title: Stability and predictors of health-related quality of life of inner-city girls.
abstract: Predictors of health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) among inner-city girls and its effect on health care use were evaluated. Adolescent girls aged 14 to 18 years (n = 127) completed a demographic and risk-behavior interview, the Kaufman Brief Intellectual Test, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Medical charts were reviewed for health care use. Two assessments were completed 6 months apart. Participants reported stable and poor HR-QOL compared with norms for similar aged females. HR-QOL was associated with some concurrent risk taking. Lower self-perceptions of mental health were associated with inconsistent condom use, smoking, and alcohol use; lower self-perceptions of physical health were associated with pregnancy and smoking. Predictive associations were not found. There was a trend for poorer physical health to be associated with more clinic visits. This study highlights the need for research aimed at both improving self-perceptions of health and decreasing high-risk behavior among inner-city girls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Center and University of Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA. cindy.gerhardt@chmcc.org
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Britto
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Biro
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health; D016387:Women's Health