Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: a latent variable mediation model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We examined adolescents' differentiation of their self-reported physical and mental health status, the relative importance of these variables and five important life domains (satisfaction with family, friends, living environment...

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Main Authors: Kopec Jacek A, Johnson Joy L, Ratner Pamela A, Sawatzky Richard, Zumbo Bruno D
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-02-01
Series:Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Online Access:http://www.hqlo.com/content/8/1/17
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author Kopec Jacek A
Johnson Joy L
Ratner Pamela A
Sawatzky Richard
Zumbo Bruno D
author_facet Kopec Jacek A
Johnson Joy L
Ratner Pamela A
Sawatzky Richard
Zumbo Bruno D
author_sort Kopec Jacek A
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We examined adolescents' differentiation of their self-reported physical and mental health status, the relative importance of these variables and five important life domains (satisfaction with family, friends, living environment, school and self) with respect to adolescents' global quality of life (QOL), and the extent to which the five life domains mediate the relationships between self-reported physical and mental health status and global QOL.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The data were obtained via a cross-sectional health survey of 8,225 adolescents in 49 schools in British Columbia, Canada. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the implied latent variable mediation model. The Pratt index (<it>d</it>) was used to evaluate variable importance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Relative to one another, self-reported mental health status was found to be more strongly associated with depressive symptoms, and self-reported physical health status more strongly associated with physical activity. Self-reported physical and mental health status and the five life domains explained 76% of the variance in global QOL. Relatively poorer mental health and physical health were significantly associated with lower satisfaction in each of the life domains. Global QOL was predominantly explained by three of the variables: mental health status (<it>d </it>= 30%), satisfaction with self (<it>d </it>= 42%), and satisfaction with family (<it>d </it>= 20%). Satisfaction with self and family were the predominant mediators of mental health and global QOL (45% total mediation), and of physical health and global QOL (68% total mediation).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides support for the validity and relevance of differentiating self-reported physical and mental health status in adolescent health surveys. Self-reported mental health status and, to a lesser extent, self-reported physical health status were associated with significant differences in the adolescents' satisfaction with their family, friends, living environment, school experiences, self, and their global QOL. Questions about adolescents' self-reported physical and mental health status and their experiences with these life domains require more research attention so as to target appropriate supportive services, particularly for adolescents with mental or physical health challenges.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-713c7e9fcb6d4a5b9beb1f9d9a8c74b32022-12-22T03:07:18ZengBMCHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes1477-75252010-02-01811710.1186/1477-7525-8-17Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: a latent variable mediation modelKopec Jacek AJohnson Joy LRatner Pamela ASawatzky RichardZumbo Bruno D<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We examined adolescents' differentiation of their self-reported physical and mental health status, the relative importance of these variables and five important life domains (satisfaction with family, friends, living environment, school and self) with respect to adolescents' global quality of life (QOL), and the extent to which the five life domains mediate the relationships between self-reported physical and mental health status and global QOL.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The data were obtained via a cross-sectional health survey of 8,225 adolescents in 49 schools in British Columbia, Canada. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the implied latent variable mediation model. The Pratt index (<it>d</it>) was used to evaluate variable importance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Relative to one another, self-reported mental health status was found to be more strongly associated with depressive symptoms, and self-reported physical health status more strongly associated with physical activity. Self-reported physical and mental health status and the five life domains explained 76% of the variance in global QOL. Relatively poorer mental health and physical health were significantly associated with lower satisfaction in each of the life domains. Global QOL was predominantly explained by three of the variables: mental health status (<it>d </it>= 30%), satisfaction with self (<it>d </it>= 42%), and satisfaction with family (<it>d </it>= 20%). Satisfaction with self and family were the predominant mediators of mental health and global QOL (45% total mediation), and of physical health and global QOL (68% total mediation).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides support for the validity and relevance of differentiating self-reported physical and mental health status in adolescent health surveys. Self-reported mental health status and, to a lesser extent, self-reported physical health status were associated with significant differences in the adolescents' satisfaction with their family, friends, living environment, school experiences, self, and their global QOL. Questions about adolescents' self-reported physical and mental health status and their experiences with these life domains require more research attention so as to target appropriate supportive services, particularly for adolescents with mental or physical health challenges.</p>http://www.hqlo.com/content/8/1/17
spellingShingle Kopec Jacek A
Johnson Joy L
Ratner Pamela A
Sawatzky Richard
Zumbo Bruno D
Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: a latent variable mediation model
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
title Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: a latent variable mediation model
title_full Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: a latent variable mediation model
title_fullStr Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: a latent variable mediation model
title_full_unstemmed Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: a latent variable mediation model
title_short Self-reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents: a latent variable mediation model
title_sort self reported physical and mental health status and quality of life in adolescents a latent variable mediation model
url http://www.hqlo.com/content/8/1/17
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AT sawatzkyrichard selfreportedphysicalandmentalhealthstatusandqualityoflifeinadolescentsalatentvariablemediationmodel
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