Quality of Life in Short Stature: Comparisons Between Normal Variants Short-Statured and Normal-Statured Children and Adolescents and Agreement with Their Parents

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate quality of life in children and adolescents with normal variants of short stature compared to age- and sex-matched individuals with normal stature and to assess the agreement between children/adolescents-reported and parent-reported outcomes. Methods: A total of 65 child–parent dyads were enrolled, including 29 children and adolescents with short stature (15 males, 14 females; mean age: 11.2 + 2.0 years; mean height standard deviation score, HSDS: −2.10 + 0.57) and 36 children and adolescents with normal stature (19 males, 17 females; mean age: 11.3 + 1.93 years; mean HSDS: 0.56 + 0.78). Quality of life was assessed using the Quality of Life in Short Stature Youth (QoLISSY) questionnaire. Statistical analyses included independent samples t-tests, and effect sizes were computed using Cohen’s d. Results: Among short-statured children and adolescents, no significant correlations were found between HSDS and all domains of quality of life. Short-statured children and adolescents exhibited significantly lower QoL across all domains compared to their normal-statured peers. Coping was higher in children and adolescents with short stature compared to their peers of normal stature. Similarly, parents of short-statured children and adolescents perceived a lower QoL for their sons and daughters and reported greater concern about the future and a more perceived personal impact than parents of normal-statured children and adolescents. No statistically significant differences were found between sons/daughters and parent reports, indicating a relatively high level of agreement in quality of life (QoL) perceptions. Conclusions: These findings underscore the psychosocial impact of short stature and highlight the importance of incorporating both child and parent perspectives in the clinical assessment.