Health-related quality of life of Estonian adolescents: reliability and validity of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales in Estonia.

AIM: The main aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 (PedsQL™ 4.0) Generic Core Scales among Estonian adolescents. Gender differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were also investigated. METHODS: The 654 adolescents (309 boys and 345 girls) aged 13-14 years (M age = 13.57 years, SD = 0.62) completed Estonian version of the PedsQL™ 4.0. RESULTS: Results of the confirmatory factor analysis for a five-factor model of the Estonian version of PedsQL™ 4.0 approached the criteria of acceptable fit after setting error covariance to be free between some of the items within physical health, emotional functioning and social functioning subscales. Cronbach's alpha coefficients exceeded the minimum criterion of 0.70 for all subscales except for days missed from school because of illness subscale. With regard to gender differences, consistent with previous studies, girls reported lower level on total score of HRQoL as well as its aspects of physical health, emotional functioning and psychosocial health. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that after some modifications, the PedsQL™ 4.0 could be considered as suitable instrument to measure HRQoL among Estonian adolescents.

Prediction of physical activity intention and behavior in a longitudinal sample of adolescent girls.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate a theory of planned behavior model for the prediction of physical activity in adolescent girls using a 1-yr. longitudinal design. A secondary purpose was to examine the moderating influence of intention stability and past behavior on intention-behavior relationships. Participants were 236 12- to 13-year-old adolescent girls who completed measures of the theory of planned behavior and physical activity participation (3-Day Physical Activity Recall) across a 1-yr. interval. The standard theoretical variables predicted intentions, as intention, past behavior, and perceived behavioral control predicted behavior. The temporal stability of intentions and past behavior moderated relationships between intention and behavior. An autoregressive path model showed that intention and perceived behavioral control predicted changes in physical activity and physical activity predicted changes in intention, affective attitude, and perceived behavioral control. This study supports the use of the theory of planned behavior in gaining an understanding of the physical activity intention and behavior of adolescent girls.

Changes in physical activity in adolescent girls: a latent growth modelling approach.

AIM: To examine: (1) the developmental trajectory of physical activity as well the influence of body mass index (BMI) and friend support on initial physical activity and change of physical activity; and (2) the stability of physical activity in adolescent girls. METHODS: Participants were 193 urban adolescent girls and their best friends. Physical activity was measured using the 3-day physical activity recall. Best friend social support was assessed using a questionnaire. BMI was calculated based on height and body mass of the participants. Data were collected on four occasions over a 1.75-year period. RESULTS: The stability coefficients for moderate, vigorous and total physical activity were statistically significant and ranged from 0.25 to 0.62. There was a curvilinear decrease in physical activity and a curvilinear increase in BMI and friend social support across four measurement occasions. Latent growth modelling (LGM) revealed that initially higher level of friend social support was associated with higher physical activity, and higher level of BMI was associated with lower levels of physical activity. With the physical activity change factor, there were statistically significant and positive direct effect from friend social support change factor, and statistically significant and negative direct effect from BMI change factor. CONCLUSION: Change in friend social support was positively and change in BMI was inversely associated with a change in adolescent girls' physical activity.