Psychological and Quality of Life Outcomes in Pediatric Populations: A Parent-Child Perspective

Abstract

Children with chronic conditions, particularly epilepsy and obesity, are at increased risk for maladjustment. A routine assessment of QoL and psychological functioning should be performed in these children to better understand how specific conditions affect the lives of children with chronic conditions and their families. Family-oriented pediatrics should be considered, particularly in the treatment of obesity.

Do Clinical And Psychosocial Factors Affect Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents with Chronic Diseases?

“…Thus, these results support the suggestions in the literature emphasizing more the importance to focus on the disease's impact on psychosocial dimensions, and less on the diagnostic categories/physical dimensions (Denny et al, 2014;Mackner et al, 2012;van der Lee et al, 2007). In addition, the results underline previous research recommendations, namely the need to include psychosocial factors in complement of health indicators (Health, 2013;Watson, 2014), and the relevance of routinely conduct its assessment in clinical and pediatric settings (Mellion et al, 2014;Moreira et al, 2013;Williams et al, 2013). However, it may be suggested somehow a relationship between SR, the educational level of parents and the clinical variables (that need to be studied with more detail), considering that this psychosocial variable was no longer significant in the step 1 of Model 1 and in step 2 of both Model 1 and Model 2.…”

“…In addition, it also underlines previous research recommendations, proposing that in the specific period of adolescence Carona, Silva, & Moreira, 2015), it is crucial to include psychosocial dimensions in complement of traditional health indicators (Health, 2013;Watson, 2014, Pulkki-Råback et al, 2015Varni et al, 2007) and to routinely conduct its assessment in clinical and pediatric settings (Mellion et al, 2014;Moreira et al, 2013). Furthermore, to identify the impaired psychosocial domains, can give potentially useful suggestions, that better help to plan and guide interventions aiming to improve an integral perspective that represents the holistic care for these adolescents (Alba et al, 2013;Elsenbruch et al, 2013;Mazur & Małkowska-Szkutnik, 2010;Marmot et al, 2012).…”

“…However, living with chronic disease in adolescence still have a significant high risk for poor Quality of Life (QoL) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (Alba et al, 2013;Elsenbruch, Schmid, Lutz, Geers, & Schara, 2013;Mellion et al, 2014), particularly in psychological functioning (Moreira et al, 2013;Santos, Matos, Simões, & Machado, 2015;Williams, Sharpe, & Mullan, 2013) and social dimensions (Carona, Moreira, Silva, Crespo, & Canavarro, 2014;Compas, Jaser, Dunn, & Rodriguez, 2012). HRQoL is generally conceptualized as a multidimensional psychological construct including physical, mental, social and spiritual areas of life and general well-being (Eiser & Morse, 2001;Ravens-Sieberer et al, 2001;2005).…”

“…Wang, Y. Wang, L. B. Wang, Xu, & Zhang, 2012;Zashikhina & Hagloff, 2014), severity of the disease (Mellion et al, 2014;Vanhalst et al, 2013;Zashikhina & Hagloff, 2014), school absence (Cortina et al, 2010;Haverman et al, 2012) and illness perception (Williams et al, 2013). In addition, non-disease factors were also considered determinants for HRQoL, namely anxiety/depression (Velasco, Martín, Díez, Pérez, & Amigo, 2012), gender (Williams et al, 2013;Zashikhina & Hagloff, 2014), age (Alba et al, 2013;Moreira et al, 2013;Zashikhina & Hagloff, 2014), socioeconomic status (Herzer et al, 2011;Zashikhina & Hagloff, 2014), quality of peer relationship (Rassart et al, 2012), social interaction/social support (Carona et al, 2014;Elsenbruch et al, 2013;Vanhalst et al, 2013) and parents' support (Békési et al, 2011;Williams et al, 2013). …”

“…As a result, chronic disease's assessment should be less focused on diagnostic categories (more prone to variability), and more centered on the impact that the disease might have on the socialization process, emotional health, and general limitations in ordinary activities (Denny et al, 2014;van der Lee, Mokkink, Grootenhuis, Heymans, & Offringa et al, 2007). Supporting this idea, clinical settings have been progressively recognizing the need to complement traditional health indicators with psychosocial factors (Health, 2013;Watson, 2014), which requires a routinely assessment in pediatric contexts (Mellion et al, 2014;Moreira et al, 2013). Moreover, to include such factors in clinical decision making and research is necessary, mainly once to manage symptons and to improve psychosocial care are nowadays primary goals of interventions (Elsenbruch et al, 2013;Health, 2003;Marmot et al, 2012;Pulkki-Råback et al, 2015;Watson, 2014).…”