Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Volume 13, Issue 1, 2015

Health-related quality of life of the rural-China left-behind children or adolescents and influential factors: A cross-sectional study (Article) (Open Access)

Huang Y. , Zhong X.-N.* , Li Q.-Y. , Xu D. , Zhang X.-L. , Feng C. , Yang G.-X. , Bo Y.-Y. , Deng B.
  • a Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China
  • b Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China
  • c Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China
  • d Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China
  • e Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China
  • f Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China
  • g Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China
  • h Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China
  • i Chongqing Medical University, Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing, Yuzhong District, 400016, China

Abstract

Background: Due to sustained export of labor service, the left-behind children/ adolescents in rural areas of China have become a group that can no longer be neglected. However, even up to this day, little is known about the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the left-behind children/adolescents, particularly in Midwest China. This study aims at investigating their living condition and analyzing the influential factors of their HRQoL. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on households was conducted and 1363 children or adolescents from rural areas of 6 provinces in China, among whom 608 were left-behind and 755 were non-left-behind, were enrolled in a multistage sampling. HRQoL was revealed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Differences in scores were analyzed using rank sum tests, and multivariate analyses were conducted with multiple linear regression. Results: There was a total of 608 (44.61%) left-behind children or adolescents, and they scored significantly lower in terms of the HRQoL synthesis scores (F = 6.14, P < 0.05), Physical Functioning (H = 33.18, P < 0.05), Emotional Functioning (H = 24.99, P < 0.05) and Social Functioning (H = 12.24, P < 0.05), compared with the non-left-behind. Multiple linear regressions indicated that age and mother's final academic qualification were in positive correlation with the HRQoL of the left-behind children, while mother's longer migrant working time and less frequent visits, and being reared by uncle/aunt etc., were potential risk factors for the left-behind children. Conclusions: The HRQoL scores of left-behind children or adolescents were significantly lower than those of their counterparts both in the physical and the psychological domains. Influential factors should be considered when relevant policies are being made and intervening practices are being undertaken in the future, so as to improve the HRQoL of the left-behind children or adolescents. © 2015 Huang et al.; licensee BioMed Central.

Author Keywords

China Rural area Left-behind adolescents PedsQL Left-behind children HRQoL

Index Keywords

China educational status sampling mother child relation human statistics and numerical data rural population controlled study Cross-Sectional Studies Maternal Deprivation quality of life migrant worker father child relation school child social status cross-sectional study Adolescent psychology male Humans preschool child female risk factor Child Rearing left behind adolescent Child Welfare Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory migrant working time parent migrant worker left behind child Article working time emotion adult Anxiety, Separation migration age Transients and Migrants miscellaneous named groups physical performance quality of life assessment Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84928751256&doi=10.1186%2fs12955-015-0220-x&partnerID=40&md5=ea8cc0a2ea3389d81e75adc79db003fb
DOI: 10.1186/s12955-015-0220-x
ISSN: 14777525
Cited by: 23
Original Language: English