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Impact of emotional and behavioral symptoms on quality of life in children and adolescents

Quality of Life Research volume 22, pages 333–337 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate how levels of anxiety, depressive and behavioral symptoms influence self-perceived quality of life (QOL) in general population of children and adolescents.

Method

A total of 237 children and adolescents aged 8–18 years participated in the study. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Questionnaire (SCARED), Short Mood and Feeling Questionnaire (SMFQ) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were used to assess levels of anxiety, depressive and behavioral symptoms, respectively. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used for QOL assessments. In a regression model, the PedsQL score was the dependent variable, while anxiety, depressive and behavioral symptoms were the QOL predictors.

Results

In children, the SCARED and SMFQ scores together with age and gender explained 30 % of the variance in the PedsQL scores (F = 12.31, p < 0.001), while in adolescents, the same set of variables was responsible for 36 % of the variance (F = 15.77, p < 0.001). The SCARED was a more significant predictor than the SMFQ. The SDQ scores did not emerge as the PedsQL predictors.

Conclusion

Levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, but not behavioral ones, significantly affect self-reported QOL in general population of children and adolescents.

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Abbreviations

QOL:

Quality of life

PedsQL™:

The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Version 4.0

SCARED:

Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders Questionnaire

SMFQ:

Short Mood and Feeling Questionnaire

SDQ:

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital Sombor, Apatinski put 38, 25000, Sombor, Serbia

    Dejan Stevanovic

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  1. Dejan Stevanovic
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Correspondence to Dejan Stevanovic.

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Stevanovic, D. Impact of emotional and behavioral symptoms on quality of life in children and adolescents. Qual Life Res 22, 333–337 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-012-0158-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-012-0158-y

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