Higher Socioeconomic Status Families Research Articles

Adolescence Mental Health Disorders and Precarious School-to- Work Trajectories: The Role of Family Background and Gender

This article investigates the role of family socio-economic status (SES) as a buffer for adolescents with mental health disorders (MHDs) against entering precarious school-to-work trajectories. We follow a cohort born in Norway in 1992 from the age of 16–25 using data from administrative registers. We find that externalizing disorders, to a higher degree than internalizing disorders (registered in the 16–18 age range), are associated with subsequent precarious school-to-work trajectories (measured from January 2011 to December 2017) for both genders. In boys, high family SES seems to buffer the negative impact of externalizing disorders on entering precarious school-to-work trajectories, but not for internalizing disorders. In contrast, in girls, high-SES families partly buffer the negative impact of internalizing disorders, but not for externalizing disorders. Thus, this paper broadens the current perspective on how the impact of MHDs on entering school-to-work trajectories is interrelated with social class and gender.

Acquisition and processing of word formation in German

AbstractCognitive processing strategies can explain general word-formation preferences that influence the structures and their developments. They are based on simplicity, transparency, iconicity, salience, and frequency. We present and discuss evidence from our data on first language acquisition for how these cognitively based general preferences can explain the course of development of word formation and how they interact or compete. The analysis is based on the development of distributions of word formations in longitudinal data and panel data of child speech and their input from high and low socio-economic status families. In order to evaluate the productivity of a word-formation pattern in child speech, we applied the mini-paradigm criterion. Age-of-acquisition effects will be presented according to our own processing studies and to literature.

Children and Adolescents with Severe Tyrannical Behaviour: Profile of Youth and Their Parents.

This study focused on a subtype of child-to-parent violence, severe tyrannical behaviour (STB). The aim was to examine the clinical characteristics of children and adolescents who physically and/or verbally abuse their parents and the sociodemographic characteristics and generalities of those families. Clinical and sociodemographic data from 73 children and adolescents with STB and their parents have been collected from a randomized control trial. Results showed a specific profile of youth with tyrannical behaviour (aggressive behaviour only in-home settings, only-child, previously mental health care), as well as differential characteristics of these families (late parenthood, high socio-economic status and conjugal family). Children with tyrannical behaviour frequently had psychiatric conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, separation anxiety, sleeping disorders and severe irritability was frequently described. These clinical patterns of combined neurodevelopmental, externalized and internalized symptoms suggest that the combination of individual characteristics, parenting style and parent-child relationship play essential roles in children's STB development.

Type of School as a Socioeconomic Indicator and its Impact on the Nutritional Status, School Performance, Self-Esteem of Basic School Students (10-12 Years Old) in Khartoum Locality, 2014

Adolescence, a critical phase of rapid physical, social, and psychological growth, encompasses individuals aged 10 to 19 years, Evaluating nutritional status for decades has involved standard methods like dietary, anthropometric, biochemical tests, and clinical signs, often incorporating socioeconomic status (SES) as a key determinant. The study aimed to assess the nutritional status of students (10-12 years old) attending three types of basic schools whose families’ SES was categorized according to school fees paid as high, medium and low. Methodology: This cross-sectional community-based study investigated the influence of family socioeconomic status (SES) on the nutritional status, school performance, and self-esteem of children aged 10-12 years attending basic schools 2014. 210 participants were chosen. Data were collected through anthropometric measurements and a questionnaire covering demography, dietary patterns, self-esteem assessments, and school performance obtained from schools. Statistical package for social sciences version 26 used for analysis. Result: Data from 210 students (45.2% boys, 54.8% girls) The findings revealed a significant impact of family SES (P=000) on nutritional status, energy and protein intake, school performance, and self-esteem. Low SES families had a higher prevalence of underweight children (66.7%), while high SES families had more overweight and obese children. Those from high SES consumed more animal foods, fast foods, fresh fruits, and vegetables compared to medium and low SES groups. High school grades were predominantly achieved by high and medium SES students, with low SES students obtaining lower grades. Normal-weight students exhibited better school performance and self-esteem than overweight, obese, and underweight students. In conclusion, family SES significantly influenced the nutritional status, school performance, and self-esteem of children attending basic schools. Recommendations, to ensure students' well-being, ..

Mindset × Context: Schools, Classrooms, and the Unequal Translation of Expectations into Math Achievement.

