Socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health behaviours across 32 different countries - The role of country-level social mobility

Bibliographic Data

ID4589847
AuthorsHeiko Schmengler (0000-0002-3925-4150, Utrecht University, corresponding author), M Peeters (0000-0001-8861-5744, Utrecht University), Gonneke W J M Stevens (0000-0001-9929-7972, Utrecht University), Anton E Kunst (0000-0002-3313-5273, Amsterdam University Medical Centers), Katrijn Delaruelle (0000-0001-6726-6952, Ghent University), Maxim Dierckens (0000-0001-8991-9352, Ghent University), Landy Charrier (0000-0002-1300-4508), Lorena Charrier, Dominic Weinberg (0000-0003-3422-9500, Utrecht University), Dom Weinberg, Albertine J Oldehinkel (0000-0003-3925-3913, University Medical Center Groningen), Wilma Vollebergh (0000-0003-3532-3072, Utrecht University), Wilma A M Vollebergh
Year2022
Volume310
Pages115289
Publication date2022-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science & Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0277-9536 • E-ISSN: 1873-5347
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115289
PMID35994878
OpenAlexW4291312946
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited61

Higher family affluence is associated with healthier behaviours in adolescents, but the strength of this association varies across countries. Differences in social mobility at the country-level, i.e. the extent to which adolescents develop a different socioeconomic status (SES) than their parents, may partially explain why the association between family affluence and adolescent health behaviours is stronger in some countries than in others. Using data from adolescents aged 11-15 years from 32 countries, participating in the 2017/2018 wave of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study (N = 185,086), we employed multilevel regression models with cross-level interactions to examine whether country-level social mobility moderates the association between family affluence and adolescent health behaviours (i.e. moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, vigorous physical activity, healthy and unhealthy foods consumption, having breakfast regularly, and weekly smoking). Higher family affluence was more strongly associated with higher levels of adolescent physical activity in countries characterized by high levels of social mobility. No cross-level interactions were found for any of the other health behaviours. Differences in social mobility at the country-level may contribute to cross-national variations in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent physical activity. Further research can shed light on the mechanisms linking country-level social mobility to inequalities in adolescent physical activity to identify targets for policy and interventions

Adolescent health · Association (psychology · Environmental health · Inequality · Multilevel model · Political science · Population · Psychological intervention · Public health · Social class · Social determinants of health · Social inequality · Social mobility · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Physical Activity and Health · Psychology · Gerontology

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