Validation of the U.S. English Version of the PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module

Abstract

Assessing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with chronic illnesses like diabetes is a growing area in pediatric psychology. Doing so across ethnic groups is important given the increased risk of diabetes to ethnic minority groups, particularly Hispanics. The psychometric properties of the self- and parent-proxy reports of the U.S. English version of the PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module (PedsQL 3.2 DM) were examined. Exploratory factor analyses supported a single-factor solution for the self- and parent-proxy reports, regardless of ethnicity. Moderate agreement was found between children’s ratings of their diabetes-specific HRQOL and their caregivers’ ratings of their children’s diabetes-specific HRQOL for the total sample, regardless of ethnicity, and for Hispanics. Self- and parent-reported diabetes-specific HRQOL did not vary according to ethnicity (non-Hispanic or Hispanic). Poorer glycemic control was associated with poorer diabetes-specific HRQOL for the total sample, regardless of ethnicity. The strength of this relationship was not significantly different based on ethnicity (non-Hispanic or Hispanic). Insufficient sample sizes did not permit for comparisons across type of diabetes or language of the measure. Future studies should examine the generalizability of these findings to children with type 2 diabetes and those who complete the PedsQL 3.2 DM in Spanish, especially given the rise in the incidence of children with type 2 diabetes and the continued growth of the Spanish-speaking population in the United States. The PedsQL 3.2 DM offers a brief way to examine diabetes-specific HRQOL in youth and provide tailored interventions to improve physical and mental health outcomes.