, Vol. 41 Issue 6, p1216-1226, 11p, 6 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Background Physical functioning and psychological resilience in adulthood is shaped during adolescence. Self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessments during this life phase are important first-hand accounts of their well-being. This study aimed, firstly, to identify differences in HRQoL according to gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status and weight status; and secondly, to examine associations between weight status and HRQoL among an urban sample of multi-ethnic adolescents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 652 adolescents (aged 13 years) was conducted in Kuala Lumpur. Weight and height were measured. Body mass index z-scores were categorized according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. HRQoL was assessed using the Malay version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Univariate analyses of differences in HRQoL according to gender, ethnicity (Malays, Chinese and Indians), maternal education level and weight status were performed. Complex samples general linear model was used to examine the associations between HRQoL and weight status, adjusted for confounders. Results Female adolescents reported significantly lower emotional functioning scores (mean, 95% confidence interval: 59.25, 57.33-61.17).When the three main ethnic groups were studied, Malay adolescents scored significantly lower emotional functioning scores (59.00, 57.13-60.87) compared with their Chinese peers. Adolescents with tertiary-educated mothers reported lower emotional functioning scores (57.45, 53.85-61.06) compared with those with primary-educated mothers. Obese adolescents reported poorer HRQoL scores with significantly impaired physical and social functioning after controlling for confounders. Conclusions These findings detected disparities in HRQoL among the adolescents when gender, ethnicity, maternal education level and weight status were considered. Further studies should address these health inequalities by implementing gender-specific and culturally appropriate measures to attain optimal well-being and avoid potential burden of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- QUALITY of life
ANTHROPOMETRY
BODY weight
COMPARATIVE studies
CONFIDENCE intervals
EMOTIONS
ETHNIC groups
INTERVIEWING
MOTHERS
OBESITY
QUESTIONNAIRES
RACE
RESEARCH funding
STATISTICAL sampling
SELF-evaluation
SEX distribution
STATURE
ADOLESCENT health
CITY dwellers
SAMPLE size (Statistics)
SOCIOECONOMIC factors
EDUCATIONAL attainment
BODY mass index
CROSS-sectional method
DATA analysis software
STATISTICAL models
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
ODDS ratio
DEVELOPING countries
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03051862
- Volume :
- 41
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Child: Care, Health & Development
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 111382469
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12252