Quality of Life of Adolescents Facing a Parental Illness: A Person-Oriented Approach

Abstract

Studies that have investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adolescents facing a parental illness showed inconsistent results, and none used a person-oriented approach allowing for a deeper understanding of their experience. The aim of this study was to compare the HRQoL of adolescents facing a parental illness to that of their peers, and to explore their HRQoL through a person-oriented approach. The sample consisted of 1324 adolescents recruited in secondary schools (11–15 years old). Adolescents completed questionnaires assessing sociodemographic characteristics, parental illness, HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-52), and academic performance and caring activities (MACA-YC18). Adolescents facing a parental illness showed significantly lower HRQoL than their peers on all dimensions. The cluster analysis yielded five patterns of HRQoL among adolescents facing a parental illness: Low HRQoL; High HRQoL; Moderate HRQoL with High Social Acceptance; High Well-Being, High Moods and Emotions, and High Social Support and Peers. These clusters differed according to demographics, the type of parental illness, illness perception, academic performance, and level of caring activities. The Low HRQoL cluster showed especially low academic performance and high level of caring activities. This multidimensional HRQoL evaluation thus helps to foreground the diversity of these adolescents’ experiences in order to better address their needs.

Adolescentes Que Experimentan Cáncer en Sus Padres: Un Estudio Cualitativo

“…Otras repercusiones que el CP tiene en los adolescentes son cambios en la vida escolar y en el ocio, que pueden repercutir en el rendimiento académico 2,12-13 , con un bajo rendimiento escolar, sumándose a la responsabilidad de ayudar a los padres y asumir las tareas del hogar 21 . Los participantes mostraron cambios en el rendimiento académico y la concentración, que se explican por la presión de tener un padre con cáncer 2 .…”

Adolescents Experiencing Parental Cancer: A Qualitative Study

“…Other repercussions that PC has on adolescents are changes in school life and leisure, which can have an impact on academic performance 2,[12][13] , with low school performance, adding to the responsibility of helping parents and taking on domestic tasks 21 . Participants showed changes in academic performance and concentration, which are explained by the pressure of having a parent with cancer 2 .…”

Adolescentes a Vivenciar O Cancro Parental: Um Estudo Qualitativo

“…Outras repercussões que o CP acarreta nos adolescentes são as alterações na vida escolar e no lazer, podendo repercutir-se na performance acadêmica 2,[12][13] , com baixo desempenho escolar, somando-se à responsabilidade de auxiliar o progenitor e assumir as tarefas domésticas 21 . Os participantes evidenciaram alterações no rendimento escolar e na concentração, que se justificam pela pressão de ter um pai com cancro 2 .…”