title: Health-related quality of life of Estonian adolescents: reliability and validity of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales in Estonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™ 4.0) Generic Core Scales among Estonian adolescents. Gender differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were also investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 654 adolescents (309 boys and 345 girls) aged 13-14 years (M age = 13.57 years, SD = 0.62) completed Estonian version of the PedsQL™ 4.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of the confirmatory factor analysis for a five-factor model of the Estonian version of PedsQL™ 4.0 approached the criteria of acceptable fit after setting error covariance to be free between some of the items within physical health, emotional functioning and social functioning subscales. Cronbach's alpha coefficients exceeded the minimum criterion of 0.70 for all subscales except for days missed from school because of illness subscale. With regard to gender differences, consistent with previous studies, girls reported lower level on total score of HRQoL as well as its aspects of physical health, emotional functioning and psychosocial health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed that after some modifications, the PedsQL™ 4.0 could be considered as suitable instrument to measure HRQoL among Estonian adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Pedagogy and Coaching Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. roomet.viira@ut.ee
authors.forename: Roomet
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viira
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires