Health at age 11: reports from schoolchildren and their parents

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To present self reports by children and reports by parents on behalf of their children relating to general health, current conditions, and recent symptoms. DESIGN Questionnaires completed by children and parents as part of the longitudinal “West of Scotland 11 to 16 study: teenage health.” SETTING 135 primary schools in Central Clydeside. SUBJECTS 2586 children aged 11 years, surveyed from October 1994 to March 1995 (response rate 93%). Questionnaires also completed by parents of 86% of the sample. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Ratings of health over the past 12 months, presence of (limiting) longstanding illness, nine current conditions, and 11 recent symptoms. RESULTS Only 47% of children described their health as “good” in the previous year. Around 20% reported a longstanding illness and 8% a limiting illness; 20% reported migraine or headaches, 13% reported asthma. Recent stomach aches or sickness, colds or flu, and headaches were each reported by around 60%. “Malaise” (emotional) symptoms were common. Parents reported similar levels of (limiting) longstanding illness, but rates of conditions and symptoms reported by parents were lower than reported by their children. Parent–child agreement was greatest for the presence of longstanding illness and the conditions of asthma, diabetes, and skin problems. It was lower for recent symptoms, particularly those categorised as reflecting malaise. CONCLUSIONS These results challenge assumptions of good health and wellbeing at this age. Illness reporting depends on various factors, including saliency, social desirability, and definitions of normality. Parent–child discrepancies may reflect different definitions of illness or symptoms; they do not mean that one should be dismissed as “wrong.” Self reported health, conditions, and symptoms at age 11, and reports from parents on behalf of children, run counter to any assumption of youthful healthiness. Symptoms of malaise, such as irritability, anxiety, and unhappiness, were each reported by over one third of children. Parents were less likely to report both conditions and symptoms than children themselves. Parent–child agreement was highest for conditions that are common, visible, or diagnosed. Greatest disagreement occurred in respect of a child’s emotional state.