Impact of resilience on the health-related quality of life of adolescents with a chronic health problem: A structural equation approach: Resilience and health-related quality of life of adolescents

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to test the impact of resilience on the health-related quality of life among adolescents with a chronic health problem, we established a structural model to explain patients’ health-related quality of life. Background: There are various resilience-related factors with major effects on the health-related quality of life among adolescents with a chronic disease; however, little is known about relationships among resilience, these influencing factors and direct and indirect effects of health-related quality of life among adolescents with a chronic health problem. Design: This study adopted a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design. Methods: Participants were 220 adolescents with a chronic disease who were aged between 10 and 18 years and currently receiving treatment at a hospital or clinic for least 6 months from February to October 2017 in Korea. Results: This study verifies that hope and courageous coping had direct effects on the resilience of adolescents with a chronic health problem and the level of direct effects on health-related quality of life was in the following order: hope, resilience and courageous coping. In addition, illness-related distress, social support, hope and defensive coping had indirect effects on resilience and the level of indirect effects on health-related quality of life was in the following order: illness-related distress, social support, defensive coping, hope and courageous coping. Conclusion: Resilience is a major factor that improves health-related quality of life among adolescents with a chronic health problem. In consideration of the direct and indirect paths verified through this study, it is necessary to develop interventions to improve health-related quality of life among adolescents with a chronic health problem. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd