Factors related to quality of life in children with chronic illness from their own perspectives: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: This study aims to explore the demographic, clinical, and psychological factors that influence the quality of life in children with chronic illnesses.

Design and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between February and July 2023. The sample consisted of 120 pediatric patients, aged 7 to 18 years, diagnosed with chronic illnesses and treated in outpatient and inpatient wards. Participants were selected using purposive sampling based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using 11 validated questionnaires covering demographic, clinical, and psychological factors, as well as the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, and multivariate linear regression to identify the most influential factors on children's quality of life, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05.

Results: Gender, age, duration of illness, disease symptoms, and pain level were significantly correlated with children's quality of life (p < 0.05). Another factors like self-efficacy, self-concept, and role function had a strong positive impact (p < 0.01), while coping mechanisms, resilience, self-esteem, and family support showed no significant effect. Duration of illness was the most influential factor (B = 0.969).

Conclusions: Children's quality of life is strongly influenced by factors like gender, age, illness duration, symptoms, self-efficacy, self-concept, and role function, with illness duration having the greatest impact.

Practice implications: Healthcare providers should take a holistic approach, addressing clinical, demographic, and psychosocial factors, with special attention to children with longer illness durations, as this greatly affects their quality of life.