Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in urban disadvantaged children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to ascertain, for families exposed to high levels of urban disadvantage, the nature and extent of the relationship between children’s Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and their Body Mass Index (BMI), depressive symptoms and the mental health status of their parents. Within the context of a prospective longitudinal cohort design over two time points (i.e. year one and two), the objectives of this study were to test the following: (1) if BMI, depressive symptoms and parent’s mental health have a direct effect on HRQoL and if they predict HRQoL a year later; (2) if the negative effect these have on HRQoL is intensified by being older and female and having a depressed parent or reduced by having parents with strong perceived social support; and (3) if BMI indirectly effects HRQoL through body image perception and depressive symptoms, if parental mental health indirectly effects HRQoL through parenting self-efficacy and children’s depressive symptoms, and if this only occurs for older children and females. Across seven schools, 255 children aged 7 to 12 years (50% male) and one of their parents/guardians (N = 219) were recruited. This study was located within a larger project evaluating the impact and implementation of a Health Promoting School (HPS) initiative over three time points (baseline, year one and year two), but which to date has had no effect on children’s health outcomes.