Biological maturation as a confounding factor in the relation between chronological age and health-related quality of life in adolescent females.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the potential confounding effect of biological maturation on the relations between chronological age and health-related quality of life in adolescent British females.


METHODS
Biological maturation, chronological age, and health-related quality of life were assessed in 366 British female students in years 7-10 (M = 13.0 years, SD = 0.8). The Kid-Screen 10 was used to assess health-related quality of life. Percentage of predicted adult height attained at measurement was used as an estimate of biological maturation.


RESULTS
Pearson product moment correlation demonstrated a statistically significant inverse relation between chronological age and health-related quality of life. This relation was, however, attenuated and non-significant once biological maturation was controlled for.


CONCLUSIONS
Researchers studying health-related quality of life in youth should consider and/or control for the potential confounding effect of biological maturation.
Cumming
Sean P
SP
University of Bath, Bath, UK. s.cumming@bath.ac.uk
Gillison
Fiona B
FB
Sherar
Lauren B
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation