The Impact of Peer Victimization and Psychological Symptoms on Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with FMF

Abstract

Background: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited, chronic,autoinflammatory disease that causes fever, arthritis, and inflammation of serousmembranes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of peer bullyingand psychological symptoms on the quality of life of children and adolescents withFMF.Methods: Forty-three children and adolescents aged 8–18 followed up withdiagnoses of FMF and volunteering to take part, and 32 healthy controls wereincluded in this study. Subjects who agreed to participate completed the ChildDepression Inventory (CDI), Screen for Child Anxiety-Related EmotionalDisorders (SCARED), Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (OBQ), and PediatricQuality of Life Questionnaire (PedsQL)- child form. Parents also completed thePediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire (PedsQL)-parent form.Results: Peer bullying victim role, CDI, total SCARED, and SCARED schoolfear scores were significantly higher in the group diagnosed with FMF than in thehealthy controls, while scores for PedsQL completed by children and parents weresignificantly lower. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant negativecorrelation between the CDI scores, SCARED scores, and total PedsQL scoresof children with FMF. Quality of life was lower in children and adolescents withFMF exposed to peer bullying in the victim, bully, and bully/victim roles.Conclusions: This study suggests that the presence of peer bullying, depression,and anxiety may have an adverse impact on the quality of life of children andadolescents with FMF.