Original scientific paper

Deterioration Is Not the Only Prospect for Adolescents’ Health: Improvement in Self-reported Health Status Among Boys and Girls From Age 15 to Age 19

Ferdinand Salonna ; Department of Educational Psychology and Health, Košice, Slovenia
Berrie Middel ; Department of Social Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands
Maria Sleskova ; Department of Educational Psychology and Health, Košice, Slovenia
Andrea Madarasova Geckova ; Department of Educational Psychology and Health, Košice, Slovenia
Sijmen A. Reijneveld ; Department of Social Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands
Johan W. Groothoff ; Department of Social Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands
Jitse P. Dijk ; Department of Social Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands

Abstract

Aim To assess changes in the mental and physical health of adolescents
between the ages of 15 and 19.
Methods The study included a four-year follow-up of 844 students
from 31 secondary schools located in Košice, Slovakia (response rate
45.6%). The 36-item short form (SF-36) scales were used to assess vitality
and mental health, self-rated health, long-term well-being, longstanding
illness, and the number of perceived health complaints at the
age of 15 and four years later.
Results Both boys and girls reported significant deterioration in vitality
(mean difference boys 5.3; girls 3.3; P = 0.001) and mental health
(mean difference boys 7.7; girls 5.7; P = 0.001), while only boys reported
deterioration in self-rated health (P = 0.047). The proportion
of boys who reported an improvement ranged from 8%-40%, while the
proportion of girls who reported an improvement ranged from 8%-
45%. Significantly more girls than boys reported an improvement in
mental health (27% of boys vs 34% of girls) and vitality (32% of boys
vs 39% of girls), while more boys than girls reported a deterioration in
vitality(55% of boys vs 48% of girls)). These differences were trivial according
to the effect size (Cohen’s H<0.20).
Conclusion Although significant deterioration in mental health and
vitality was detected among both genders, with boys deteriorating more
substantially in self-rated health than girls, the differences between the
proportion of those with improved and those with deteriorated status
were trivial in size.

Keywords

adolescents; longitudinal study; health status; gender differences; outcomes assessment

Hrčak ID:

26094

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/26094

Publication date:

15.2.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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