Utility-based quality of life in mothers of children with behaviour problems: A population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between mothers' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and child behaviour problems at age 2 years. To investigate whether the relationship between maternal HRQoL and child behaviour problems is independent of maternal mental health.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey nested within a population-level, cluster randomised trial, which aims to prevent early child behaviour problems. One hundred and sixty mothers of 2-year-old children, in nine local government areas in Victoria, Australia. HRQoL was measured using the Assessment of Quality of Life 6D and child behaviour was measured using the child behaviour checklist (CBCL/1.5-5 years). Maternal mental health was measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Data were collected at child age 2 years; demographic data were collected at child age 8 months.


RESULTS
HRQoL was lower for mothers with children that had borderline/clinical behaviour problems compared to those with children without problems (mean difference -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.16 to -0.12, P < 0.001). The finding did not markedly change when adjusting for household income, financial security, child gender, child temperament and intervention group status at child age 8 months (mean difference -0.12, 95% CI: -0.15 to -0.09, P < 0.001), but did attenuate when additionally adjusting for concurrent maternal mental health (mean difference -0.03, 95% CI: -0.05 to -0.02, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Child behaviour problems were associated with lower maternal HRQoL. Child behaviour problems prevention programmes could consider this association with maternal HRQoL and be designed to improve and report both mothers' and their child's health and wellbeing.
Deakin Health Economics, Population Health SRC, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.|Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Ha Nd
HN
Le
Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Alisha
A
Gulenc
Deakin Health Economics, Population Health SRC, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.|Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Lisa
L
Gold
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Social Paediatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Anna
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6594-2291
A
Sarkadi
NIHR CLAHRC South West Peninsula (PenCLAHRC), University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom.
Obioha C
OC
Ukoumunne
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|School of Psychological Science, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Jordana
J
Bayer
Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Melissa
M
Wake
Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Harriet
H
Hiscock
D002653:Child Behavior Disorders; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D014739:Victoria
behaviour problems; children; health-related quality of life; mental health