Comparing Measures of Subjective Wellbeing and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents
1
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
2
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
3
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2590
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The importance of measuring subjective wellbeing (SWB) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been increasingly recognised in public health and health services research and evaluation. They enable subjective evaluation of welfare beyond traditional health indicators. This study aimed to examine the empirical relationships between SWB and HRQoL among adolescents.
METHODS:
A nationwide, quota-based online survey was administered to adolescents aged 15–19 years in Australia. SWB was measured using the 12-item life domain satisfaction question set for young people (LSS-Y) and the Disability Wellbeing Index (DWI). HRQoL was assessed using the Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D) and the EQ-5D-5L, along with four psychosocial bolt-on dimensions. Socio-demographic characteristics and disability status were also collected. Psychometric analyses and exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were conducted to examine interrelationships and latent structures among outcome measures, whilst regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with adolescents’ outcomes.
RESULTS:
Data were collected from 1,026 adolescents (44.5% female). All participants completed the LSS-Y and DWI; following randomisation, 510 respondents completed the CHU9D and 516 completed the EQ-5D-5L with psychosocial bolt-ons. No HRQoL dimension showed strong correlations with SWB dimensions, and EFA revealed limited overlap in the latent constructs. Regression analyses found that gender, self-reported health, self-reported socioeconomic status, country of birth, and disability status were significantly associated with SWB and/or HRQoL.
CONCLUSIONS:
HRQoL and SWB are not interchangeable and provide complementary insights. Using both measures may provide a more comprehensive assessment to inform public health research and practice.
The importance of measuring subjective wellbeing (SWB) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been increasingly recognised in public health and health services research and evaluation. They enable subjective evaluation of welfare beyond traditional health indicators. This study aimed to examine the empirical relationships between SWB and HRQoL among adolescents.
METHODS:
A nationwide, quota-based online survey was administered to adolescents aged 15–19 years in Australia. SWB was measured using the 12-item life domain satisfaction question set for young people (LSS-Y) and the Disability Wellbeing Index (DWI). HRQoL was assessed using the Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D) and the EQ-5D-5L, along with four psychosocial bolt-on dimensions. Socio-demographic characteristics and disability status were also collected. Psychometric analyses and exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were conducted to examine interrelationships and latent structures among outcome measures, whilst regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with adolescents’ outcomes.
RESULTS:
Data were collected from 1,026 adolescents (44.5% female). All participants completed the LSS-Y and DWI; following randomisation, 510 respondents completed the CHU9D and 516 completed the EQ-5D-5L with psychosocial bolt-ons. No HRQoL dimension showed strong correlations with SWB dimensions, and EFA revealed limited overlap in the latent constructs. Regression analyses found that gender, self-reported health, self-reported socioeconomic status, country of birth, and disability status were significantly associated with SWB and/or HRQoL.
CONCLUSIONS:
HRQoL and SWB are not interchangeable and provide complementary insights. Using both measures may provide a more comprehensive assessment to inform public health research and practice.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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