Socioeconomic status and health behavior in children and adolescents: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Socioeconomic status affects individuals’ health behaviors and contributes to a complex relationship between health and development. Due to this complexity, the relationship between SES and health behaviors is not yet fully understood. This literature review, therefore, aims to assess the association between socioeconomic status and health behaviors in childhood and adolescence. Preferred Reporting for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis protocol guidelines were used to conduct a systematic literature review. The electronic online databases EBSCO Host, PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct were utilized to systematically search published articles. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical appeal tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Eligibility criteria such as study context, study participants, study setting, outcome measures, and key findings were used to identify relevant literature that measured the association between socioeconomic status and health behaviors. Out of 2,391 studies, only 46 met the final eligibility criteria and were assessed in this study. Our review found that children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status face an elevated risk of unhealthy behaviors (e.g., early initiation of smoking, high-energy-dense food, low physical activity, and involvement in drug abuse), in contrast to their counterparts. Conversely, children and adolescents from higher socioeconomic backgrounds exhibit a higher prevalence of health-promoting behaviors, such as increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, dairy products, regular breakfast, adherence to a nutritious diet, and engagement in an active lifestyle. The findings of this study underscore the necessity of implementing specific intervention measures aimed at providing assistance to families from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to mitigate the substantial disparities in health behavior outcomes in children and adolescents.

The Role of Parental Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Family Time Together in Children’s Weight Status: The BeE-School Project

“…Additionally, there seems to be an association between parents' educational level and child overweight/obesity, with the lowest educational level corresponding to the highest prevalence of obese children [30]. Furthermore, in relation to socioeconomic status and diet, Gautam and colleagues [33] found that higher socioeconomic status was associated with higher consumption of breakfast, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and a balanced diet in general. This aligns with our findings, confirming that the adoption of a Mediterranean diet among families with higher education levels promotes a healthy weight status for their children.…”

Communication and Social Determinants of Cancer Preventive Behaviors in Adolescents From Low Socio-Economic Backgrounds in India: A Cross-Sectional Study

“… 47 Our findings with adolescents are consistent with previous studies. 46 , 48 - 50 Fortunately, adolescents generally have a lower dependence on nicotine because of shorter exposure histories, which makes them more likely to quit. 51 Therefore, efforts should be made to reach families with low SES and uneducated fathers to raise awareness and encourage adolescents to never smoke or quit before they get addicted.…”

The comparative study of chronically ill and healthy children and adolescents in the light of their general mental health

“…The impact of sociodemographic background on the psychological characteristics of children grappling with chronic illnesses is a multifaceted domain warranting comprehensive examination. Socioeconomic status significantly influences access to healthcare resources, shaping the child's psychological resilience and coping strategies 22 . Economic disparities may contribute to heightened stress, impacting mental well-being 23 .…”