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Social factors and life events as predictors for children's health. A one-year prospective study within a general
Insights
Social factors minimally predict hospitalization in children. However, short-term psychosocial stress increases general practitioner visits, while long-term stress is linked to poor child health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- General Practice
- Psychosocial Health
Background:
- Understanding the interplay between psychosocial factors and child health is crucial for primary care.
- Previous research has explored social determinants of health, but specific links to pediatric healthcare utilization and perceived health require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive value of social background and life events on children's health outcomes.
- To examine the association between psychosocial stress indices and healthcare utilization (hospitalization, general practitioner consultations) and perceived poor health in children.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study was conducted over one year.
- Data on social background, life events, and initial diseases were collected during a general practitioner consultation.
- Follow-up data on health status, hospital admissions, and general practitioner consultations were obtained one year later.
- Multivariate predictor-analysis was employed to assess associations.
Main Results:
- 13% of children were hospitalized, and 12% had more than five general practitioner consultations during the follow-up year.
- 6% of parents reported their child had poor health.
- Selected social or psychosocial factors showed limited predictive importance for later hospitalization.
- Short-term psychosocial stress indices were associated with an increased risk of frequent general practitioner consultations.
- Long-term psychosocial stress indices were partly predictive of children's perceived poor health.
Conclusions:
- While social factors have minimal impact on predicting pediatric hospitalization, psychosocial stress plays a significant role in healthcare utilization.
- Short-term psychosocial stress is linked to increased primary care visits, highlighting its importance in general practice.
- Long-term psychosocial stress is a contributing factor to perceived poor health in children, suggesting a need for targeted interventions.
Abstract:
During a period of one year information was obtained concerning social background, life events and diseases among children, who happened to consult the general practitioner. One year after this index consultation information concerning the children's present state of health was obtained. 43 (13%) had been admitted to hospital during the follow-up year. 45 (12%) had had more than 5 consultations at the general practitioner, and the parents of 23 children (6%) stated that their child had poor health. A multivariate predictor-analysis was performed. The associations discovered suggest 1) that the selected social or psycho-social factors do not appear to be of considerable importance for prediction of later hospitalization, 2) that indices for short-term psycho-social stress appear to increase the risk for many consultations at the general practitioner, 3) that "poor health" in the children is partly predicted by indices for more longterm psycho-social stress.