The impact of sociodemographic conditions on quality of life among adolescents in a Brazilian birth cohort: a longitudinal study

Objective. To examine associations between certain aspects of self-reported Quality of Life (QoL) in early adolescence, and gender, skin color, maternal education at birth, and changes in socioeconomic position (SEP) occurring from 0-11 years of age. Methods. A longitudinal study of a birth cohort composed of 5 249 individuals born in 1993 in Pelotas, Brazil, who were followed periodically from birth to age 11. Socioeconomic variables were collected at birth in 1993, and again, in 2004. The following eight variables were analyzed: relationship with mother, relationship with father, family conflicts, physical punishment by parents, family relationship problems, discrimination, academic failure, and fear of neighborhood of residence. Adjustments were made using a hierarchical model. Results. Skin color was related to all the variables (more so for nonwhites than for whites), except in family conflicts. Physical punishment and academic failure were more frequent in males. Discrimination and fear of neighborhood were more prevalent in females. Maternal education at birth was inversely associated, especially with failing/repeating a grade in school (19.5 times more frequent in the lower maternal education group than in the highest). A similar pattern was found with the SEP change: worse QoL in the group that was always poor (at birth and at 11 years of age) than in the group that was never poor. Fear of neighborhood was not related to maternal education or SEP change. Conclusions. Gender, skin color, maternal education, and SEP change were related to various measured aspects of QoL. These results should be considered in policymaking that seeks to minimize inequities at birth, across the life-course, and for future generations.