Title
The proxy problem: Child report versus parent report in health-related quality of life research
Author
Theunissen, N.C.M.
Vogels, T.G.C.
Koopman, H.M.
Verrips, G.H.W.
Zwinderman, K.A.H.
Verloove-Vanhorick, S.P.
Wit, J.M.
TNO Preventie en Gezondheid
Publication year
1998
Abstract
This study evaluates the agreement between child and parent reports on children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a representative sample of 1,105 Dutch children (age 8-11 years old). Both children and their parents completed a 56 item questionnaire (TACQOL). The questionnaire contains seven eight-item scales: physical complaints, motor functioning, autonomy, cognitive functioning, social functioning, positive emotions and negative emotions. The Pearson correlations between the child and parent reports were between 0.44 and 0.61 (p < 0.001). The intraclass correlations were between 0.39 and 0.62. On average, the children reported a significantly lower HRQoL than their parents on the physical complaints, motor functioning, autonomy, cognitive functioning and positive emotions scales (paired t-test: p < 0.05). Agreement on all of the scales was related to the magnitude of the HRQoL scores and to some background variables (gender, age, temporary illness and visiting a physician). According to multitrait-multimethod analyses, both the child and parent reports proved to be valid.
Subject
Health
Child report
Health status
Health-related quality of life
Parent report
Proxy
Adult
Child
Evaluation Studies
Female
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Parent-Child Relations
Quality of Life
Questionnaires
Sick Role
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:859467cb-f9db-4039-ac8a-7aa23844ccad
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1008801802877
TNO identifier
234576
ISSN
0962-9343
Source
Quality of Life Research, 7 (5), 387-397
Document type
article