Parental Health Behaviors Research Articles

Intergenerational Transmission of Overweight and Obesity among Preschool Children in Sweden

Abstract Background Child overweight including obesity (OWOB) has quadrupled globally, since 1975. It affects a third of European children and even higher rates persist among expectant parents. Parental pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and health behaviours are known to influence offspring health. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the link between parental and children’s OWOB, alongside parental socio-economic and other factors. Methods This is a population-based repeated cross-sectional study utilized data from the Salut Programme in Västerbotten, Sweden, and Swedish national registers, including 5,937 of 3-year-olds and their parents. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association of child BMI with prenatal BMI and other factors. Further, the Relative Excess Risk due to Interaction (RERI) arising from the interplay between parent’s OWOB status in relation to their children’s OWOB was calculated. Results OWOB prevalence rates for 3-year-olds, expectant mothers, and their partners were 15.1%, 29.1%, and 53.5%, respectively. Both parent’s OWOB significantly affected children’s BMI (with strongest association for mothers). The Relative Excess Risk due to interaction (RERI) was positive for children’s OWOB if both parents were obese, showing an additive interaction effect of individual parental obesity status. The odds for a child to be OWOB was 2.88 (1.83-4.43) if both parents were obese compared to if none of them were obese. Conclusions OWOB among preschool children remain an important public health concern in Sweden. Based on the study findings, Sweden’s regional and national public health initiatives should prioritize targeting parental overweight and obesity as a key strategy to reduce the burden of OWOB among children. Furthermore, the resemblance of these results with comparable studies across the world, emphasizing the importance of initiating interventions with parents before pregnancy or even earlier. Key messages • Parental combined obesity status significantly increase the odds of childhood overweight and obesity. • The importance of initiating interventions with parents before pregnancy for better health outcomes related to child BMI.

The influence of health literacy on health outcomes and behaviors in fourth-graders in Germany

Abstract Background For the adult population, evidence suggests that a high level of subjective health literacy is associated with a number of favorable health outcomes and behaviors. However, for younger populations, particularly children, little evidence is available. This study investigates the relationship between subjective health literacy, health outcomes, and health behaviors in children. Methods We conducted a representative survey of 4th-grade students (age 8-11) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, between Oct. 2022 and Feb. 2023. Subjective health literacy was measured with the HLS-Child-Q15 questionnaire. For mental and physical well-being, the KINDL-R was used. For health behaviors, we asked about the frequency of (1) brushing teeth, (2) eating fruit and (3) vegetables, (4) exercising, (5) consuming sweetened drinks, and (6) wearing a helmet when riding the bike. Regression analysis was used to determine the impact of health literacy on outcomes, controlling for a number of sociodemographic indicators (birthplace, home language, sex, age), as well as the tendency to give socially desirable responses. Health behaviors were rated on a Likert scale and where dichotomized for ordinal regression. Results n = 1085 students are included with a mean age of 9.5 years (SD=.6). 50.3% are female. While controlling for a number of variables, health literacy was a significant predictor (p<.05) for every indicator except the frequency of (1) brushing teeth, (4) exercising, and (5) consumption of sweetened drinks. For mental well-being, health literacy was the strongest predictor. Conclusions Our findings highlight the potentially enabling role of subjective health literacy regarding favorable health outcomes and health behaviors. However, because this is a study among younger children, further research is needed on the interplay of individual subjective health literacy, social contexts (e.g., parental health literacy and health behaviors), and children’s health outcomes and behaviors.

