Socio-economic differentials in the health-related quality of life of Australian children: results of a national study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children living in different socio-economic contexts in Australia.


METHODS
Parental reports describing the HRQL and socio-economic status of a random national sample of 3,597 school-age children were obtained using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) and a standardised socio-economic interview. Response rate was 70%.


RESULTS
Children in families of higher income, whose parents had more years of schooling and were employed and children who lived in two-parent, original families had significantly higher HRQL across a range of domains assessed by the CHQ.


CONCLUSIONS
Children from lower socio-economic backgrounds in Australia have a significantly more negative experience of health and wellness. Such differences may well increase unless deliberate political attention is given to addressing the widening differences in relative wealth in Australia.
Spurrier
Nicola J
NJ
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042. nicola.spurrier@flinders.edu.au
Sawyer
Michael G
MG
Clark
Jennifer J
JJ
Baghurst
Peter
P
D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires