Abstract
ObjectivesWe aimed to assess the development of the socioeconomic gradient in health-related behaviour (HRB) among Slovak adolescents between 1998 and 2006.MethodsData were collected in 1998 (n = 2,616; 14.9 ± 0.6 years) and in 2006 (n = 1,081; 14.3 ± 0.6 years). ORs of socioeconomic differences—as measured by parental education—were calculated for each cohort in smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, and the interactions of socioeconomic position and the time period on these behaviours were calculated.ResultsThe higher odds of smoking in the low socioeconomic group compared to the high socioeconomic group decreased among boys (interaction OR 0.54), but became evident among girls (interaction OR 1.96). In alcohol consumption, no socioeconomic differences were found among boys, but the higher odds among girls from high socioeconomic position compared with those from low socioeconomic position disappeared in 2006. In physical inactivity, socioeconomic differences increased among boys but not among girls.ConclusionDuring this period, socioeconomic differences in HRB developed in a different way among boys than among girls. Prevalence rates in substance use increased especially among girls from the low socioeconomic group. This group should be particularly targeted by prevention programs.
Highlights
Socioeconomic (SE) differences in adulthood in healthrelated behaviour (HRB) have been documented in several studies (Cavelaars et al 1997; Tyroler 1999; Droomers et al 1999; Wardle et al 2003)
No socioeconomic differences were found among boys, but the higher odds among girls from high socioeconomic position compared with those from low socioeconomic position disappeared in 2006
We aimed to assess the development of the socioeconomic gradient in smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity among Slovak adolescents between 1998 and 2006
Summary
Socioeconomic (SE) differences in adulthood in healthrelated behaviour (HRB) have been documented in several studies (Cavelaars et al 1997; Tyroler 1999; Droomers et al 1999; Wardle et al 2003). In their review of studies on HRB among Western adolescents, Hanson and Chen (2007) found that smoking and especially insufficient physical activity and unhealthy nutritional behaviour were mostly associated with lower SEP, but alcohol consumption and marijuana consumption mostly yielded no associations with SEP. Several studies have documented such shifts among the adult population (Luoto et al 1998; Graham 1996). This has been attributed to such factors as macroeconomic development of the particular societies, aggressive marketing by tobacco corporations (Puska 1997), different stages of the smoking epidemic (Lopez et al 1994), changes in the prices of the substances (Helakorpi et al 2010) and others
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