Mapping domains of early life determinants of future multimorbidity across three UK longitudinal cohort studies

Many studies use a reductionist approach to isolate the influence of one factor in childhood on multimorbidity rather than consider the combined effect of wider determinants. We explored how potential multiple early life determinants of multimorbidity can be characterised across three UK cohort studies. We used the National Child Development Study (NCDS), the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70), and the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s Study (ACONF) to identified early life variables that fit into 12 conceptualised domains of early life determinants of multimorbidity. Variables were assigned into 12 domains; principal component analysis reduced the dimensionality of the data and structured variables into subgroups. The data audit identified 7 domains in ACONF, 10 domains in NCDS and 12 domains in BCS70. Dominant components included maternal fertility histories within the prenatal, antenatal and birth domain, long-term illnesses within the child health domain, educational ability within the child education and health literacy domain, ethnicity within the demography domain, parental health behaviours within the transgenerational domain, housing within the socioeconomic domain and parental-child interactions within the parental-family domain. We demonstrated that if multiple large scale longitudinal studies are used, there is enough data available for researchers to consider conceptualising early life risk factors of multimorbidity across groups or domains. Such conceptualisation can help challenge the existing understanding of disease aetiology and develop new ideas for prevention of multimorbidity.

Effects of the Parental Stepping Stone Triple P Program on Parental Mental Health and Disruptive Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Effects of the Parental Stepping Stone Triple P Program on Parental Mental Health and Disruptive Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Assessment of parents’ oral health related behaviours and its relationship with oral health status of the children aged between 6-12 years in Davangere city: a cross-sectional survey

Background: It is widely acknowledged that the behaviour of parents affects their children's health. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health behaviour of parents and oral health status of their children aged between 6-12 years. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 420 parent-child dyads with children aged between 6-12 years. A self-designed proforma was used for recording the sociodemographic details, with a questionnaire to assess parents’ oral health-related behaviours followed by clinical examination of the children for their oral health status. The Chi-square test, spearman’s correlation test and binary logistic regression analysis were applied by considering Statistical significance at p<0.05. Results: The majority of the parents reported of having good oral health-related behaviours (60.2%). When children’s oral health status was assessed, more than half of the children had low caries experience (62.5%), showed a milder form of gingivitis (96.2%) and good oral hygiene status (57.4%). No statistically significant association was found between parents’ oral health-related behaviours with the children’s oral health status. Conclusions: Parents’ oral health-related behaviours did not influence the children’s oral health status.

Mediation by parent health literacy and behaviour of socioeconomic inequality in child overweight.

Socioeconomic inequalities contribute to childhood overweight. Identifying mediators could help reduce these inequalities. We assessed to what extent and how parental health literacy and health behaviours mediate the relationship between parental socioeconomic status and childhood overweight. Data were taken from the multigenerational prospective Dutch Lifelines Cohort Study. We included 6683 children, baseline age 9.8 years (SD = 2.6), with an average follow-up of 36.2 months (SD = 9.3). Overweight was defined using age- and sex-specific cut-offs. Three indicators of socioeconomic status were included: education, income and occupation. We assessed the mediating role of parental health literacy and health behaviours (smoking, diet, physical activity and alcohol) using causal mediation. Four additional years of education and an SD-increase in both income and occupation decreased the odds of childhood overweight by 42%, 12% and 20%, respectively. Only parental smoking independently mediated the relationship of both education (6.6%) and occupation (5.7%) with overweight. Parental health behaviours jointly explained 8.4% (education), 19.4% (income) and 9.8% (occupation) per relationship. Lastly, adding parental health literacy explained 10.8% (education), 27.4% (income) and 13.3% (occupation) of these relationships. We found large socioeconomic inequalities in childhood overweight. Remarkably, parental smoking was a key mediator. Therefore, prevention targeting smoking may reduce socioeconomic inequalities in childhood overweight.

Active tracking measures: Providing targets for youth alcohol use and health behavior interventions.

This study seeks to use examine the utility of recently published, developmentally informed measures of parental active tracking for work on youth health behaviors. Information on parental active tracking and health behaviors were collected in six independent survey studies (n's = 157-408). A series of empirical questions regarding parental active tracking were examined. The recently published measures of parental active tracking in high school and college were shown to have sufficient internal consistency, to be well described by single latent factors, to be empirically distinct from helicopter parenting, to be inconsistently linked with youth risk behaviors, and to demonstrate closer linkages with youth substance use when accounting for parental motivations for tracking. The measures of parental active tracking employed provide face valid, psychometrically sound, and empirically supported indices for use examining parental influences during adolescence and young adulthood.

