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Associations between health-related quality of life and physical fitness in 4–7-year-old Spanish children: the MOVIKIDS study

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Abstract

Purpose

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in childhood is defined as an individual’s subjective perception of the impact of health status on physical, psychological and social functioning. Nowadays, measuring of HRQOL has become an important outcome indicator in evaluating health-care. However, in younger children, the role of cardiorespiratory and other physical fitness components on HRQOL is unclear. The aims of this study were to analyse the association between components of physical fitness and HRQOL, as well as to determine which component of physical fitness was the best predictor of higher HRQOL.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 1413 schoolchildren (4 to 7 years old) from Spain. HRQOL was evaluated with the KINDL-R questionnaire for parents. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and speed-agility were assessed using the ALPHA-Fitness battery. ANCOVA models were used to assess differences in HRQOL across physical fitness categories, controlling for age and BMI, by gender. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the independent association between the different physical fitness components and HRQOL.

Results

Children with high physical fitness levels had better scores in physical well-being, school and total HRQOL score than those who had low physical fitness levels. The best predictor of HRQOL (total score) was muscular strength in boys and speed-agility among girls.

Conclusions

Children with high physical fitness levels have higher HRQOL, although the association between components of physical fitness and HRQOL varies according to gender. Improving physical fitness could be a good strategy for improving HRQOL in children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social and Health Research Center, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain

    Andrés Redondo-Tébar, Abel Ruíz-Hermosa, Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno, Alberto Bermejo-Cantarero, Iván Cavero-Redondo & Mairena Sánchez-López

  2. School of Education, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain

    Abel Ruíz-Hermosa & Mairena Sánchez-López

  3. School of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca, Chile

    Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno

  4. School of Nursing, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain

    Ana Isabel Cobo-Cuenca

  5. School of Nursing, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, Spain

    Alberto Bermejo-Cantarero

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  1. Andrés Redondo-Tébar
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  2. Abel Ruíz-Hermosa
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  3. Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno
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Correspondence to Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno.

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Redondo-Tébar, A., Ruíz-Hermosa, A., Martínez-Vizcaíno, V. et al. Associations between health-related quality of life and physical fitness in 4–7-year-old Spanish children: the MOVIKIDS study. Qual Life Res 28, 1751–1759 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02136-6

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