Mindset × Context: Schools, Classrooms, and the Unequal Translation of Expectations into Math Achievement.

Clustering of lifestyle behaviors and adiposity in early adolescents in Spain: findings from the SI! Program for Secondary Schools

BackgroundSeveral unhealthy lifestyle behaviors in adolescence are often linked to overweight/obesity. Some of them may be present simultaneously, leading to combined effects on health. Therefore, the clustering of several unhealthy behaviors in adolescents might be associated with adiposity excess.PurposeTo identify lifestyle patterns and analyze their association with adiposity in early adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional cluster analysis was performed in 1183 adolescents (50.5% girls) with a mean age of 12.5 (0.4) years included in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools in Spain to identify lifestyle patterns based on healthy diet, step counts, sleep time, and leisure screen time. Generalized mixed models were applied to estimate the association between lifestyle patterns and adiposity indices.ResultsFour lifestyle patterns were derived: Cluster 1-higher screen time and poorer diet (n = 213), Cluster 2-lower activity and longer sleepers (n = 388), Cluster 3-active and shorter sleepers (n = 280), and Cluster 4-healthiest (n = 302). Except for the number of steps (12,008 (2357) day), the lifestyle behaviors in our sample presented levels far below the recommendations, especially for sleep duration. Cluster 4 included the largest proportion of adolescents from high socioeconomic status families (47.7%) and the lowest prevalence of overweight/obesity (23.1%). Compared to Cluster 4-healthiest, adolescents in the remaining clusters presented a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity, showing Cluster 3 the highest prevalences (PR:1.31 [95%CI: 1.31, 1.31] and PR:1.40 [95%CI: 1.33, 1.47]).ConclusionsClustering of lifestyle patterns in early adolescence allows the identification of individuals with excess adiposity, in whom health promotion strategies should be stressed, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.Trial registrationClinical Trial Registry, NCT03504059. Registered 20/04/2018—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03504059.

The rise and fall of SES gradients in heights around the world

We use data from a large sample of low- and middle-income countries to study the association (or “gradient”) between child height and maternal education. We show that the gap in height between high- and low-SES children is small at birth, rises throughout childhood, and declines in adolescence as girls and boys go through puberty. This inverted U-shaped pattern is consistent with a degree of catch-up in linear height among children of low- relative to high-SES families, in partial contrast to the argument that height deficits cannot be overcome after the early years of life. This finding appears to be explained by the association between SES and the timing of puberty and therefore of the adolescent growth spurt: low-SES children start their adolescent growth spurt later and stop growing at later ages as well.

Association and potential mediators between socioeconomic status and childhood obesity in China: findings from a national cohort study

ObjectiveSocioeconomic status (SES) is associated with childhood obesity, but the underlying factors remain unknown. This study aimed to identify mediators that may explain SES disparities in childhood obesity in China. MethodsNationally representative longitudinal data from the China Education Panel Survey of 11 019 children (13.03 ± 0.79) collected from 2013‒2014 to 2016‒2017 academic years. Overweight/obesity was defined using Chinese national body mass index cut-points. Principal component analysis was used to convert the four SES indicators (maternal and paternal education, and occupation) into one comprehensive variable. Mediation analysis for SES disparities in childhood obesity was conducted using structure equation models. ResultsThe prevalence of overweight/obesity was 12.8%, and was higher in boys than in girls (17.8% vs. 7.6%, P < 0.001) at baseline. Among boys, relative risk (RR) of obesity was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.09 to 1.40, P < 0.001) for per unit change in SES. There was no significant association between obesity and SES among girls. Mediation analyses showed that among boys, birth weight, being the only child in the family and children's self-perceived weight status mediated 70.0% of the effects of SES on obesity. No mediation effect was detected in girls. ConclusionsChinese boys are more likely to be overweight or obese than girls. SES may impact childhood obesity through birth weight, being the only child in the family and children's self-perceived body weight status in boys, but not in girls. More attention should be made to address childhood obesity in high SES families among boys. Interventions targeting at these mediators are needed.

