School‐ and Family‐Level Socioeconomic Status and Health Behaviors: Multilevel Analysis of a National Survey in Wales, United Kingdom

Abstract

BackgroundInterventions to address inequalities in adolescent health behaviors often target children from less affluent families, or schools in poorer areas. Few studies have examined whether school- or family-level affluence predicts health behaviors independently, or in combination.MethodsThis article reports secondary analysis of the Welsh Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. Mixed-effects logistic regression models test associations of school and family socioeconomic status (SES) with smoking, fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol consumption, and physical activity.ResultsHigher family SES was associated with healthier behaviors, except in relation to alcohol consumption. For all behaviors except physical activity, school-level SES was independently associated with healthier behaviors. In higher SES schools, a stronger association of family SES with health behavior was observed, particularly in relation to smoking and physical activity.ConclusionsSchool and family SES may exert independent and combined influences upon adolescent health behaviors. Targeting interventions toward deprived schools may fail to address substantial inequalities within more affluent schools. Targeting deprived families may fail to address behaviors of children from affluent families, attending more deprived schools. Identifying universal health improvement interventions which have greater effects among children from poorer backgrounds may be a more effective means of reducing inequalities.

The associations of personality traits and parental education with smoking behaviour among adolescents

“…Furthermore, our results are similar to those reported in previous studies that found an association between family SES and smoking among adolescents [12, 17]. We found an association between an indicator of family SES, highest parental educational level, and regular smoking, but we did not find an association between parental education and triers.…”

“…A recent cross-sectional study of 35 countries showed socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent smoking behaviour: boys and girls from poorer families were more likely to be smokers, and this association was mediated by an unequal distribution of family factors such as family structure and relationships with parents [12]. Crucially, while smoking rates among adults and adolescents are in decline in many western countries, including Spain [14, 15], these changes do not occur equally across different socioeconomic levels [10, 16, 17]. Adults with at least some college education had a significantly greater decline in smoking prevalence than those whose highest level of education is high school or less [18].…”

Student health and well-being in secondary schools: the role of school support staff alongside teaching staff

“…Adolescent health behaviours such as physical activity, diet and substance use (Boreham et al, 2004) as well as outcomes, such as mental health and subjective well-being (Park, 2004), track into adulthood and are patterned by social and economic characteristics throughout the life course (Moore & Littlecott, 2015a; Moore, Littlecott, Turley, Waters, & Murphy, 2015b). Thus, adolescence is a key life-course period during which to intervene to establish healthier trajectories.…”

The Relationship between Multiple Substance Use, Perceived Academic Achievements, and Selected Socio-Demographic Factors in a Polish Adolescent Sample

“…Attention should be paid to multiple substance use and thereby more complex “user profiles” as well as their social and cultural background. The impact of socioeconomic factors on psychoactive substance use by young people is studied at various levels, taking into consideration the socioeconomic status of the family [8], the social structure of students in a given school [9], neighbourhood features [10], and the country’s macroeconomic indicators [11]. …”