Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents

Health‐Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in children and adolescents refers to their subjective evaluation of physical, psychological and social functioning within the context of health and development. This period of life is marked by rapid biological growth, cognitive maturation and shifting family and peer relationships, all of which influence perceptions of wellbeing. Research conceptualises HRQoL through domains such as physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, autonomy and parent relations, social support and peers, and school environment. Standardised instruments, notably the KIDSCREEN measures, enable cross‐cultural and longitudinal assessment of these domains. Determinants range from sociodemographic factors (age, gender, socioeconomic position and migration background) to individual psychological resources (self‐efficacy, resilience) and environmental influences (family climate, peer networks and educational settings). Longitudinal studies demonstrate that early mental health problems can presage later reductions in HRQoL, while protective factors like self‐esteem and social support buffer adverse trajectories. Global health policy has increasingly recognised the importance of routine HRQoL monitoring to guide prevention strategies, inform clinical interventions and allocate resources effectively. Advances in psychometric theory and analytical techniques continue to deepen our understanding of how these interacting influences evolve across childhood and adolescence.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have applied network‐based methods to elucidate the interrelations among HRQoL dimensions and mental wellbeing in adolescent populations. A network model tree analysis of HRQoL data collected via the KIDSCREEN-27 in Slovenian schools revealed significant age and gender splits: correlations between mood and mental wellbeing were weaker among children under 12, and the link between family support and mood diminished at age 12 for girls and at age 16 for boys. This innovative approach underscores the value of data-driven subgroup identification and highlights developmental windows at which targeted psycho-educational interventions may be most effective.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in health-related quality of life in children and adolescents across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL): A multidimensional construct encompassing physical, psychological and social functioning as perceived by individuals within health contexts.

KIDSCREEN-27: A validated self-report questionnaire for children and adolescents measuring five HRQoL domains: physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, autonomy and parent relations, social support and peers, and school environment.

Network Model Tree Analysis: An analytical method that uses decision tree logic to detect subgroups in which the network structure (interrelations among variables) differs, facilitating the identification of developmental or demographic splits.

Self-Efficacy: An individual’s belief in their capability to organise and execute the actions required to manage prospective situations, affecting coping and health outcomes.

Longitudinal Cohort Study: A research design in which a group of participants is followed over time to observe changes in outcomes and identify predictors, such as trajectories of HRQoL across developmental stages.

References

1. Age, quality of life and mental well-being in adolescent population: a network model tree analysis. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Health-related quality of life of children from low-income families: the new patterns study. BMC Public Health (2023).
3. Risk and protective factors of health-related quality of life in children and adolescents: Results of the longitudinal BELLA study. PLOS ONE (2017).
4. The European KIDSCREEN approach to measure quality of life and well-being in children: development, current application, and future advances. Quality of Life Research (2013).