Changes in Quality of Life Among Norwegian School Children
Author Information
Author(s): Jozefiak Thomas, Larsson Bo, Wichstrøm Lars
Primary Institution: The Norwegian University of Technology and Science (NTNU)
Hypothesis
Increasing age will have a decreasing effect on family-related QoL, school-related QoL, and emotional well-being; while the students' perceived relationship to friends and self-esteem will be stable across age-groups.
Conclusion
The study found that school children's quality of life decreased over a six-month period, particularly among older students and girls.
Supporting Evidence
- Students in the 8th grade reported a decrease in QoL compared to those in the 6th grade.
- Girls reported a higher decrease in their QoL across all grades than boys.
- Parent reports of changes in child QoL were mostly nonsignificant.
Takeaway
As kids get older, especially girls, they feel less happy about their lives at school and with their families.
Methodology
The study used a representative sample of 1,821 school children aged 8-16, assessing their quality of life at baseline and six months later using two questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Parents may not accurately perceive minor changes in their child's feelings over short-term periods.
Limitations
The study may have overestimated parent reports of child QoL due to non-participation at follow-up.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 990 girls and 1,007 boys, aged 8-16, from urban and rural areas in Norway.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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