A subjective sense of the quality of life in adolescents from the Świętokrzyskie Voivodship

ObjectivesThe measurement of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is one of the most important methods for self-assessment of health, which makes it possible to identify irregularities in the physical, mental and social functioning. The aim of the research was to determine HRQOL using the Health Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children and Young People (the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire) – the instrument recommended by the World Health Organization – which makes it possible to distinguish groups of adolescents with a diversified subjective sense of the quality of life.Material and MethodsThe study involved a group of 871 adolescents, 411 boys and 460 girls, aged 13–16 years, residing in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodship. The method of a diagnostic survey was used in the research. The KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire, which is an instrument for examining the HRQOL of adolescents, was employed in the study. The k-means clustering method was applied, which made it possible to establish 3 groups of adolescents with a different subjective sense of the quality of life.ResultsThree groups of adolescents with a diversified subjective sense of the quality of life (high, average, low) were identified using the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire. The subjective quality of life in the majority of the respondents was high, in particular in those living in rural areas. The surveyed boys with a high subjective quality of life showed a significantly higher self-esteem, acceptance and peer support than the surveyed girls.ConclusionsThe KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire is an accurate and sensitive tool for assessing HRQOL. It allows identifying 3 groups of adolescents with a diversified subjective sense of the quality of life. It can form the basis for further diagnosis of the bio-psycho-social functioning of adolescents.