Role of contextual and compositional characteristics of schools for health inequalities in childhood and adolescence: protocol for a scoping review

Abstract

IntroductionChildhood and adolescence are crucial life stages for health trajectories and the development of health inequalities in later life. The relevance of schools for health and well-being of children and adolescents has long been recognised, and there is some research regarding the association of contextual and compositional characteristics of schools and classes with health, health behaviour and well-being in this population. Little is known about the role of meso-level characteristics in relation to health inequalities. The aim of this scoping review is to retrieve and synthesise evidence about the mediating or moderating role of compositional or contextual characteristics of schools for the association between students’ socioeconomic position and health in primary and secondary education.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a systematic search of electronic databases in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and Education Resources Information Center. Studies must meet the following inclusion criteria: (1) The population must be students attending primary or secondary schools in developed economies. (2) The outcomes must include at least one indicator for individual health, health behaviour or well-being. (3) The study must include at least one contextual or compositional characteristic of the school context and one individual determinant of socioeconomic position. (4) The study must also examine the mediating or moderating role of the contextual or compositional characteristic of the school context for the associations between socioeconomic position and health, health behaviour or well-being. (5) The study must be published since 1 January 2000 in English or German language. We will provide a narrative synthesis of findings.Ethics and disseminationWe will not collect primary data and only include secondary data derived from previously published studies. Therefore, ethical approval is not required. We intend to publish our findings in an international peer-reviewed journal and to present them at national and international conferences.

Moderating or mediating effects of family characteristics on socioeconomic inequalities in child health in high-income countries – a scoping review

“…One limitation is that despite a large number of children attending day care facilities, this review focuses exclusively on the mediating and moderating effects of the family as the most important social environment in early childhood. The findings presented here should, therefore, be supplemented by reviews of cooperating research groups [ 68 ] on the effects of further relevant social environments, such as kindergartens [ 69 ] and schools [ 70 ], and by reviews examining late childhood and adolescence [ 29 ].…”

The impact of parental substance use disorder and other family-related problems on school related outcomes

“…This study demonstrates how PSUD and family-related problems are associated with poorer school outcomes. School attendance and success in school are important on many levels and have a major influence on the physical, psychological and social development of children and adolescents ( Herke et al., 2020 ). But if school performance and retention in the educational system are impacted by family-related problems, including PSUD, this can lead to more inequalities, not only for the individual but also on a group level.…”

“…School is perhaps the most pivotal context outside the home and where children spend a significant amount of time. Success in school and academic achievements have an effect on the later health, well-being and problem behavior of individuals ( Gauffin et al., 2013 ; Hawkins et al., 1992 ; Herke et al., 2020 ; Johnson and Leff, 1999 ). At a societal level, governments often focus on educational attainment as a tool to promote social mobility ( Landersø and Heckman, 2017 ), and researchers have argued (and debated) how having a well-educated general population is economically beneficial ( Browne et al., 2010 ; Hanushek, 2016 ).…”

Mediators of socioeconomic differences in obesity among youth in Ireland and the UK (2011-2021): A Scoping Review Protocol

“…Around 55% of obese children will be obese in adolescence, and 80% of those obese in adolescence will remain obese entering adulthood (Simmonds et al, 2015, Simmonds et al, 2016. Therefore, with childhood and adolescence being crucial life stages that guide health trajectories that might lead to obesity and health inequalities, there is clear evidence that the best approach to long-term, sustainable change in the obesity profile of Ireland is to prevent obesity in early life (HSE, 2016, Herke et al, 2020.…”