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Lifestyle at 3 years of age and quality of life (QOL) in first-year junior high school students in Japan: results of the Toyama Birth Cohort Study

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine whether some effects of childhood lifestyles at 3 years of age are associated with quality of life (QOL) in first-year junior high school students (JHSS).

Method

Lifestyles including sleep, physical activity and dietary habits of 9,674 3-year-old children were obtained by questionnaire between 1992 and 1994. Assessments were undertaken with the Dartmouth Primary Care Co-operative Project charts in 9,574 first-year JHSS in 2002. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the relationship between lifestyle in early childhood and QOL in first-year JHSS for the follow-up subjects.

Results

After adjusting for demographic and familial factors at baseline, the results showed that later bedtime [odds ratio (OR) = 1.17, P = 0.043], later waking time (OR = 1.19, P = 0.039), short sleep duration (OR = 1.15, P = 0.061), physical inactivity (OR = 1.48, P = 0.022), skipping breakfast (OR = 1.56, P = 0.003), irregular snacks (OR = 1.43, P < 0.001), and frequent instant noodle consumption (OR = 1.49, P = 0.007) in early childhood increased the risk of poor QOL in first-year JHSS. The relationships were reinforced by a significant linear trend for almost all factors considered at baseline to QOL in first-year JHSS.

Conclusion

Early childhood lifestyle factors, especially dietary habits, at 3 years of age have significant effects on QOL in first-year JHSS. This suggests that interventions as early as 3 years of age should be considered.

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Acknowledgement

We are indebted to all children and their parents participating in this study; the Toyama Society of School Health for agreement to participate and cooperate in this study; all participating nursery schools and junior high schools in Toyama prefecture; all members of the TBC Study team; and in particular, to Ms. Yasuko Yamazaki and Ms. Noriko Annen for data collection and clerical support. This study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Health and Welfare (H13-Health-022) and the Toyama Medical Association. Funding organizations were not involved in the design, conduct, interpretation, and analysis of the study, nor in review or approval of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama City, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan

    Hongbing Wang, Michikazu Sekine, Xiaoli Chen, Takashi Yamagami & Sadanobu Kagamimori

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  1. Hongbing Wang
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  2. Michikazu Sekine
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  3. Xiaoli Chen
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  4. Takashi Yamagami
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  5. Sadanobu Kagamimori
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Correspondence to Hongbing Wang.

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Wang, H., Sekine, M., Chen, X. et al. Lifestyle at 3 years of age and quality of life (QOL) in first-year junior high school students in Japan: results of the Toyama Birth Cohort Study. Qual Life Res 17, 257–265 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9301-6

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