Empirical comparison of health-related quality of life and subjective well-being measures in Australian adolescents

Winn, KM; Woode, ME; Chen, G

Author(s): Winn, KM; Woode, ME; Chen, G;
Details: Publication Year 2026-08,Volume 35,Issue #8,Page 227
Journal Title: Quality of Life Research
Publication Type: Research article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and subjective well-being (SWB) are increasingly used to capture aspects of welfare beyond traditional health indicators; however, their conceptual distinction has not been fully resolved. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the empirical relationships between HRQoL, measured using Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D), EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-5L with psychosocial bolt-ons and SWB, measured using a 12-item Life Satisfaction Scale for Youth (LSS-Y) and the Disability Wellbeing Index (DWI), among Australian adolescents, and explores factors associated with these outcomes. METHODS: A nationwide, quota-based online survey was administered to Australian adolescents aged 15-19 years. The survey included the above instruments and sociodemographic questions. Psychometric analyses, including Spearman's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and exploratory factor analyses (EFA), were conducted to examine interrelationships and latent structures. Regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with the outcome measures. RESULTS: Data were collected from 1026 adolescents (44.5% female). Of these, 510 completed the CHU9D and 516 completed the EQ-5D-5L with psychosocial bolt-ons under a randomised design; all participants completed the LSS-Y and DWI. No HRQoL dimension showed strong correlations (Spearman's ρ > 0.60) with SWB dimensions, and EFA revealed limited overlap in latent constructs. Regression analyses identified general health, socioeconomic status, gender, migration status, and disability status as significant determinants of adolescents' health and well-being. CONCLUSION: HRQoL and SWB are not interchangeable but provide complementary insights. Using both measures may offer a more comprehensive understanding of adolescents' overall well-being.
Publisher: Springer Nature
Keywords: Humans; Adolescent; *Quality of Life/psychology; Female; Male; Australia; Psychological Well-Being; Psychometrics; Surveys and Questionnaires; *Health Status; Young Adult; *Personal Satisfaction; Chu9d; Dwi; Eq-5d-5l; Health-related quality of life; Subjective well-being
Department(s): Health Services Research
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-026-04331-8
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-026-04331-8
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2026-08-06 02:27:27

Last Modified: 2026-08-06 02:27:32