Subjective quality of life among youth with severe physical disabilities during the transition to adulthood in Finland

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the subjective quality of life among youth with severe physical disabilities during the transition to adulthood.

Method: A purposive sample of 74 youths (mean age 20.19) with severe physical disabilities completed World Health Organization Quality of Life – Brèf (WHOQOL-BREF) to measure the quality of life; the Severely Disabled Youths’ Life Situation and Functioning of Service Systems in Finland to measure health issues. The data were analyzed using one-sample and independent-samples t-tests, and sequential multiple regression analysis.

Results: Compared to youth without disabilities, the study youth scored lower values in physical, social, and environmental quality of life. No gender differences were found in the quality of life among youth with severe physical disabilities. Age, gender, and intensity of pain were associated with quality of life.

Conclusions: This evidence-based knowledge can be used to provide guidance for policy issues such as providing health and social services for youth with severe physical disabilities in Finland.

Keywords:

• Youth
• severe physical disability
• subjective quality of life
• transition to adulthood
• gender differences
• pain

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their deep gratitude to the youths for participating in this study. We also thank Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Department of Child Neurology for valuable contribution to this study. Thanks also Statistical Analyst Jukka-Pekka Kesonen, at the University of Jyvaskyla, for giving valuable advice in statistical analyses. Finally, we would like to thank the Finnish Society for Disability Research for funding this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Error! Hyperlink reference not valid..