Determinants of quality of life in children with psychiatric disorders

Abstract

Objective: To assess factors that, in addition to childhood psychopathology, are associated with Quality of Life (QoL) in children with psychiatric problems. Methods: In a referred sample of 252 8 to 18-year-olds, information concerning QoL, psychopathology and a broad range of child, parent, and family/ social network factors was obtained from children, parents, teachers and clinicians. Results: Poor child, parent, and clinician reported QoL was associated with child psychopathology, but given the presence of psychopathology, also with child factors, such as low self-esteem, and poor social skills, and family/social network factors, such as poor family functioning, and poor social support. In multiple linear regression analyses the importance of parent factors, such as parenting stress, was almost negligible. Conclusion: To increase QoL of children with psychiatric problems, treatment of symptoms is important, but outcome might improve if treatment is also focussed on other factors that may affect QoL. Results are discussed in relation to current treatment programs.

Disease severity, mental health, and quality of life of children and adolescents with asthma

“…This result could be expected because internalizing symptoms are related to an impairment of psychological well-being and quality of life. 32 A correlation between internalizing symptoms and impairment of quality of life was also found by Sawyer et al 25 in a sample of children and adolescents with mental disorders. Considering the effects of asthma severity on quality of life, previous findings have been inconsistent.…”

“…Besides psychopathology, other factors have been found to impair quality of life, such as social skills or recent stressful life events that were not included in this study. 32 Further studies should also consider these aspects. The need for support was judged by caregivers on a unidimensional scale.…”

Psychopathology in children: Improvement of quality of life without psychiatric symptom reduction?

“…Other factors which were not measured in the present study might influence the course of a child's QoL. In another study [4], we investigated the association between QoL and child, parent, and family/social network factors and found that several of these factors, especially child and family/social network factors, were associated with QoL. It might be these factors that need to be addressed in QoL specific interventions.…”

Social Inequalities in Mental Health and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children in Spain

“…In the pediatric age, at a time when chronic disease is less prevalent than later in life, systematic use of this measure in communitybased studies can enable recognition of neglected groups who may be disadvantaged from the perspective of health and social care. [21][22][23][24][25] Children from disadvantaged social groups generally achieve poorer scores regarding both mental health and HRQoL.…”