Relationship between quality of life and resilience among sport-active Singaporean youth

Purpose : The study examines the relationship between paediatric quality of life (PEDSQL) and resilience, measured by the Singapore Youth Resilience Scale (SYRESS) among sport-active youth transiting from primary to secondary school education in Singapore. Method : The participants were 137 student-athletes aged 12.7 ± 0.3 years, height 156.0 ± 12.9 cm, and body mass 46.4 ± 10.2kg. PEDsQL and SYRESS questionnaires were administered at the start of the academic year and repeated again six months later. Results : Total health (PEDsQL) scores were significantly greater at baseline than when measured six months later (77.3±11.9 vs 72.1±11.8; p< 0.05) but there was no significant change in the SYRESS score (198.2 ± 25.3 vs 194.0 ± 27.4; p> 0.05). Total health in PEDsQL was significantly correlated to SYRESS scores at both time points (Baseline r s=0.61,p< 0.01; baseline plus 6 months r s=0.58, p< 0.01). Conclusions : The results reflect a linkage between student’s resilience and PedsQL outcomes. Student-athletes perceived the transition from primary to secondary school to be a difficult period and sport-active youth are a unique population compared to normal school going youth.