Health-related quality of life of adolescents: relations with positive and negative psychological dimensions

Abstract

This study aims to analyse: the relationship between socio-demographic variables and overall HRQoL and its domains; the predictor role of negative psychological dimensions (anxiety, depression and stress) and positive ones (subjective happiness, self-esteem and life satisfaction) on overall HRQoL and its domains. The sample consisted of 465 Portuguese students (53.5% girls), aged 13–18 years (M = 15.20, SD = 1.16). The students answered to the following measures: Kidscreen-27, Subjective Happiness Scale, Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale, Self-Esteem Rosenberg Scale and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-Children. Gender, age and chronic disease predicted perceptions of some HRQoL domains. The results showed that both negative and positive psychological dimensions predicted HRQoL and its domains. Depressive symptoms were a negative predictor and self-esteem a positive predictor of overall HRQoL and all of its domains. These results create opportunities for new insights into health and optimal functioning of adolescents from an ecological perspective.