Determinants of Living in a Three-Generation Household among Adolescents of Ethnic Groups in the U.S.: Family Structure, Social–Economic Status, and Cultural Factors

Purpose: Multigenerational families are becoming increasingly common in the U.S. This trend is primarily driven by three-generation households with grandparents. The coresident grandparents play an important role in adolescents’ health and well-being. Thus, by focusing on three-generational households, this study examined the determinants of living in three-generational households among adolescents within the contexts of the social–economic, cultural, and family factors that influence grandparent co-residence by ethnic groups. Methods: This study used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Wave I–III). The study sample included 10,093 adolescents, including White, African American, Asian, and Hispanic youth. This study conducted a series of logistic regression models to examine the associations between co-residence with grandparents and significant predictors in family structure, socioeconomic status, and cultural factors for youths in the U.S. by ethnic groups. Results: For White families, lower socioeconomic status was more pertinent to three-generational co-residence. However, the associations were in the opposite direction for Hispanic and African American households, indicating that higher socioeconomic status families were found to live with grandparents in those groups. For Hispanic families, adolescents from Spanish-speaking homes were more likely to live in three-generational households than those from English-speaking homes. Implications: These results suggest that family characteristics in three-generational households vary by ethnic group. Notably, family cultural factors were significant determinants of co-residence with grandparents in three-generational households, especially in Hispanic families. This study contributes to the sustainability discourse by examining the intersectionality of cultural maintenance, health and well-being, and aging society among three-generational households in the United States.

Does parental socio-economic status matter for the success of start-ups of first-time founders? Evidence from Germany

The aim of this paper is to establish the influence of parental socio-economic status on profitability and growth of first-time founders in Germany. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 first-time founders to establish their socio-economic status, parental influence on their success as founders, and the impact of parental socio-economic status on their financial success. The main findings showed that the majority of participants believed that high socio-economic status of parents had a significant positive effect on the financial success of new start-ups, although those from lower socio-economic backgrounds could also succeed. The characteristics of unequal social status were often expressed and the status of German as a nation with low social mobility confirmed. However, the extent to which financial support and context networks supported founders from high socio-economic status families was difficult to ascertain as founders were often unwilling to admit its actual influence. In contrast, the parental influences on values and positive attributes relating to their success were more freely discussed. Based on the revenues and valuation of the start-up companies, two trends for first time founder success were identified: the most successful founders had parents with high socio-economic status; some very successful founders demonstrated high social mobility, which is contrary to the existing data that social mobility in German is very low.

Quality of Life Among Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Alahsa: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common endocrine disease in children, and its annual prevalence is increasing worldwide. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a crucial indicator of chronic illnesses such as DM. This study aimed to assess the HRQoL and determine the associated factors among children and adolescents with type 1 DM in Alahsa region in 2022. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the DiabeterSA center using the Arabic version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQl 3.2). All patients aged 5-16 years and diagnosed with type 1 DM were included in the study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted during the patients' routine visits to the outpatient clinic from September 2022 to January 2023. A total of 254 children aged 5-16 years (mean age: 10.87 ± 2.89 years) were recruited. The mean HRQoL total score reported by the children and adolescents was 72.61 ± 15.36. Older age, higher family socioeconomic status, excellent school performance, and higher parental education level, particularly in mothers, were significantly associated with higher total HRQoL scores. In the regression analysis, male sex (β = -0.157,P = 0.018), older age (β = 0.246,P <0.001), and excellent school performance (β = -0.290,P < 0.001) were identified as independent predictors of the HRQoL total score. Nearly19% of the participants achieved glycemic control. The quality of life of children and adolescents with type 1 DM in Alahsa region was relatively good. Increased age, good family economic status, and higher parent education levels positively influenced the participants' quality of life. Therefore, regular evaluation of HRQoL is recommended for children and adolescents with type 1 DM to identify problems and initiate an appropriate intervention for improving child health and the health care system.

COVID-19 and bilingual children's home language environment: Digital media, socioeconomic status, and language status.

Input is considered crucial in bilingual children's language development. This is especially true for bilingual children's mother tongue language learning given its common reduction in input opportunities due to the dominance of one language within society, as seen in countries and regions from Wales to Singapore. Previous studies tend to focus on the quantity and quality of conventional active communication and resources (e.g., speaking and reading with parents) on bilingual children's language development, and substantially, fewer studies have explored this topic from the perspective of digital media. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the critical role of digital media in various aspects of life, including bilingual children's home language environment. Thus, to holistically understand bilingual children's daily language input patterns, it is imperative to explore both their conventional and digital media input resources. The current study focuses on English-Mandarin bilingual children in Singapore and would like to explore (1) whether their conventional and digital media language environments have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) whether the societal status of a language and familial socioeconomic status (SES) would affect bilingual children's conventional and digital media input. Survey data from 162 parents of English-Mandarin bilingual preschoolers (3 to 6 years old) were used to explore the two research questions. Two online parental questionnaires were employed for data collection. One-way repeated-measures MANOVA and path models were used to address the questions. The results indicated that input patterns from nuclear family members had not been affected by COVID-19; however, the amount and frequency of conventional and digital media materials and activities increased significantly since COVID-19. Higher-SES families possessed more conventional materials and conducted conventional activities more often, while lower-SES families possessed more digital media materials. Both conventional and digital media materials and activities were richer in English than in Mandarin. Higher-SES families perceived digital media usage for learning to be of less importance than lower-SES families. The implications for early bilingual learning following COVID-19 are discussed.

