Trajectories of health-related quality of life in children of parents with mental health problems: results of the BELLA study

Purpose: Children of parents with mental health problems (CPM) have an increased risk for impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aims at investigating the age- and gender-specific course of HRQoL and at exploring predictors of HRQoL in CPM based on longitudinal data (baseline, 1-year and 2-year follow-up) of a German population-based sample.

Methods: Longitudinal data from the German BELLA study was analyzed (n = 1429; aged 11 to 17 years at baseline). The SCL-S-9 in combination with the cutoff for the General Severity Index (GSI) from the longer SCL-90-R served to identify CPM (n = 312). At first, we compared domain-specific HRQoL according to the KIDSCREEN-27 in CPM versus Non-CPM. Focusing on CPM, we used individual growth modeling to investigate the age and gender-specific course, and to explore effects of risk and (personal, familial and social) resource factors on self-reported HRQoL in CPM.

Results: Self-reported HRQoL was reduced in CPM compared to Non-CPM in all domains, but in social support & peers. However, a minimal important difference was only reached in girls for the domain autonomy & parent relation. Internalizing and externalizing mental health problems were associated with impaired HRQoL in CPM. Self-efficacy, social support and family climate were identified as significant resources, but parental mental health problems over time were not associated with any investigated domain of HRQoL in CPM.