BMC Pediatrics (Dec 2021)

Sex differences in children's health status as measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)™: cross-sectional findings from a large school-based sample in the Netherlands

  • Annelieke Hijkoop,
  • Chantal A. ten Kate,
  • Marlous J. Madderom,
  • Hanneke IJsselstijn,
  • Julie A. Reuser,
  • Hendrik Koopman,
  • Joost van Rosmalen,
  • André B. Rietman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-03059-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Previous research has shown that female adolescents and adults report lower health status than their male peers. Possibly, this discrepancy already develops during childhood. We collected sex-specific data with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) in a large school-based sample. Methods The online version of the PedsQL was administered to healthy Dutch children aged 5–7 years (parent proxy-report), 8–12 years (parent proxy-report and child self-report), and 13–17 years (parent proxy-report and child self-report), recruited through regular primary and secondary schools. Sex differences were assessed using t-tests or Mann–Whitney U-tests. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and intraclass correlation coefficients served to compare parent proxy-reports with child self-reports. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations of sex of the child, age, and parental educational level with PedsQL scores. Results Eight hundred eighty-two parents and five hundred eighty one children were recruited from 15 different schools in the Netherlands. Parents of 8-to-12-year-olds reported higher scores on School Functioning for girls than for boys (mean difference [MD]: 6.56, p < 0.001). Parents of 13-to-17-year-olds reported lower scores on Physical and Emotional Functioning for girls than for boys (MDs: 2.14 and 5.79, p = 0.014 and p < 0.001, respectively). Girls aged 8–12 years reported lower scores than boys in this age group on Physical Functioning (MD: 3.09, p = 0.005). Girls aged 13–17 years reported lower scores than boys in this age group on Physical Functioning (MD: 3.67, p < 0.001), Emotional Functioning (MD: 8.11, p < 0.001), and the Total Score (MD 3.26, p = 0.004). No sex differences were found in children aged 5–7 years. Agreement between child self-reports and parent proxy-reports was poor to moderate. Conclusions Girls generally had lower PedsQL scores than boys, both in parent proxy-reports and in child self-reports. We recommend to apply sex-specific data when assessing health status using the PedsQL.

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