[Association between health-related quality of life and selected indicators for 10- to 15-year-old girls in Berlin].
OBJECTIVE
The state of knowledge on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is incomplete. The influence of social and behavioural factors on HRQOL of 10- to 15-year-old girls was investigated.


METHODS
The Berlin School Children's Cohort (BSCOC-cross-sectional study 2006-2007) included 1 842 girls and their parents (n=1 683) in Berlin. Height and body weight were measured. A standardised questionnaire to capture the HRQOL of the girls (KINDL(®) questionnaire) and possible influencing factors was used. The association of the variables age, social situation, migration background, family situation, weight status, menarche status, eating behaviour and illness in the last weeks with the HRQOL and its partial scales were controlled for using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Variables which showed a statistically significant relationship with HRQOL were included as independent variables in a linear regression model with the outcome variable HRQOL to test their influence and quantify it.


RESULTS
In comparison to the KINDL reference values (KiGGS), the HRQOL values of the assessed girls are lower. Quality of life is unfavourably swayed by age, low social status, two-sided migration background, sickness in the last few weeks, little physical activity, unfavourable eating behaviour, overweight and obesity and when post-menarche. With the exception of migration background and menarche status, all results were confirmed in the multivariate model.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the linear regression model demonstrate a higher importance of body and behaviour-related factors and places and confirm the relevance of past prevention and health promotion in the named areas also for the HRQOL of the girls.
Bau
A-M
AM
Institut für Experimentelle Pädiatrische Endokrinologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin. anne-madeleine.bau@charite.de
Sannemann
J
J
Ernert
A
A
Babitsch
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors