title: Does self-efficacy mediate the association between socioeconomic background and emotional symptoms among schoolchildren?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emotional symptoms are widespread among adolescents with the highest prevalence among lower socioeconomic groups. Less is known about why and how to reduce this inequality but personal control, e.g., self-efficacy may be crucial. This study examines whether self-efficacy is a mediator in the association between occupational social class (OSC) and emotional symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data stem from the cross-sectional Health Behavior in School-aged Children-Methodology Development Survey 2012 (HBSC-MDS) conducted among 11-15-year old schoolchildren in two Danish municipalities. Participation rate was 76.8 % of 5165 enrolled schoolchildren, n = 3969.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low OSC is associated with higher odds of daily emotional symptoms and low selfefficacy. Schoolchildren with low self-efficacy have higher odds for daily emotional symptoms. We find a strong and statistically significant direct effect between low OSC and daily emotional symptoms (OR = 1.55, 95 % CI: 1.33; 1.84) and a borderline statistically significant indirect effect of self-efficacy [OR = 1.17 (0.99; 1.38)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic inequality in emotional symptoms exists. This inequality is partly explained by socioeconomic inequality in self-efficacy. Promotion of personal competences like self-efficacy may reduce emotional symptoms among all socioeconomic groups, thereby reducing socioeconomic inequalities in emotional symptoms.
authors: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Oester Farimagsgade 5A, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark. Chme@niph.dk.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Meilstrup
authors: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Oester Farimagsgade 5A, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors: Lau Caspar
authors: LC
authors: Thygesen
authors: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Oester Farimagsgade 5A, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors: Line
authors: L
authors: Nielsen
authors: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Oester Farimagsgade 5A, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors: Vibeke
authors: V
authors: Koushede
authors: Telethon Kids Institute, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia.
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Cross
authors: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Oester Farimagsgade 5A, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors: Bjørn Evald
authors: BE
authors: Holstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Adolescents; Emotional symptoms; Mediation analysis; Mental health; Self-efficacy; Socioeconomic inequality