Age and Gender Features of the Quality of Life of Children of Primary School Age With Different Cognitive Development

Abstract

The current problems of pediatrics are the individual approach and optimization of quality of life (QOL) of primary school children. The aim of our research was to study the QOL among children of primary school age according to their cognitive development and gender and age characteristics. Study design: cognitive development was studied using the D.Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT). As a result, 573 primary school children were divided into two groups: the first with a high cognitive level (82 children) and the second with a medium level (491 children). The PedsQL 4.0 questionnaire, used by children attending schools in cities of Rostov-on-Don and Lugansk for 4 years, served as a tool for evaluation of the QOL. Physical, emotional, social functioning, psycho-social health have been studied and an overall QOL score was presented. More reduced QOL indicators were found in children with a high cognitive level, with the exception of school functioning. Girls with higher levels of cognition have been found to have lower levels of physical and emotional functioning than boys, but higher levels of social functioning. Conclusion: the is a need to change approaches to teaching children in physical education lessons and conduct additional consultations of child psychologists and pediatricians to optimize the education of children.