Associations between the p factor and health-related quality of life in youth with chronic physical illness.
The p factor reflects general liability for psychopathology. Few studies have examined the p factor in youth with chronic physical illness (CPI), and none have modelled its association with health-related quality of life (HRQL).
This study examined associations between the p factor and 48-month HRQL in youth with CPI, and whether age or sex moderate these associations.
Children and adolescents aged 2-16 years with CPI were recruited from outpatient clinics at a pediatric hospital (N = 263) and followed for 48 months (N = 202). The p factor was derived from the parent-reported Emotional Behavioural Scales. HRQL was measured using the parent-reported KIDSCREEN-27 across five domains. Multiple regression was used to estimate associations between p scores and 48-month HRQL, stratified by age (2-9 years vs. 10-16 years) and sex (female vs. male). Moderation was tested using the method of variance estimates recovery.
Among children, higher p scores were associated with lower psychological well-being (β = -0.17, p = 0.016), social support & peers (β = -0.26, p = 0.003), and school environment (β = -0.24, p = 0.002). For adolescents, the association was significant only for school environment (β = -0.21, p = 0.011). Among males, p scores were associated with lower autonomy & parent relations (β = -0.17, p = 0.028) and school environment (β = -0.17, p = 0.012); whereas for females, associations were significant for social support & peers (β = -0.20, p = 0.015) and school environment (β = -0.21, p = 0.007). There was no evidence for a moderating effect of youth age or sex.
The p factor is inversely associated with HRQL in youth with CPI and may be useful in identifying at-risk individuals in clinical settings.
This study examined associations between the p factor and 48-month HRQL in youth with CPI, and whether age or sex moderate these associations.
Children and adolescents aged 2-16 years with CPI were recruited from outpatient clinics at a pediatric hospital (N = 263) and followed for 48 months (N = 202). The p factor was derived from the parent-reported Emotional Behavioural Scales. HRQL was measured using the parent-reported KIDSCREEN-27 across five domains. Multiple regression was used to estimate associations between p scores and 48-month HRQL, stratified by age (2-9 years vs. 10-16 years) and sex (female vs. male). Moderation was tested using the method of variance estimates recovery.
Among children, higher p scores were associated with lower psychological well-being (β = -0.17, p = 0.016), social support & peers (β = -0.26, p = 0.003), and school environment (β = -0.24, p = 0.002). For adolescents, the association was significant only for school environment (β = -0.21, p = 0.011). Among males, p scores were associated with lower autonomy & parent relations (β = -0.17, p = 0.028) and school environment (β = -0.17, p = 0.012); whereas for females, associations were significant for social support & peers (β = -0.20, p = 0.015) and school environment (β = -0.21, p = 0.007). There was no evidence for a moderating effect of youth age or sex.
The p factor is inversely associated with HRQL in youth with CPI and may be useful in identifying at-risk individuals in clinical settings.