Sociodemographic factors, parental mental health and movement behaviours in the early years: the SUNRISE Finland study protocol

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the prevention of obesity in young children as one of its key priorities for the 21st century, and 24-hour movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep) play a key role in this priority. The SUNRISE Finland Study is part of the international SUNRISE Study, which examines the movement behaviours of young children in 64 low-, middle- and high-income countries. The SUNRISE Finland Study will investigate what proportion of 3- to 4-year-old children living in Finland meet the WHO global guidelines on 24-hour movement behaviours, and how that proportion and children’s motor and cognitive skills compare with children from other countries involved in the SUNRISE Study. We also aim to identify potential correlates of children’s movement behaviours, focusing on socioeconomic factors, residential environmental features, and parents’ mental health. In addition, this study will examine the associations between children’s movement behaviours, motor and cognitive skills, adiposity, and psychosocial wellbeing. Finally, we aim to establish a cohort of families who participate in the study and conduct follow-ups in the future. Methods We will recruit 1,000 children aged 3.0 to 4.9 years and their caregivers through early childhood education and care centres in Finland (50% in urban and 50% in rural areas). We will assess children’s 24-h movement behaviours using two accelerometers and a parental report. Children will perform validated tests to measure gross and fine motor skills and executive functions, and their height, weight and waist circumference will be measured. Caregivers will complete questionnaires regarding sociodemographic factors, nature visits, their own movement behaviours, symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, nomophobia, social media self-control failure, and happiness, and child’s psychosocial wellbeing. Geographic Information System (GIS) will be used to examine residential environmental features. Discussion In addition to facilitating international comparisons on movement behaviours and motor and cognitive skills, the SUNRISE Finland Study will provide novel evidence on factors associated with movement behaviours in young children. The results of this study will help in planning actions to promote healthy levels of movement behaviours at an early age and equal opportunities for healthy development. Clinical Trial Number This is not a trial study.

The Role of Childhood Circumstances in Healthy Aging Inequalities Among Older Adults - China, 2011-2020.

Addressing health disparities is a worldwide priority, with a well-established acknowledgment of the influence of childhood circumstances on these discrepancies. In China, particularly among the elderly, health inequalities are a notable concern. The inequality in healthy aging has increased from 2011 to 2020, both in general and concerning childhood factors. Nevertheless, the impact of early-life healthcare access and parental health behaviors on healthy aging gaps has reduced among older adults in better health within the top segment of healthy aging. Efforts towards reducing regional health disparities and improving healthcare access for children, along with promoting the health and well-being of parents, especially in economically disadvantaged households, are crucial policy considerations.

Parental technoference and adolescents’ mental health and violent behaviour: a scoping review

PurposeThe term ‘technoference’ refers to habitual interferences and disruptions within interpersonal relationships or time spent together due to use of electronic devices. Emerging evidence suggests associations between parental technoference and young people’s mental health and violent behaviours. This scoping review sought to summarise the existing literature.MethodsA scoping review was undertaken across six databases (APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ASSIA, ERIC, Social Sciences Premium Collection, SciTech Premium). Searches included articles examining the association between parental technoference and adolescent mental health and violent behaviours. All included studies provided empirical findings.ResultsSearches retrieved 382 articles, of which 13 articles met the eligibility criteria. A narrative approach was applied to synthesise the eligible findings. Across all studies, adolescent perceptions of parental technoference were negatively associated to adolescent mental health and positively related to adolescent violent behaviours. Parental cohesion and mental health were identified as significant mediating factors.ConclusionFindings suggest that parents should be aware of the environment in which they use electronic devices as their use can potentially, directly and indirectly, influence adolescent mental health and violent behaviours. Further research into the potential caveats of parental technoference could support the development of evidence-informed guidelines for parental management of electronic devices.