Self-assessment: The role of the social environment

This study presents evidence on the role of the social environment in shaping the accuracy of self-assessment. We introduce a new measurement tool to elicit children’s accuracy of self-assessment. We use this tool to show that children from high SES families are more accurate in their self-assessment, compared to children from low SES families. We then exploit exogenous variation of participation in a mentoring program designed to enrich the social environment of children. The mentoring program has a causal positive effect on the accuracy of self-assessments and is most effective for children whose parents provide few interactive activities.

Social gradient in use of health services and health-related quality of life of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review.

ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) affects 5% of children on average. Despite the high need to access services for ADHD treatment, not all children with ADHD utilise healthcare services equally. This study aims to systematically synthesise evidence of equity and equality in health service use/costs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL)/wellbeing of children with ADHD across socioeconomic (SES) classes. The literature search was conducted across seven databases (Academic Search complete, MEDLINE Complete, PsycINFO, ERIC, Global Health, CINAHL and EconLit). The search was limited to peer-reviewed articles published to 23rd January 2023 in English and focused on children. Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP), Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) checklists. 25 out of 1207 articles were eligible for inclusion. The results showed that SES was associated with different types of healthcare utilisation. Only three studies were found on HRQoL/well-being. Children with ADHD from low SES families had lower HRQoL than children from high SES families. This study found that a social gradient exists in both healthcare service use and children's HRQoL among those with ADHD.

The role of socioeconomic background on cardiovascular health promotion in early childhood: insights from the SI Program for preschoolers

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): 1. SHE Foundation and "la Caixa" 2. Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria - Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Background Family socioeconomic status (SES) impacts childhood health and could influence the effect of school-based health promotion interventions. Purpose This work aims to evaluate the impact of SES on the effects of the SI! Program randomized controlled trials for cardiovascular health promotion in preschoolers carried out in Colombia, Spain, and USA. Specifically, this work analyzed the effect of SES in the change of knowledge, attitudes and habits (KAH) and body mass index z-scores (zBMI) from baseline to immediately after the end of the health promotion intervention. Methods Children completed a KAH questionnaire (from 0 to 80 points) at baseline and immediate post-intervention. Families reported household income and education level through a dedicated questionnaire. Household income was categorized as low or high, and education level as low, intermediate, or high based on local census data. Adjusted baseline scores were calculated and stratified by SES using linear mixed models. The impact of the intervention was assessed by an individual participant-level meta-analysis using a random-effects model (DerSimonian-Laird method). Estimates of the difference between groups were derived from linear mixed models. Results A total of 3839 children were included in the analysis (48.9% girls, 4.0 (SD=0.8) years at baseline). Children of families with high education level and high household income tended to have a higher KAH score at baseline than those with low education level or low income (47.2 points [95%CI: 43.9; 50.5] vs. 45.7 points [95%CI: 42.4; 48.9]; 47.4 points [95%CI: 44.6; 50.2] vs. 45.8 points [95%CI: 43.0; 48.6], respectively) (Fig. 1A). Children from high education level and high income families had a lower zBMI at baseline than those from low education level and low income families (0.23 [95%CI: -0.20; 0.67] vs. 0.47 [95% CI: 0.03; 0.90]; 0.25 [95%CI: -0.15; 0.66] vs. 0.44 [95%CI: 0.04; 0.85], respectively) (Fig. 1B). The mean difference in KAH change between the intervention and control groups was 4.76 points (95%CI: 2.78; 6.74). The effect of the intervention on KAH score change was higher for children of families reporting high income or an intermediate/high education level than for those reporting low income or education level (Fig. 2A). The overall mean difference in zBMI change between groups was -0.06 (95%CI: -0.14; 0.02), and no significant differences were found in relation to SES indicators (Fig. 2B). Conclusions These results suggest that children from a low SES background benefit less from lifestyle interventions than those from high SES families. Health promotion interventions may implement strategies to counteract this effect and, consequently, avoid the potential risk of increasing health inequalities.

