Health Inequality in Adolescence
Author Information
Author(s): LK Koivusilta, AH Rimpelä, SM Kautiainen
Primary Institution: University of Turku
Hypothesis
Can different indicators of social stratification effectively detect health inequality among adolescents?
Conclusion
Adolescents' personal social position is a stronger predictor of health inequality than traditional indicators of familial social position.
Supporting Evidence
- Adolescents from higher social positions were healthier than those from lower positions.
- Health inequality was only partly identifiable by traditional indicators of familial social position.
- Indicators of family's material affluence showed weak or no association with health.
Takeaway
This study found that how well kids do in school is more important for their health than their parents' jobs or how much money their family has.
Methodology
Survey data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 12-, 14-, and 16-year-old Finns using a self-administered questionnaire.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to non-response and the difficulty of accurately reporting parental socio-economic status.
Limitations
Some indicators had high missing values, and the study may not fully capture the complexity of health inequality.
Participant Demographics
The study included 5394 adolescents aged 12, 14, and 16 from Finland.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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