The impact of parental oral health behaviors on the oral health of children

This review underscores the crucial role of parental oral health behaviors in shaping the oral health of children. It highlights the significance of parental knowledge, attitudes, and actions in influencing children's oral hygiene practices and overall well-being. Mothers, in particular, play a pivotal role in guiding their children's oral health habits. Parental oral health behaviors encompass a wide range of practices, including regular dental check-ups, proper oral hygiene routines, diet choices, and the avoidance of harmful habits like smoking and excessive sugar consumption. Active parental involvement in their children's oral care routines during their formative years is instrumental in establishing strong oral hygiene habits. Parents serve as primary role models and educators for their children, leading by example in maintaining good oral health practices. Encouraging parental engagement in oral health promotion programs is crucial for better oral health outcomes in future generations. Public health initiatives should emphasize the importance of parental involvement and provide resources and education to help parents instill sound oral health practices in their children. Recognizing the interconnectedness of oral health with overall well-being, it becomes evident that parental involvement is critical, especially for children who are vulnerable to oral health issues. Parents not only nurture and educate but also shape their children's oral health habits and attitudes. Additionally, contextual factors such as social, cultural, environmental, and economic conditions significantly influence family life and, consequently, oral health attitudes and behaviors.

Mental health and health behaviors of parents of survivors of childhood cancer in the early COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the role of intolerance of uncertainty

Abstract Introduction: Parents of survivors of childhood cancer may be particularly vulnerable to the experience of poor mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to (1) describe the mental health of parents of childhood cancer survivors; (2) explore the role of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) in mental health; and (3) explore the associations of parent mental health and health behaviors with IU. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative assessment of parents of survivors of childhood cancer (younger than 18 years) was conducted between May and June 2020. Participants completed an online questionnaire regarding their mental health (PROMIS anxiety, depression), IU (Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale), and health behaviors. Recruitment was conducted through social media and community organizations using convenience and snowball sampling. Results: Seventy-two participants from 6 countries completed the study (99% mothers, mean age of survivors = 11.4 years). Fifty percent of participants reported that their mental health had declined since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas 46% reported their mental health did not change. More than half of the participants (56%) reported decreased physical activity and 38% reported increased alcohol use. Exploring associations of parent mental health and health behaviors with IU, parent depression, and hours of exercise emerged as significant predictors (B = 3.62, P < .01; B = –1.58, P < .01, respectively), whereby higher depression and less exercise was associated with higher IU. Conclusions: At the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic, some parents of survivors of childhood cancer experienced poor mental health. IU plays a significant role in mental health outcomes, but this does not translate to health behaviors.

부모의 정신건강 프로파일 유형 분류 및 아동의 내재화⋅외현화 문제행동 차이 비교

Objectives The purpose of this study was to classify different profiles based on the indicators of mental health at parental level and find out differences in children's internalizing/externalizing behavior problems by subtypes of parental mental health profile.
 Methods Survey data of 1,071 children and parents from the 12th Panel Study on Korean Children(PSKC) in 2019 were used for the analyses. Dyadic latent profile analysis was used for classifying subtypes of parental mental health profiles, and Three-step approach was used for testing differences in children's internalizing/externalizing behavior problems by subtypes of parental mental health profiles.
 Results First, Four subtypes(‘pattern mismatch-vulnerable mother’, ‘pattern match-vulnerable parents’, ‘pattern mismatch-vulnerable father’, ‘pattern match-stable parents’) were classified according to the indicators of parental mental health. Second, There were significant differences in children's internalizing behavior problems, ‘pattern mismatch-vulnerable mother’ and ‘pattern match-vulnerable parents’ were higher than others. Third, There were significant differences in children's externalizing behavior problem, ‘pattern match-vulnerable parents’ was the highest in externalizing behavior.
 Conclusions This study showed implications in identifying the relationships between parental mental health and children's behavior problem by exploring subtypes of parental mental health profiles in a multifaceted manner and suggested implications for improving parental mental health to attenuate children's behavior problems.

