Health-related quality of life in young people: the importance of education

BACKGROUND

The concept of health-related quality of life and education integrates the bio-psychosocial perspective of health and the multidimensional potentialities of education for wellbeing. This present work is especially relevant to young people because understanding the interaction between health and education can facilitate the design of preventive policies. The research examines the way in which the educational level of young people from an urban district in the city of Zaragoza (Casablanca) has an influence on their health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

METHODS

A cross sectional survey was undertaken in the Casablanca district of Zaragoza (Spain). Participants were not randomly selected; their numbers reflected the areas where they lived with respect to age and sex distribution. It comprised 122 boys and 122 girls, aged between16 and 29, living in the neighbourhood are: Viñedo Viejo, Las Nieves and Fuentes Claras. These three residence zones are markedly different in terms of socioeconomic composition. The questionnaire included the following information: socioeconomic characteristics (sex, age, educational level, employment status, residence zone), an assessment of health (health problems, diagnosis and medication in the last 2 weeks) and HRQOL (WHOQOL-BREF dimensions: mental health; physical health; social relations; and environment). ANOVA and four regression models were used to assess the role, direction and intensity of educational level on HRQOL.

RESULTS

The results show that the higher the level of education, the better the level of HRQOL. The biggest impact of education was on the mental health dimension, but this influence was modulated by sex and residence zone. The value of the interaction of education and residence zone was more significant than educational level alone. HRQOL of girls is more sensitive to education, being a student and residence zone than the HRQOL of boys.

CONCLUSIONS

The dimensions of HRQOL are influenced by educational level. The influence is greatest among girls and the youngest members of the poorest area of the district. Public authorities should contemplate the development of an equitable education system from the beginning of the life cycle as a public health strategy.

[Well-being, quality of life and affect regulation in Portuguese adolescents]

Objetivos

El objetivo de este trabajo es explorar la regulación emocional, calidad de vida y bienestar subjetivo en la adolescencia, considerando diferencias individuales y familiares en función del sexo, la edad y la escolaridad de los progenitores. También se pretende analizar la relación entre las variables estudiadas.

Diseño

Estudio cuantitativo descriptivo-comparativo, transversal.

Emplazamiento

Institutos de Portugal.

Participantes

Muestra por conveniencia de 2 escuelas al Norte de Portugal. Criterios de inclusión: adolescentes (entre 12 y 18 años) de los cursos obligatorios y sin ninguna dificultad especial (sea necesidad educativa especial o dificultad de aprendizaje diagnosticada). Muestra total 619, muestra válida 602.

Mediciones principales

Índice de bienestar personal, Cuestionario de salud SF-8 (calidad de vida) y el Cuestionario de estilos de regulación afectiva.

Resultados

El bienestar no presenta diferencias entre sexos, la percepción de salud suele ser mejor en los chicos y la regulación afectiva en las chicas. En relación con la edad se encuentran correlaciones negativas principalmente con las variables del cuestionario de salud. Aparecen diferencias significativas en función del nivel de escolarización de los padres. Las mayores correlaciones aparecen entre las variables de los cuestionarios de bienestar y el de salud.

Conclusiones

La influencia del nivel educativo de los padres y la edad tienen un papel diferenciador, especialmente en bienestar y calidad de vida. Desde una perspectiva de promoción del bienestar en la adolescencia hay que destacar el potencial de la percepción de salud y algunas estrategias de regulación emocional en intervenciones y estrategias de educación para la salud.