Differences in health-related quality of life by academic performance in children of the city of Cordoba-Argentina

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) according to academic performance (AP) in children who attend public schools in the city of Cordoba, Argentina. Methods Cross-sectional study carried out in a sample of 494 children aged 9–12 years (mean =9.5; standard deviation [SD]=0.65; IQR 1) who attended 4th grade of public schools in the city of Córdoba, Argentina in 2014. HRQoL was assessed by self-administration of the KIDSCREEN-52 child version in classroom. AP was established with the final grades in language and mathematics obtained from the school records. Marginal means and SD’s of the HRQoL scores were compared between AP groups by calculating the effect size (ES), and linear mixed effect models were used to evaluate the (independent) association of AP with HRQoL. Results Statistically significant differences were found in the psychosocial dimensions of the HRQoL between the AP groups. The main differences in HRQoL between children with very good–excellent grades and those with unsatisfactory AP were found in school environment (ES=0.69), parent relation and home life (ES=0.61), autonomy (ES=0.61), selfperception (ES=0.49), and social acceptance (ES=0.48). Children with very good–excellent grades scored better in all of these dimensions. Conclusions Children with very good–excellent grades in language and mathematics scored better in the psychosocial domains of HRQoL. AP is an important factor in the analysis of the social and psychological aspects of children’s health. Further research is required to explore more deeply the direction and characteristics of this association.