https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0210-0772
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the effects of trunk asymmetry on the health-related quality of life of early adolescents and to identify daily activities that were associated with trunk asymmetry in this cohort.
Methods
This study included 200 early adolescents (52 male and 148 female) aged 10 to 14 years in Hong Kong. Among them, 100 adolescents were considered to have trunk asymmetry with angle of trunk rotation ≥5° and one or more physical signs on visual inspection. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey was used to measure the eight scales under the physical and mental domains of the health-related quality of life. The adolescents reported their average daily durations spent (1) using a computer; (2) using a smartphone; (3) watching television, videos or DVDs; (4) doing homework; and (5) doing physical exercise. Independent samples t-tests, chi-square (χ2) tests or Mann–Whitney U-tests were performed to compare the health-related quality of life and the average daily duration of daily activities between early adolescents with and without trunk asymmetry. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the odds ratios of daily activities for trunk asymmetry.
Results
Compared with early adolescents without trunk asymmetry, those with trunk asymmetry had a lower health-related quality of life in some of the physical domains, namely, bodily pain and general health, and all mental domains, namely, vitality (energy/fatigue), social functioning, role limitation due to emotional problems and mental health (p < 0.05). Use of computer was found to be significantly associated with trunk asymmetry in early adolescents (OR = 1.63, 95% CI [1.23, 2.14]).
Conclusion
Our results indicate that increased computer use is associated with trunk asymmetry, which negatively impacts the health-related quality of life in early adolescents.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by funding from the Research Grant Council - General Research Fund granted to The Chinese University of Hong Kong (MC, 14607519) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (JY, 15208018), and the Innovation and Technology Fund - Innovation and Technology Support Program - Public Sector Trial Scheme granted to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (JY, ITT/025/19GP).
Disclosure
Professor Mei-Chun Cheung reports grants from Research Grant Council - General Research Fund, during the conduct of the study. Dr Joanne Yip reports grants from Research Grant Council - General Research Fund, and Innovation and Technology Fund, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.