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The health-related quality of life of children and adolescents in home-based foster care

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Abstract

Objective

To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of 326 children and adolescents aged 6–17 years living in home-based foster care in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia with the HRQL of a random sample of 3,582 children aged 6–17 years living in the community in Australia.

Method

In both groups, HRQL was assessed using the 50-item version of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) completed by caregivers/parents, and the 87-item self-report version of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-CF87) completed by 13–17 year olds.

Results

Young people in home-based foster care had significantly poorer HRQL in a wide range of different domains than those in the general community. Furthermore, among children in home-based foster care, those with mental health problems had significantly poorer HRQL in many domains than those without mental health problems. Demographic and placement characteristics of the children in home-based foster care were not significantly associated with differences in HRQL.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the importance of providing services and resources to improve the quality of life of children living in home-based foster care.

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Abbreviations

HRQL:

Health-Related Quality of Life

CHQ:

Child Health Questionnaire

CBCL:

Child Behavior Checklist

YSR:

Youth Self-Report

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. The authors wish to thank Jenny Clark, and staff at Families SA for their help conducting the study, and Associate Professor Peter Baghurst for his advice about statistical analyses.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Paediatrics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Josephine A. Carbone, Michael G. Sawyer & Amelia K. Searle

  2. Research & Evaluation Unit, Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Children, Youth & Women’s Health Service, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA, Australia, 5006

    Josephine A. Carbone, Michael G. Sawyer & Amelia K. Searle

  3. School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Josephine A. Carbone

  4. Clinical Governance, Education & Research, Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Philip J. Robinson

Authors
  1. Josephine A. Carbone
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  2. Michael G. Sawyer
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  3. Amelia K. Searle
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  4. Philip J. Robinson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josephine A. Carbone.

Additional information

All results of the analyses discussed in this paper are available upon request.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Overview of the CHQ-PF50 and CHQ-CF87 Scales

 

CHQ scales

PF50 No of items

CF87No of items

Description

Physical healtha

    General health perceptions

5

12

Perception of child’s overall health

    Bodily pain & discomfort

2

2

Child’s bodily pain

Mental healtha

    Behaviour

6

17

Child’s exhibition of aggressive, immature, delinquent behaviour

    Mental health

5

16

Child’s feelings of anxiety and depression

    Self-esteem

6

14

Child’s satisfaction with abilities, looks, family/peer relationships and life overall

Limitations in everyday activitiesa

    Physical functioning

6

9

Limitations in performing physical activities, including self-care, due to health-related problems

    Role/social limitations due to emotional or behavioural difficulties

3

n/a

Limitations in school-work or activities with friends as a result of emotional or behavioural difficulties

    Role/social limitations due to emotional difficulties

n/a

3

Limitations in school-work or activities with friends as a result of emotional difficulties

    Role/social limitations due to behavioural difficulties

n/a

3

Limitations in school-work or activities with friends as a result of behavioural difficulties

    Role/social limitations due to physical health problems

2

3

Limitations in school-work or activities with friends as a result of physical health problems

Familya

    Family activities

6

6

Limitations or disruptions to family activities due to child’s health

    Family cohesion

1

1

Family’s ability to get along

Parental impacta

    Emotional impact on parent

3

n/a

Emotional worry/concern experienced by parent/caregiver due to child’s physical and/or psychosocial health

    Time impact on parent

3

n/a

Limitations on parent/caregiver’s time for their own personal needs due to child’s physical and/or psychosocial health

  1. a Subheading categories created by the author

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Carbone, J.A., Sawyer, M.G., Searle, A.K. et al. The health-related quality of life of children and adolescents in home-based foster care. Qual Life Res 16, 1157–1166 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9227-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9227-z

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