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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research

Impact of recent life events on the health related quality of life of adolescents and youths: the role of gender and life events typologies in a follow-up study

Authors: Ester Villalonga-Olives, Sonia Rojas-Farreras, Gemma Vilagut, Jorge A Palacio-Vieira, José Maria Valderas, Michael Herdman, Montserrat Ferrer, Luís Rajmil, Jordi Alonso

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

Most studies on the effect of life events (LEs) have been carried out in convenience samples which cannot be considered representative of the general population. In addition, recent studies have observed that gender differences in the health related quality of life (HRQoL) impact of LEs might be lower than believed. We assessed the relationship between LEs and HRQoL in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents/youths, focusing on gender differences.

Methods

Participants (n = 840) completed the KIDSCREEN-27 to measure HRQoL at baseline and again after 3 years (n = 454). Follow-up assessment included the Coddington Life Events Scales (CLES) to measure LEs experiences in the previous 12 months. Respondents were categorized according to the amount of stress suffered. We calculated both the number of LEs and the Life Change Unit (LCU) score, a summary of the amount of stress inherent to the event and the time elapsed since occurrence. LEs were classified as desirable or undesirable, and family-related or extra-family. Effect sizes were calculated to evaluate changes in HRQoL. To assess the impact of LEs typologies, multiple linear regression models were constructed to evaluate their effect on HRQoL.

Results

Girls reported a mean 5.7 LEs corresponding to 141 LCUs, and boys 5.3 and 129, respectively. The largest impact of LEs on HRQoL was observed in the group of boys that reported to have lived more stress (third tertil of LCUs distribution). The linear association between LEs and HRQoL tended to be stronger among boys than girls, but the difference was not statistically significant. The effect on HRQoL was deemed important when undesirable events had been experienced. To have an important impact on HRQoL, 200 LCUs due to undesirable events were necessary in boys. In girls, slightly higher scores were necessary for a similar impact.

Conclusions

A moderate association was found between recent LEs and HRQoL, mainly among those who experienced several undesirable events that correspond to at least 200 LCUs. No gender differences were found in this association. Results may be useful for identifying adolescents with particular health risks, regardless of gender.
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Metadata
Title
Impact of recent life events on the health related quality of life of adolescents and youths: the role of gender and life events typologies in a follow-up study
Authors
Ester Villalonga-Olives
Sonia Rojas-Farreras
Gemma Vilagut
Jorge A Palacio-Vieira
José Maria Valderas
Michael Herdman
Montserrat Ferrer
Luís Rajmil
Jordi Alonso
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-8-71

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