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European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 1/2008

01-12-2008 | ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION

Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents in Germany: results of the BELLA study

Authors: Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, MPH, Dr. Michael Erhart, Dipl.-Psych. Nora Wille, MPH, Prof. Dr. Monika Bullinger, the BELLA study group

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Special Issue 1/2008

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Abstract

Background

The self-perceived health or health-related quality of life of children and adolescents is increasingly recognised as a relevant outcome in medical practice and public health research. Identifying children and adolescents with particularly low health-related quality of life allows for an early detection of hidden morbidity and health care needs.

Objectives

The present study investigates health-related quality of life in children and adolescents in Germany.

Methods

In the Mental Health Module (BELLA study) of the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS), the parents of 2,863 children and adolescents aged 7–17 years, and 1,700 children and adolescents aged 11–17 years completed the KINDL-R quality of life questionnaire.

Results

The reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.86) and validity of the measurements using the parent-reported KINDL-R were confirmed. Means and percentiles were calculated for the total sample as well as for strata defined by age, sex, geographical region (east/west), migration status and socioeconomic status. Expected differences in health-related quality of life of children and adolescents from different social backgrounds and with different health statuses were demonstrated by differences in the KINDL-R scores (effect size d up to 1.29).

Conclusion

This study provides representative, normative data (self-report and parent-report) on the test scores of health-related quality of life (KINDL-R) for the population of children and adolescents in Germany in general, as well as in sociodemographic and socioeconomic subpopulations.
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Metadata
Title
Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents in Germany: results of the BELLA study
Authors
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, MPH
Dr. Michael Erhart
Dipl.-Psych. Nora Wille, MPH
Prof. Dr. Monika Bullinger
the BELLA study group
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue Special Issue 1/2008
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-008-1016-x

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