Abstract
Methods
Analyses were conducted using data on 17,159 children and adolescents aged 8–18 from 10 European countries (Germany, Spain,
France, Netherlands, Austria, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland) participating in the KIDSCREEN
Health Interview Survey. In the studied sample (N = 13,041), there were slightly more girls (52.6%) than boys (47.4%). Gender- and age-specific cut-offs of Cole et al. (BMJ
320:1240, 2000) were used to define overweight and obesity. The two groups were collapsed into one ‘overweight’ category.
HRQoL was assessed on 10 dimensions using the KIDSCREEN-52. Univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed for group
comparisons (normal weight vs. overweight). Partial eta squared (ηp2) was used as a measure of effect strength.
France, Netherlands, Austria, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland) participating in the KIDSCREEN
Health Interview Survey. In the studied sample (N = 13,041), there were slightly more girls (52.6%) than boys (47.4%). Gender- and age-specific cut-offs of Cole et al. (BMJ
320:1240, 2000) were used to define overweight and obesity. The two groups were collapsed into one ‘overweight’ category.
HRQoL was assessed on 10 dimensions using the KIDSCREEN-52. Univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed for group
comparisons (normal weight vs. overweight). Partial eta squared (ηp2) was used as a measure of effect strength.
Results
Overall, 14.2% (N = 1,849) of the sample was overweight, with prevalence rates ranging between 9.4% in France and 17.6% in Spain. Across all
countries, overweight children and adolescents had lower mean HRQoL scores than normal weight children and adolescents. The
strongest HRQoL impairments emerged on the physical well-being (ηp2 = 0.012) and self-perception dimensions (ηp2 = 0.021), both P < 0.001.
countries, overweight children and adolescents had lower mean HRQoL scores than normal weight children and adolescents. The
strongest HRQoL impairments emerged on the physical well-being (ηp2 = 0.012) and self-perception dimensions (ηp2 = 0.021), both P < 0.001.
Conclusions
This is one of the first studies comparing the impact of HRQoL at European level using a generic and internationally valid
HRQoL instrument, and the results show that, irrespective of national background, overweight children and adolescents are
significantly impaired on their HRQoL, in particular on the physical well-being and the self-perception domain.
HRQoL instrument, and the results show that, irrespective of national background, overweight children and adolescents are
significantly impaired on their HRQoL, in particular on the physical well-being and the self-perception domain.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11136-011-9922-7
- Authors
- Veronika Ottova, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Research Unit Child Public Health, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Michael Erhart, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Research Unit Child Public Health, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Luis Rajmil, Agency for Health Information, Assessment and Quality, Carrer de Roc Boronat, 81-95 (2na planta), 08005 Barcelona, Spain
- Lucia Dettenborn-Betz, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Research Unit Child Public Health, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Research Unit Child Public Health, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Journal Quality of Life Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2649
- Print ISSN 0962-9343