Quality of Life of Children and Adolescents with Short Stature: The Twofold Contribution of Physical Growth and Adaptive Height-Related Cognitive Beliefs

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Mergulhão B. (Author) Other; Almeida J.P. (Author) Other; Moreira H. (Author) Other; C Correia (Author) FMUP; Bullinger M. (Author) Other; Canavarro M.C. (Author) Other; Silva N. (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings

ISSN: 1068-9583

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-HV0

DOI: 10.1007/s10880-022-09871-y

Abstract (EN): This study aimed to examine the health-related quality of life (HrQoL), coping, height-related beliefs, and social support of children/adolescents with short stature, the sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables associated with HrQoL, and the moderating role of sociodemographic and clinical variables on the associations between psychosocial variables and HrQoL. 114 Portuguese children/adolescents with short stature, aged 8¿18 years old, completed the Quality of Life in Short Stature Youth questionnaire and the Satisfaction with Social Support Scale. Regression analyses explained 54% of the variance of HrQoL, with significant main effects of current height deviation and height-related beliefs, and a significant interaction effect between beliefs and diagnosis. Results suggest that a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach, not only focused on hormone treatment to boost physical growth, but also including psychosocial interventions focused on the modification of height-related beliefs, may contribute to improve the HrQoL of pediatric patients with short stature.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific