Preventing socioeconomic inequalities in health behaviour in adolescents in Europe: background, design and methods of project TEENAGE.
BACKGROUND
Higher prevalence rates of unhealthy behaviours among lower socioeconomic groups contribute substantially to socioeconomic inequalities in health in adults. Preventing the development of these inequalities in unhealthy behaviours early in life is an important strategy to tackle socioeconomic inequalities in health. Little is known however, about health promotion strategies particularly effective in lower socioeconomic groups in youth. It is the purpose of project TEENAGE to improve knowledge on the prevention of socioeconomic inequalities in physical activity, diet, smoking and alcohol consumption among adolescents in Europe. This paper describes the background, design and methods to be used in the project.


METHODS
Through a systematic literature search, existing interventions aimed at promoting physical activity, a healthy diet, preventing the uptake of smoking or alcohol, and evaluated in the general adolescent population in Europe will be identified. Studies in which indicators of socioeconomic position are included will be reanalysed by socioeconomic position. Results of such stratified analyses will be summarised by type of behaviour, across behaviours by type of intervention (health education, environmental interventions and policies) and by setting (individual, household, school, and neighbourhood). In addition, the degree to which effective interventions can be transferred to other European countries will be assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Although it is sometimes assumed that some health promotion strategies may be particularly effective in higher socioeconomic groups, thereby increasing socioeconomic inequalities in health-related behaviour, there is little knowledge about differential effects of health promotion across socioeconomic groups. Synthesizing stratified analyses of a number of interventions conducted in the general adolescent population may offer an efficient guidance for the development of strategies and interventions to prevent socioeconomic inequalities in health early in life.
van Lenthe
Frank J
FJ
Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. f.vanlenthe@erasmusmc.nl
de Bourdeaudhuij
Ilse
I
Klepp
Knut-Inge
KI
Lien
Nanna
N
Moore
Laurence
L
Faggiano
Fabrizio
F
Kunst
Anton E
AE
Mackenbach
Johan P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005060:Europe; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors