scholarly journals Validation of the German Benefit Finding Scale for Youth with chronic conditions

Author(s):  
Roman E. von Rezori ◽  
Friederike Buchallik ◽  
Petra Warschburger

Abstract Background Benefit finding, defined as perceiving positive life changes resulting from adversity and negative life stressors, gains growing attention in the context of chronic illness. The study aimed at examining the psychometric properties of the Benefit Finding Scale for Children (BFSC) in a sample of German youth facing chronic conditions. Methods A sample of adolescents with various chronic conditions (N = 304; 12 – 21years) completed the 10-item BFSC along with measures of intra- and interpersonal resources, coping strategies, and health-related quality of life (hrQoL). The total sample was randomly divided into two subsamples for conducting exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA). Results EFA revealed that the BFSC scores had a one-dimensional factor structure. CFA verified the one-dimensional factor structure with an acceptable fit. The BFSC exhibited acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.87 – 0.88) and construct validity. In line with our hypotheses, benefit finding was positively correlated with optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy, sense of coherence, and support seeking. There were no correlations with avoidance, wishful thinking, emotional reaction, and hrQoL. Sex differences in benefit finding were not consistent across subsamples. Benefit finding was also positively associated with age, disease severity, and social status. Conclusions The BFSC is a psychometrically sound instrument to assess benefit finding in adolescents with chronic illness and may facilitate further research on positive adaptation processes in adolescents, irrespective of their specific diagnosis.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman von Rezori ◽  
Friederike Buchallik ◽  
Petra Warschburger

Abstract We examined the psychometric properties of the 10-item Benefit Finding Scale (BFSC) in a transdiagnostic sample of German youth facing chronic conditions (N = 304; 12 – 21 years). Exploratory factor analysis with a first subsample revealed a one-dimensional factor structure. Confirmatory factor analysis with a second subsample verified the one-dimensionality with an acceptable fit. The BFSC exhibited acceptable internal consistency (α = .87 – .88). Benefit finding (BF) was positively correlated with age, disease severity, optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy, sense of coherence, and support seeking. There were no correlations with avoidance, wishful thinking, emotional reaction, and health-related quality of life. Sex differences in BF were not consistent across subsamples. BF was negatively associated with social status. The BFSC is a psychometrically sound and transdiagnostic instrument to assess BF in youth and may facilitate further research on positive adaptation processes in response to chronic conditions.


Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
André Hajek ◽  
Christian Brettschneider ◽  
Tina Mallon ◽  
Hanna Kaduszkiewicz ◽  
Birgitt Wiese ◽  
...  

Introduction: There is a lack of studies examining the link between perceived autonomy and frailty among the oldest old. Therefore, our objective was to fill this gap. Methods: Data were used from the multicenter prospective cohort study “Needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)” (AgeQualiDe; follow-up [FU] wave 9; n = 510 observations in the analytical sample). The average age was 90.3 years (SD: 2.7 years). The Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) was used to assess frailty. Socioeconomic and health-related covariates were included in our regression model. The autonomy scale developed by Schwarzer was used to assess perceived autonomy in old age. Results: Adjusting for various confounders, multiple linear regressions showed that lower perceived autonomy was associated with increased levels of frailty (total sample: β = −0.13, p < 0.001; women: β = −0.14, p < 0.001; and men: β = −0.12, p < 0.001). Furthermore, lower perceived autonomy was associated with more depressive symptoms, higher cognitive impairment, and being institutionalized (except for men) in the total sample and in both sexes, but it was not significantly associated with age, sex, marital status, educational level, and social support. Conclusion: Findings indicate that frailty is associated with lower autonomy among the oldest old. More generally, while health-related factors were consistently associated with autonomy, sociodemographic factors (except for being institutionalized) were not associated with autonomy among the oldest old. We should be aware of the strong association between autonomy and physical as well as mental health in very old age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 304-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian Bravo ◽  
Mary K. Killela ◽  
Beck L. Reyes ◽  
Karla Marie Bathan Santos ◽  
Vanessa Torres ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Ingerski ◽  
Avani C. Modi ◽  
Korey K. Hood ◽  
Ahna L. Pai ◽  
Meg Zeller ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. S617
Author(s):  
M. Jebabli ◽  
H. Felfel ◽  
C. Drira ◽  
A. Kooli ◽  
M. Razgallah Khrouf

