title: [Living with achondroplasia- how do young persons with disproportional short stature rate their quality of life and which factors are associated with quality of life?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Presently, little is known aqout the quality of life (QoL) as well as the strengths and difficulties of young people with achondroplasia. This study describes these patient-reported indicators and identifies possible correlates.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the invitation of a patient organization, a total of 89 short-statured patients aged 8 to 28 years and their parents participated in this study. QoL was assessed cross-sectionally with both generic and disease-specific instruments and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as a brief behavioral screening. In addition to descriptive analyses, patient data were compared with a reference population. Hierarchical regression analyses reflecting sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables were conducted to identify correlates of QoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QoL and the strengths and difficulties of young patients with achondroplasia did not differ substantially from a healthy norm sample. However, the participants reported more behavioral problems and limitations in their physical and social QoL compared to patients with another short stature diagnosis. Strengths and difficulties, height-related beliefs, and social support correlated significantly with QoL. Adding psychological variables to the regression model increased the proportion of variance explained in QoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young persons with achondroplasia did not differ in their QoL and strengths and difficulties from healthy controls. Characteristics such as height appear less important for the self-perceived QoL than are strengths and difficulties and protective psychosocia~factors.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.
authors.forename: Anja C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rohenkohl
authors.affiliation: 1 Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.affiliation: 1 Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bestges
authors.affiliation: 2 Bundesverband Kleinwüchsige Menschen und ihre Familien e. V., Bremen.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahrs
authors.affiliation: 2 Bundesverband Kleinwüchsige Menschen und ihre Familien e. V., Bremen.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Klingebiel
authors.affiliation: 1 Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bullinger
authors.affiliation: 1 Institut und Poliklinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quitmann
mesh_terms: D000130:Achondroplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Kinder; Kleinwuchs; Lebensqualität; children; mental health; psychische Gesundheit; quality of life; short stature