Abstract
Background: Income inequality is an important indicator of socioeconomic position which is a determinant of social, psychological, and physical health outcomes from childhood to adulthood. Different income inequality instruments (metrics) are used to investigate associations between income inequality and health outcomes (e.g. Gini coefficient, Theil Index). Income inequality instruments provide unique information on the construct of socioeconomic inequality. Albeit there is variation in studies as to the type and rationale for using a particular quantitative instrument of income inequality. The aim of this systematic review will investigate and identify the most used quantitative income inequality instrument in studies of children and adolescents Methods: The PRISMA-P framework will be applied to identify high quality articles (PROSPERO: CRD42021259114). A search will be conducted in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO. The search will include studies concerned with income inequality and/or socioeconomic inequality in children and adolescents. All articles will be independently reviewed, data extracted, and quality appraised by two reviewers and a third to arbitrate disputes. Articles will be initially reviewed by title and abstract using inclusion criteria. A data extraction form will be used. Three questions will be answered on the quality of the rationale for using a particular income inequality instrument and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale will be used to assess bias and quality. The primary outcome of interest is the type and frequency of quantitative income inequality instrument used and the study outcome associated with that income inequality instrument. Conclusions: This systematic review will aim to explore and provide a summary of the different types of quantitative income inequality instruments used in studies of child and adolescent populations. This will help to guide researchers and policy makers on the inclusion and use of income inequality metrics in future studies aimed at understanding associations with health and social outcomes in children and adolescents.
Highlights
Introduction and backgroundIncome inequality demonstrates continual income gap between households that are either predisposed to or result in further social deprivation, evolving mental disorders, social and justice conflict, poor education, poor employment attainment and lower life expectancy (Buttrick et al, 2017; Chen et al, 2007; Coburn, 2000; Kawachi & Kennedy, 1997; Lillard et al, 2015; Lynch et al, 2000)
The effect of income inequality on child health outcomes differs throughout the life course, e.g. study findings differ as to the effect of income inequality on mortality based on age (Lynch et al, 2001; McIsaac & Wilkinson, 1997)
The objectives of this systematic review protocol are to (a) determine the frequency of use of each quantitative income inequality instrument within studies investigating child and adolescent outcomes, (b) to ascertain if the frequency, or preference of these quantitative income inequality instruments varies differently depending on characteristics, (c) to determine the frequency of each wealth source utilised within each income inequality instrument, (d) to discuss possible advantages and disadvantages of each income inequality instrument
Summary
A preliminary search of PubMed and Embase database did not yield any systematic reviews investigating the frequency of quantitative income inequality instruments used in outcome studies This illustrates that this review will be the first to report the frequency of use of each quantitative income inequality instrument in studies of children and adolescents. The objectives of this systematic review protocol are to (a) determine the frequency of use of each quantitative income inequality instrument within studies investigating child and adolescent outcomes, (b) to ascertain if the frequency, or preference of these quantitative income inequality instruments varies differently depending on characteristics (e.g. country, health outcome etc), (c) to determine the frequency of each wealth source utilised within each income inequality instrument, (d) to discuss possible advantages and disadvantages of each income inequality instrument. - The advantages and disadvantages of each method of defining and assessing quantitative income inequality instruments in studies of children and adolescents are not well understood
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