Patterns of Change in Parental Health Literacy in Relation to Children's Oral Health.

Although health literacy (HL) skills may change over time, most research treats HL as a constant, using baseline HL to predict other health-related constructs. Few studies have explored change in HL over time. We examined person-level differences in HL trajectories. We identified subgroups (latent classes) based on longitudinal assessments of HL and examined the association of class membership with demographic and oral health variables. We used four measurement waves of parental HL data, reflecting the risk of limited HL, collected as part of an intervention to reduce dental decay in American Indian children (N = 579 parent-child dyads at baseline). Repeated measures latent class analysis (RMLCA) models were estimated to identify subgroups of HL trajectories over time. We examined class membership in association with baseline demographics and with 36-month assessments of parental oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors as well as pediatric oral health. A four-class model best fit the data. The largest class (high HL; 49.7% of the sample) was characterized by high levels of HL at all waves. A second class (improving HL; 17.7%) improved over all waves. The remaining two classes were characterized as moderate HL (20%) and low HL (12.6%) and maintained relatively stable HL levels over time. Higher educational attainment was associated with membership in the high HL and improving HL classes. Older age among this young-adult sample and higher income also were associated with high HL class membership. Parents in the high HL and improving HL classes exhibited more favorable performance on measures of oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behavioral adherence than did those in the other classes. Class membership was not associated with pediatric oral health. RMLCA demonstrated person-level variability in HL trajectories. Longitudinal patterns were associated with baseline demographics and prospectively with parental oral health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors, but not with pediatric oral health. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2023;7(2):e89-e98.].

Oral health behavior during early childhood in children with major congenital heart defects.

Good oral health in children with congenital heart defect (CHD) is important. To assess oral health behavior during early childhood in children with CHD in comparison with children with no known systemic conditions and to explore parental oral health behavior associated with children's behavior. Seventy of all 89 children born in Finland between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2020, with (a) major CHD potentially included in the criteria of endocarditis prophylaxis or (b) any CHD with surgical repair combined with a chromosomal syndrome, and a comparison group of 87 children with no known systemic conditions were recruited. Thirty-five children with CHD were randomized to usual care (no intensified counseling) and were compared with 87 matched comparison children by a parental questionnaire assessing child and parental oral health behavior at child age at 24 months. Toothbrushing twice a day (p=.008) and the use of fluoride toothpaste twice a day (p=.059) were less common in children with CHD than in children in the comparison group. Nonwater drinks between meals was more common among children in the CHD group than in the comparison group (p=.015). Children with major CHD experience poorer oral health behavior in comparison with children with no known systemic conditions during early childhood.

Associations of parental attitudes and health behaviors with children’s screen time over four years

BackgroundParents are significantly important in shaping the screen use of children within a family system. This study aimed to examine the associations of Chinese children’s screen time (ST) over four years with parents’ attitudes toward their own screen use and physical activities (PA) and health behaviors including their ST, PA, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking.MethodsThe current study utilized data from two waves (2011 and 2015) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), including 1,941 mother-father-child triads in 2011 and 2,707 mother-father-child triads in 2015 (with children aged 0-17-years-old). The ST of children and the parental attitudes and health behaviors were measured via self-report or proxy-report (for children under 6 years old) questionnaires. Pool-OLS regression models were used to assess the associations of parental attitudes and health behaviors with the ST of children. Moderation models were built to assess whether these associations depended on the gender, age, and family income of children, as well as whether paternal and maternal influences were moderated by the other parent. A multilevel cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was used to assess parental influences on children’s ST over four years.ResultsPaternal ST (β = 0.09, p < 0.001), maternal ST (β = 0.10, p < 0.001), and paternal alcohol drinking (β = 0.30, p < 0.05) were positively associated with children’s ST. In addition, maternal smoking had a positive association with girls’ ST (β = 0.53, p < 0.05). Moreover, the association between maternal ST and children’s ST was observed to decline as family income increased (β = -0.03, p < 0.001). Paternal ST had a larger positive association with children’s ST when the ST of mothers exceeded 14 h/week (β = 0.06, p < 0.05). Furthermore, lagged associations were found between paternal attitudes toward PA (β = -1.63, p < 0.05) or maternal cigarette smoking (β = 1.46, p < 0.05) and children’s ST measured four years later.ConclusionChildren establish a healthy lifestyle within the family system. From the perspective of the healthy family climate, the current study suggests that future programs for reducing children’s ST should be built through an integrative approach with special attention to parental attitudes and health behaviors.

