Socio-economic differentials in the health-related quality of life of Australian children: results of a national study

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQL) of children living in different socio-economic contexts in Australia. METHODS: Parental reports describing the HRQL and socio-economic status of a random national sample of 3,597 school-age children were obtained using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) and a standardised socio-economic interview. Response rate was 70%. RESULTS: Children in families of higher income, whose parents had more years of schooling and were employed and children who lived in two-parent, original families had significantly higher HRQL across a range of domains assessed by the CHQ. CONCLUSION: Children from lower socio-economic backgrounds in Australia have a significantly more negative experience of health and wellness. Such differences may well increase unless deliberate political attention is given to addressing the widening differences in relative wealth in Australia.