Objective To assess the impact of allergic diseases on the subjective well-being and life satisfaction of primary-school children.

Design Population-based cohort.

Setting Finnish sample of children ages 10 and 12 from the International Survey of Children’s Well-Being.

Participants Nationally representative sample of 1947 school children.

Main outcome measure
Two different instruments to assess the child’s own perception of
well-being, the short version of the Student Life Satisfaction Scale
(SLSS) and the Brief Multidimensional Student Life Satisfaction Scale
(BMSLSS).

Results
Altogether, 51.4% of children reported having at least one allergic
condition (10.1% asthma, 23.8% eczema and 40.3% seasonal allergic
rhinitis). A statistically significant distinction in life satisfaction
emerged between non-allergic and allergic children (inferior in the
latter). In particular, children with eczema were more likely to report a
reduction in life satisfaction compared with non-allergic children
(SLSS β=−128.220; BMSLSS β=−90.694; p<0.01). Apart from freedom from
eczema, good life satisfaction was associated with a physically active
lifestyle.

Conclusions
Active allergic disease reduces the child’s own perception of
well-being. During clinical visits, more attention should be paid to the
child’s psychosocial status and impairments, which may differ
substantially from those of parents or medical authorities.