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Observational Study
. 2024 Sep 23:43:e2023175.
doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/2025/43/2023175. eCollection 2024.

Brazilian children's quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of contextual factors and dimensions

Tainá Ribas Mélo  1 , Luize Bueno de Araujo  2   3 , Marcos Claudio Signorelli  1 , Paulo Ricardo Bittencourt Guimarães  1 , Vera Lúcia Israel  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Brazilian children's quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of contextual factors and dimensions

Tainá Ribas Mélo et al. Rev Paul Pediatr. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the contextual factors associated with the quality of life (QOL) of Brazilian children aged 0-12 years during the strict period of social isolation.

Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2020 using an online questionnaire on QOL-related family factors and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™). Results were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Results: The sample had 849 children, mostly from the South Region of Brazil (75%), white (83%), with typical development (79%), sedentary (68%), using screen (85%) for >3 h/day (44%). Their mothers were their main caregivers (90%). The following variables were significantly associated with high scores of QOL: typical health status (OR 2.38; 95%CI 1.60-3.55; screen time ≤2 h/day (OR 1.62; 95%CI 1.17-2.24); social distancing considered as "easy" (OR 1.67; 95%CI 1.20-2.32), and stimulation of the child by the family (OR 1.93; 95%CI 1.08-3.45).

Conclusions: This study indicates that the family context can influence children's QOL, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and home environment reorganization.

Objetivo:: Investigar os fatores contextuais associados à qualidade de vida (QV) de crianças brasileiras de zero a 12 anos, em momento de ápice de distanciamento social. Métodos: Estudo observacional, transversal, online, de julho a setembro de 2020, com questionário sobre fatores do contexto familiar associados à QV e Inventário Pediátrico sobre QV — PedsQL™. A análise dos dados foi feita por de regressão logística multinomial.

Resultados:: A amostra foi de 849 crianças, na maioria da Região Sul (75%), brancas (83%), com desenvolvimento típico (79%), sedentárias (68%), com uso de telas (85%) em tempo >3h/dia (44%). As mães eram as cuidadoras principais (90%). Foram significativamente associadas a escores mais elevados de QV: a condição de saúde típica (odds ratio — OR 2,38; intervalo de confiança de 95% — IC95% 1,60–3,55), o tempo de tela ≤2h/dia (OR 1,62; IC95% 1,17–2,24), o distanciamento social considerado “fácil” (OR 1,67; IC95% 1,20–2,32) e a família afirmar estimular a criança (OR 1,93; IC95% 1,08–3,45).

Conclusões:: Este estudo mostra que o contexto familiar pode influenciar a QV de crianças, especialmente no período de pandemia e de reorganização do ambiente domiciliar.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests: The authors declare there is no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Health condition, activity and participation, and contextual factors of Brazilian children (0–12 years old) during the Covid-19 pandemic (July-September 2020).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Quality of life of Brazilian children (n=849) during the COVID-19 pandemic (July–September 2020).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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