Intergenerational transmission of parental risky health behaviors in Chinese children: Are there socioeconomic status differences?

Risky health behaviors in childhood, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and having a poor diet, are the major sources of non-communicable diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to examine how parents affect children's risky health behaviors and whether intergenerational transmission differs based on socioeconomic status (SES). Data were extracted from the 1991-2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Smoking (n = 5,946), alcohol consumption (n = 7,821), and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption (n = 3,537) were used as proxies for risky health behaviors in children. A binary choice model for panel data with a random-effect specification was employed to examine whether risky health behaviors can be transmitted from parents to their children. Subsequently, we conducted a seemingly unrelated estimation test (SUEST) to explore the differences in parental transmission between the different SES groups. We found strong intergenerational persistence of smoking, alcohol drinking, and SSBs drinking behaviors, except for the mothers' smoking behavior. Mothers had a greater influence on children's alcohol drinking and SSBs drinking behaviors than fathers both in urban and rural areas and in different SES groups. The intergenerational transmission of SSBs drinking behavior exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing SES for both urban and rural families. In urban areas, mothers' alcohol drinking behavior has a decreasing trend with increasing education level, occupation, and income; however, in rural areas, the influence of mothers' alcohol drinking behavior occurred in the same direction with increasing education level and occupation type. In rural areas, the influence of fathers' drinking and smoking behaviors on children appears to mostly increase with increasing SES. Meanwhile, the influence of such behaviors among urban fathers would decrease with increasing SES. Parents' behaviors and SES can influence the initiation of risky health behaviors in their offspring. Thus, to promote healthy behaviors, policymakers can introduce health education programs for parents, particularly for those living in rural areas and with a low SES.

The effect of guardians' health literacy on the child's spending time at home: A cross-sectional study among Japanese schoolchildren.

The contents of children's daily activities and the amount of time spent on them has been directly linked to their health and development. Parental health behavior has also been considered a key factor, and the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between parent/guardian health literacy (HL) and their child's time spent at home by behavioral types. The study was conducted in elementary schools in Japan. The target subjects for this study were elementary schoolchildren (all grades, aged 6 to 12 years) and their parents/guardians, and almost 3000 schoolchildren and their parents/guardians in the Northern and Southern districts in Japan participated. The questionnaire for parents/guardians included amount of time spent per day on the seven major behavioral contents of their child's time at home, on weekdays and weekends, respectively, and a shortened five-item health literacy (HL) scale. Parent/guardian HL results were categorized into two groups (low HL group and high HL group), and we analyzed the association between the HL and child's time spent at home by behavioral contents. Children in the high HL parent/guardian group spent significantly less time watching TV and playing games than those in the low HL group, both on weekdays and weekends. Time spent playing outside on weekdays and on hobbies on weekdays and weekends was significantly longer for children in the high HL parent/guardian group than in the low HL group. Results of logistic regression analyses adjusted for confounders showed that higher parental/guardian HL reduced children's spending more than 30 minutes watching TV or playing games and increased children's spending more than 30 minutes on outside playing and doing hobbies. Parental/guardian HL affected the child's time spent at home. The results could suggest that increasing parental/guardian HL has strong potential to improve children's major lifestyle behaviors．.

