title: Trends in social inequalities in adolescent health complaints from 1994 to 2010 in Europe, North America and Israel: The HBSC study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown constant or increasing health inequalities in adulthood in the last decades, but less is known about trends in health inequalities among adolescents. The aim is to analyse changes in socioeconomic differences in subjective health complaints from 1994 to 2010 among 11- to 15-year-olds in Europe, North America and Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the international 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children' (HBSC) survey. Analyses were based on the HBSC surveys conducted in 1994 (19 countries), 1998 (25 countries), 2002 (32 countries), 2006 (37 countries) and 2010 (36 countries) covering a time period of up to 16 years. Log binomial regression models were used to assess inequalities in multiple health complaints. Socioeconomic position was measured using perceived family wealth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inequalities in multiple health complaints emerged in almost all countries, in particular since 2002 (RR 1.1-1.7). Trend analyses showed stable (29 countries), increased (5 countries), decreased (one country) and no social inequalities (2 countries) in adolescent health complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In almost all countries, social inequalities in health complaints remained constant over a period of up to 16 years. Our findings suggest a need to intensify efforts in social and health policy to tackle existing inequalities.
authors: 1 Institute of Medical Sociology (IMS), Medical Faculty, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany irene.moor@medizin.uni-halle.de.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Moor
authors: 1 Institute of Medical Sociology (IMS), Medical Faculty, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Richter
authors: 2 Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Ravens-Sieberer
authors: 2 Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Veronika
authors: V
authors: Ottová-Jordan
authors: 3 Institute for Health and Social Policy and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Frank J
authors: FJ
authors: Elgar
authors: 1 Institute of Medical Sociology (IMS), Medical Faculty, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors: Timo-Kolja
authors: TK
authors: Pförtner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009656:North America; D064890:Social Determinants of Health