Quality of life among children aged 2-17 years in the five Nordic countries. Comparison between 1984 and 1996.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to analyse children's quality of life (QoL) in the five Nordic countries from 1984 to 1996, a period in which major economic recessions occurred.

METHODS

The study design was cross-sectional based on a random sample of 3000 children in each country, aged 2 to 17 years, totalling 15,000 in 1984 and 15,000 in 1996. The data were collected by mailed questionnaires. QoL was analysed for three spheres of life: external, interpersonal, personal including both factual and perceived variables. The external sphere represented the socio-economic conditions for the child's family, the interpersonal sphere the structure and the function of the child's social networks and the personal sphere the psychological well-being of the child.

RESULTS

The total QoL for Nordic children from 1984 to 1996 increased, but there were differences in the development of QoL between the countries. The objective QoL became better, at the same time the subjective QoL worsened, except in Denmark and Iceland. The external QoL became better, whereas the interpersonal QoL was nearly unchanged but there were differences in the development between countries. The personal QoL worsened slightly except for children in Iceland. The ranking between countries changed. Danish children had the highest subjective and Norwegian children the highest objective and external QoL. Swedish children had the highest personal QoL. Children 7-12 years had the highest QoL. Girls had a tendency to higher QoL in all ages.

CONCLUSION

Nordic children still enjoy a high standard of living in spite of economic constraints, and the prerequisites for a high QoL are fulfilled. Further research is suggested for clarifying the complex background of these results.