Shadow education, Bourdieu, & meritocracy: towards an understanding of Juku and inequality in Japan

ABSTRACT Private educational activities designed to enhance student outcomes outside the formal schooling system are increasingly referred to as shadow education. In Japan, shadow education traditionally consists of for-profit cram schools or juku. Juku take many forms in Japan, yet their primary function is to offer students extra educational opportunities. As such, there is a strong belief that investment in shadow education leads to a higher educational level, thereby strengthening educational inequality by unfairly advantaging families of higher socio-economic status (SES). By applying Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of social reproduction and symbolic violence, this study seeks to elucidate the extent to which neoliberal policies and a lack of guidance from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) have allowed shadow education in Japan to sustain anti-meritocratic access to higher education. The study critically analyses how laissez-faire policy-making decisions, a reliance on juku attendance, and an emphasis on English language as a test subject operate in conjunction with neoliberal policies to disadvantage lower SES families through uneven access to educational opportunities.

Neuroticism and Adolescent Problematic Mobile Social Media Use: A Moderated Mediation Model

Although previous studies have confirmed the influence of neuroticism on problematic mobile social media use, mechanisms underlying this relation have not been well-understood. The present study investigated the mediating effect of self-control, as well as the moderating role of family socioeconomic status (FSES). A total of 1146 adolescents’ data (Mage = 16.11, SDage = 0.97, 498 boys) were collected. Participants completed questionnaires about neuroticism, self-control, problematic mobile social media use, and FSES. The moderated mediation analysis showed that self-control mediated the positive association between neuroticism and problematic mobile social media use. In addition, FSES moderated the negative relation between self-control and problematic mobile social media use. Specifically, compared with adolescents in low FSES, the association between self-control and problematic mobile social media use was stronger for adolescents in high FSES. This study advanced our understanding of the development of problematic mobile social media use by revealing the potential mechanism between adolescent neuroticism and problematic mobile social media use.

Family socioeconomic status and college attendance: A consideration of individual-level and school-level pathways.

Inequality research has found that a college education can ameliorate intergenerational disparities in economic outcomes. Much attention has focused on how family resources impact academic achievement, though research continues to identify how mechanisms related to social class and structural contexts drive college attendance patterns. Using the Education Longitudinal Study and multilevel modeling techniques, this study uniquely highlights how extracurricular activities relate to family socioeconomic status and school contexts to influence college attendance. Altogether, sport and non-sport extracurricular participation, college expectations, and academic achievement scores, situated within unique school contexts that are driven by residential social class segregation, contribute to the cumulative advantages of children from higher SES families. The results from this study show that these cumulative advantages are positively associated with college attendance and an increased likelihood of attending a more selective school.

The nature-nurture of academic achievement at the intersection between gender, family background, and school context

We investigate the role of gender, family SES, school SES, and their intersection in educational achievement using a twin design. Drawing on theories of gene-environment interaction, we test whether high-SES environments compensate genetic risks or enhance genetic potential, and its dependency on gender. Using data on 37,000 Danish twin and sibling pairs from population-wide administrative registers, we report three main findings. First, for family SES, but not for school SES, we find that genetic influences play a slightly smaller role in high-SES environments. Second, this relationship is moderated by child gender: in high-SES families, the genetic influence is considerably lower for boys than for girls. Third, the moderating effect of family SES for boys is almost entirely driven by children attending low-SES schools. Our findings thus point to significant heterogeneity in gene-environment interactions, highlighting the importance of considering the multiplicity of social contexts.

How Should Clinicians Minimize Bias When Responding to Suspicions About Child Abuse?

Clinicians have ethical and legal obligations to report suspected maltreatment of children. A decision to report suspected abuse is one of great ethical, clinical, and legal importance and can weigh heavily on clinicians who have established relationships with a family. Mandated reporting is done inequitably, however, with overreporting of families with low socioeconomic status and minoritized families and underreporting of families with high socioeconomic status and White families. This article canvasses evidence-based approaches to evaluating and reporting suspicion of child maltreatment in ways that minimize bias and promote equity.