title: Psychosocial and behavioural factors in the explanation of socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health: a multilevel analysis in 28 European and North American countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relative contribution of different pathways leading to health inequalities in adolescence was rarely investigated, especially in a cross-national perspective. The aim of the study is to analyse the contribution of psychosocial and behavioural factors in the explanation of inequalities in adolescent self-rated health (SRH) by family wealth in 28 countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on the international WHO 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children' (HBSC) study carried out in 2005/2006. The total sample included 117 460 adolescents aged 11-15 in 28 European and North American countries. Socioeconomic position was measured using the Family Affluence Scale (FAS). Multilevel logistic regression models were conducted to analyse the direct (independent) and indirect contribution of psychosocial and behavioural factors on SRH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across all countries, adolescents from low affluent families had a higher risk of reporting fair/poor SRH (OR1.76, CI 1.69 to 1.84). Separate adjustments for psychosocial and behavioural factors reduced the OR of students with low family affluence by 39% (psychosocial) and 22% (behavioural). Together, both approaches explained about 50-60% of inequalities by family affluence in adolescent SRH. Separate analyses showed that relationship to father and academic achievement (psychosocial factors) as well as physical activity and consumption of fruits/vegetables (behavioural factors) were the most important factors in explaining inequalities in SRH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than half of the inequalities by family affluence in adolescent SRH were explained by an unequal distribution of psychosocial and behavioural factors. Combining both approaches showed that the contribution of psychosocial factors was higher due to their direct (independent) and indirect impact through behavioural factors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moor
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rathmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Karien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stronks
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU), University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & International Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spallek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D009656:North America; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D057566:Self Report; D012923:Social Class; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Adolescents Cg; HEALTH Inequalities; Health Behaviour; Psychosocial Factors; Social Epidemiology