HRQoL impact of stressful life events in children beginning primary school: results of a prospective study in Poland

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate the relationship between recent stressful life events (SLEs), stress-related symptoms (SRSs), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children beginning primary school.MethodsA community-based sample of 6- to 8-year-old children (176 boys and 175 girls at baseline) participated in a prospective longitudinal study with three waves of data collection and 1-year interval between subsequent surveys, conducted in the Wielkopolska Province, Poland. Main exposures included nine recent stressful life events and psychosomatic and behavioural symptoms related to stress (SRSs), both self-reported by children. The outcome was total HRQoL assessed by a Polish version of the PedsQL™ 4.0 (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) Generic Core Scales questionnaire, 5- to 7-year-old version. To evaluate the relationship between total HRQoL and predictor variables, a latent growth curve (LGC) model using multiple group design (boys and girls) with three waves and two time-varying covariates, the SLEs and SRSs, was applied.ResultsAn unconditional multi-group LGC model revealed that the total HRQoL changed over time in a linear trajectory. After incorporating to the model, two time-varying covariates, SLEs and SRSs, the first predictor for HRQoL was only significant at the last wave in girls and at two subsequent waves, except for baseline, in boys. The second predictor revealed significant negative impacts on HRQoL over the entire period of time in both boys and girls suggesting that the pathway underlying the association of SLEs with HRQoL may be mediated by SRSs. Mean values of HRQoL at each time points did not show gender differences.ConclusionsThe findings of the present study may help to develop and implement a health and safety protection training programmes addressed to parents, caregivers, and practitioners to make children’s lives easier.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Relationship Between Stressful Life Events and Quality of Life in Adolescents

“…The allostatic load model [16] can explain how cumulative stress negatively impact the body as multiple physiological systems are strained over time caused by repeated mobilizations in response to stress exposure [17,18]. More frequent and persistent exposures accelerate this impact, regardless of what specific events occur [8]. However, this has primarily been examined in young adolescents [6,8,19].…”

“…More frequent and persistent exposures accelerate this impact, regardless of what specific events occur [8]. However, this has primarily been examined in young adolescents [6,8,19]. Although FRSLEs are linked to reduced health when examined concurrently in preadolescence [6], it is unknown whether this relationship persists through adolescence and whether exposure earlier is associated with negative health outcomes later in adolescence.…”

“…HRQOL complements traditional health information, such as prevalence of disease, because it provides the perspectives of adolescents' own experience [21]. Youths who experience low HRQOL are unlikely to catchup over time [8]. The effects on HRQOL may be exacerbated as adolescents develop and experience more FRSLEs over time.…”

Screening for adverse childhood experiences within paediatric patients in Rzeszów, Poland

“…Collectively, research has shown the correlation of ACEs with health outcomes within Eastern Europe and Poland; however, current studies of ACEs in Poland consist of retrospective ACE screening of adults. One prospective longitudinal study of 6-8-year-old children in Poland (N = 291) revealed an association between recent stressful lifeful events, symptoms related to stress, and negative impacts on a health-related quality of life survey [5]. While this further supports the importance of stressful events on paediatric health, this study focused on recent stressful events and shorter health quality outcomes.…”

The adaptation process and preliminary psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of Kiddo-KINDL questionnaire

“…The lack of Polish language versions of HRQoL questionnaires addressed to children and adolescents, with good psychometric characteristics is even more distinct. Since there is a growing number of studies on health-related quality of life in Polish children (e.g., Dyga-Konarska and Bieganowska 2004;Bączyk 2008;Magiera et al 2017;Mathiak et al 2007;Kaczmarek and Trambacz 2016;Brzycki et al 2019), it is very important to increase availability of Polish versions of questionnaires suitable for measuring children's and youths' HRQoL in general population and patients as well.…”