Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Child Indicators Research, cilt.16, sa.4, ss.1503-1526, 2023 (SSCI)
The present study aimed to assess the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and quality of life (QoL) of 2nd and 5th-grade primary school students utilizing multivariate analysis methods. This is a retrospective registry study. The data were obtained from the forms dated back to the years 2017 that nursing students used in school health practices. Accordingly, 866 registration forms belonging to 2nd-grade (412) students from three primary schools and 5th-grade (454) students from three secondary schools were included in the analyses. The data were evaluated in the general introductory information form including the socio-demographic characteristics and health behaviors of the students in the health screening forms and the Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire (PedsQL4) form. Of the students, 50.9% were girls, 75.9% always ate their meal before school, 55.3% always brought food to school, 86.1% ate three or more meals a day, 47% 61.4% brushed their teeth twice a day or more, 78.2% washed their hands before eating and 71.7% after using the toilet, and 9.2% was found to be obese. The mean T scores of the students in PedsQL total and physiological, emotional, social, school, and psychosocial sub-dimensions were 83.7, 81.8, 83.5, 83.3, and 84.7, respectively, and these values were found to be very high. Studying in the 5th grade compared to the 2nd grade, being a male, having a good self-perception and perception by the family of school achievements, always eating a meal before school, brushing teeth two times a day or more, not having any diseases, and using the computer for playing games 1–2 h was found to be statistically related. Body mass index percentile, the family's interest level towards the child, the mother and father's education level, the number of siblings, bringing food to school, number of daily meals, hand washing habits, weekly bathing frequency, daily sleep time, TV watching time, playing outside time, and the frequency of doing sports was found to be not significant. The QoL total and sub-dimension levels of the students were high, and these levels increased even more from the 2nd grade towards the 5th grade. The quality of life is higher for children who come to school after eating their meals, brushing their teeth regularly, have no diseases, and play games on the computer for a shorter period.