The associations of childhood psychosocial factors with cognitive function in midlife-The young finns study.

An adverse psychosocial environment in childhood may harm cognitive development, but the associations for adulthood cognitive function remain obscure. We tested the hypothesis that adverse childhood psychosocial factors associate with poor cognitive function in midlife by leveraging the prospective data from the Young Finns Study. At the age of 3-18 years, the participants' psychosocial factors (socioeconomic and emotional environment, parental health behaviors, stressful events, child's self-regulatory behavior, and social adjustment) were collected. In addition to the separate psychosocial factors, a score indicating their clustering was created. Cognitive function was measured at the age of 34-49 years with a computerized test addressing learning and memory (N = 1,011), working memory (N = 1,091), sustained attention and information processing (N = 1,071), and reaction and movement time (N = 999). We observed an inverse association between the accumulation of unfavorable childhood psychosocial factors and poorer learning and memory in midlife (age, sex, education, adulthood smoking, alcohol drinking, and physical activity adjusted β = -0.032, SE = 0.01, p = .009). This association corresponded approximately to the effect of 7 months aging. Specifically, poor self-regulatory behavior (β = -0.074, SE = 0.03, p = .032) and social adjustment in childhood (β = -0.111, SE = 0.03, p = .001) associated with poorer learning ability and memory 30 years later. No associations were found for other cognitive domains. The findings suggest an association of childhood psychosocial factors with midlife learning ability and memory. If these links are causal, the results highlight the importance of a child's self-regulation and social adjustment as plausible determinants for adulthood cognitive health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

9.H. Workshop: Understanding the institutional context of health inequalities. A life stage approach

Abstract Background The health of young people is strongly linked to their socioeconomic background. However, there is little systematic research on the complex mechanisms underlying the association between family socioeconomic position and health among young people, particularly regarding contextual factors at the (intermediate) meso-level. Several institutional contexts are relevant for young people's lives: the family, kindergarten, primary and secondary school, higher education system, vocational school and training, workplace and the healthcare system. Previous studies demonstrated that characteristics of these institutional contexts are associated with young people's health and well-being. It is unclear, which role they play regarding health inequalities. The aim of the workshop is to analyse the role of institutional characteristics, such as compositional (which people are found in an institution) and contextual (the structural characteristics of an institution) factors for the development or existing health inequalities. Methods The research unit FOR2723 analyses the role of meso-level, institutional characteristics regarding health inequalities considering the whole period of early life based a common conceptual framework. The results are based on empirical analyses of various secondary data, such as the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) or the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). Bodymass index (BMI) and the subjective self-assessment of health are considered as outcomes. Results We found substantial social inequalities in health and health behaviour at any life stage investigated. In each life stage we found meso-level characteristics of the family (family investment, family stress, family atmosphere, and parental health behaviour and well-being), the kindergarten (the association between ECEC centre focus and family SEP on pre-school children's BMI), the school (composition of the school in terms of education, income, and occupational prestige of the students’ parents), the institutions and labour market states involved in the school-to-work transition (vocational training places, universities, workplaces, unemployment spells) as well as the health care system (regional health policy), which are associated with social inequalities in young people's self-rated health, subjective well-being and BMI. Discussion In addition to micro-level determinants, meso-level characteristics of important institutions that young people are exposed to (family, kindergarten, school, school-to-work-transitions, healthcare system) are relevant for their health and reinforce health inequalities. More research is needed to understand how institutional contexts contribute to health inequalities and which institutional changes are needed to reduce inequalities. Key messages • The role of institutional characteristics, such as compositional and contextual factors for health inequalities is unclear. • Meso-level characteristics of institutions in young people (family, kindergarten, school, school-to-work-transitions, healthcare system) are relevant for their health and reinforce health inequalities.