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tayseer Afifi ◽  
Khamis Elessi ◽  
Obay Baraka ◽  
Mohammed Omar ◽  
Israa Ahmad ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose This study aims to evaluate health-related quality of life among children with different chronic conditions and make a comparison among them. In addition, the study will draw a comparison between children’s perspective about their quality of life and parents’ perspective. Furthermore, the study will address the associations between quality of life with disease severity, duration and the presence of other co-morbidities. Methods This was a prospective, analytical, correlational study design in which Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0 generic core scale) was administered to assess quality of life on 110 children; 50 children with cancer, 30 children with thalassemia and 30 children undergoing hemodialysis. Researchers interviewed children as well as their parents. Results Results showed that children with Thalassemia had the lowest scores and suffered from poor quality of life compared to the other two groups of children. Interestingly, quality of life level among children undergoing dialysis was lower than children with cancer. However, there were marked discrepancy between child’s and parents’ answers on scale questions. The level of quality of life, in all children, were statistically significant in relation with family size, income and parents’ education. Conclusion We identified high prevalence of poor level of health-related quality of life among children included in this study. The findings support that the quality of life among children with chronic conditions should receive more attention in our local medical settings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-172
Author(s):  
Joel Faronbi ◽  
Aishat Ajadi ◽  
Robbert Gobbens

Background: The increase in life expectancy has brought about a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses among older people.Objectives: To identify common chronic illnesses among older adults, to examine the influence of such conditions on their Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and to determine factors predicting their HRQoL.Method: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 377 individuals aged 60 years and above who were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques in Olorunda Local Government, Osun State, Nigeria. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising socio-demographic characteristics, chronic illnesses, and the World Health Organization quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) containing physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environmental domains.Results: About half (51.5%) of the respondents reported at least one chronic illness which has lasted for 1–5 years (43.3%). The prevalence of hypertension was 36.1%, diabetes 13.9% and arthritis 13.4%. Respondents with chronic illness had significantly lower HRQoL overall and in the physical health, social relationships and the environmental domains (all p<0.05) compared to those without a chronic illness. Factors that predicted HRQoL include age, marital status, level of education, the presence of chronic illness and prognosis of the condition.Conclusion: This study concluded that chronic illness is prevalent in Nigerian older people and significantly influence their HRQoL. Age, marital status, and level of education were associated with HRQoL in this group.Keywords: Chronic illness, Health-Related Quality of Life, Older adults, Socio-demographic factorsFunding: Postdoctoral fellowship from Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Afric


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Quang A. Le ◽  
Dimittri Delevry

Abstract Objective: Elevated body mass index (BMI) is associated with multiple chronic conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Patients with overweight or obesity may also suffer from comorbidities not directly related to the pathophysiology of elevated BMI. The current study sought to determine the impact of BMI and different types of chronic conditions on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes. Design: Six weight categories by BMI were identified: Underweight, Normal weight, Overweight, Class-I obesity, Class-II obesity, and Class-III obesity. Twenty chronic conditions were considered and categorized as elevated BMI-related (concordant) or -unrelated (discordant) conditions. HRQoL outcomes were measured using Short Form-6 Dimensions (SF-6D). Multivariable regression models were performed to examine the impact of type, number of comorbid conditions, and BMI categories on SF-6D scores. Setting: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2013-2015). Participants: Nationally representative sample of US population; 18 years or older (n=58,960). Results: Of the sample, 1.7%, 32.9%, 34.0%, and 31.4% were classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese, respectively. The SF-6D scores were significantly decreased across all obesity classes, with the largest reduction in Class-III obesity (0.033; p < 0.001). Additionally, individuals with obesity having one or more concordant or discordant comorbidities further reduced SF-6D scores between 0.031 and 0.148 (p-values < 0.001) or between 0.080 and 0.212 (p-values < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: Individuals with obesity had a significant reduction in HRQoL outcomes compared to those with normal BMI. Importantly, discordant comorbidity resulted in greater reduction in HRQoL outcomes compared to concordant comorbidity in subjects with elevated BMI.


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