Early childhood factors influencing health-related quality of life in adolescents at 13 years.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the relationship of health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) to early life experience.


METHODS
Eight thousand five hundred and fifty-six women enrolled in a prospective study at their first antenatal clinic visit. At 13 years, of 5345 women remaining, a consecutive sample of 901 mother/child pairs provided data on adolescent HR-QOL using the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Report form (CHQ-PF50) and the Dartmouth COOP Functional Assessment Charts for Adolescents. The CHQ-PF50 yielded physical (PHS) and psychosocial (PSS) summary scores. We examined the relationship between health-related QOL and early childhood predictive variables.


RESULTS
PHS was related to gestation, maternal health symptoms in pregnancy, maternal anxiety at 6 months, child health and hours of childcare at 5 years (P < 0.05). PSS was related to maternal age at index visit, maternal attitude to pregnancy, maternal satisfaction with care giving and maternal depression at 6 months, and child health and behaviour problems at 5 years (internalizing and social/attentional/thought (SAT) domains) (P < 0.05). Findings from adolescent self-reports were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has identified a number of early childhood determinants of adolescent HR-QOL. These findings add to evidence of the effects of early adversity on the developmental pathways of children and support the need for effective early intervention.
Wilkins
A J
AJ
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Victoria, Australia. Amanda.Wilkins@health.w.a.gov.au
O'Callaghan
M J
MJ
Najman
J M
JM
Bor
W
W
Williams
G M
GM
Shuttlewood
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires