Intake of sugar sweetened soft drinks among adolescents: Trends and social inequality in Denmark 2002-2018

Background: Intake of sugar sweetened soft drinks (SSSD) has decreased among adolescents, but trends in social inequality in SSSD intake are unknown. Aim: Examine trends in social inequality in SSSD intake among adolescents in Denmark during 2002–2018. Methods: Five Health Behaviour in School-aged Children surveys with data on SSSD intake and parents’ occupational social class (OSC) from nationally representative samples of 11, 13 and 15 year olds, n =20,112. Results: The overall prevalence of daily SSSD intake decreased from 10.1% in 2002 to 6.4% in 2018. The prevalence decreased in both high OSC (from 8% to 5%) and middle OSC (from 10% to 6%) but remained around 12% in low OSC. The odds ratio (OR) estimates of low compared with high OSC increased over the years around an overall OR of 2.01 (1.74–2.34). Conclusions: Danish adolescents’ SSSD intake decreased during 2002–2018 and was higher the lower the parents’ OSC. Thus, social inequality increased during 2002–2018.

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Trends in Social Inequality in Tooth Brushing among Adolescents: 1991-2014

Caries Research ◽

10.1159/000441196 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 595-599 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bjørn E. Holstein ◽

Lotus Sofie Bast ◽

Carina Sjöberg Brixval ◽

Mogens Trab Damsgaard

Keyword(s):

Social Class ◽

Social Inequality ◽

Tooth Brushing ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Social Class ◽

Prevalence Difference ◽

Cross Sectional Studies ◽

The Absolute ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Representative Samples

This study examines whether social inequality in tooth brushing frequency among adolescents changed from 1991 to 2014. The data material was seven comparable cross-sectional studies of nationally representative samples of 11- to 15-year-olds in Denmark with data about frequency of tooth brushing and occupation of parents. The total number of participants was 31,464, of whom 21.7% brushed their teeth less than the recommended 2 times a day. The absolute social inequality measured as prevalence difference between low and high social class increased from 7.7% in 1991 to 14.6% in 2014. The relative social inequality assessed by odds ratios for infrequent tooth brushing also increased from 1991 to 2014.

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Persistent social inequality in low intake of vegetables among adolescents, 2002–2014

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001800040x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 1649-1653 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mette Rasmussen ◽

Trine Pagh Pedersen ◽

Nina Føns Johnsen ◽

Rikke Fredenslund Krølner ◽

Bjørn E Holstein

Keyword(s):

Social Inequality ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Economic Indicator ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Study Population ◽

Hbsc Study ◽

Occupational Social Class ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Student Reports

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the trend in social inequality in low intake of vegetables among adolescents in Denmark from 2002 to 2014 using occupational social class (OSC) as socio-economic indicator.DesignRepeated cross-sectional school surveys including four waves of data collection in 2002–2014. The analyses focused on absolute social inequality (difference between high and low OSC in low vegetable intake) as well as relative social inequality (OR for low vegetable intake by OSC).SettingThe nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Denmark.SubjectsThe study population was 11–15-year olds (n 17 243).ResultsLow intake of vegetables was defined as less than weekly intake measured by food frequency items. OSC was measured by student reports of parents’ occupation. The proportion of participants who reported eating vegetables less than once weekly was 8·9 %, with a notable decrease from 11·9 % in 2002 to 5·9 % in 2014. The OR (95 % CI) for less than weekly vegetable intake was 2·28 (1·98, 2·63) in the middle compared with high OSC and 3·12 (2·67, 3·66) in the low compared with high OSC. The absolute social inequality in low vegetable intake decreased from 2002 to 2014 but the relative social inequality remained unchanged.ConclusionsThe study underscores that it is important to address socio-economic factors in future efforts to promote vegetable intake among adolescents. The statistical analyses of social inequality in vegetable intake demonstrate that it is important to address both absolute and relative social inequality as these two phenomena may develop differently.

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Increasing prevalence of emotional symptoms in higher socioeconomic strata: Trend study among Danish schoolchildren 1991–2014

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1403494817752520 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 47 (7) ◽

pp. 690-694 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pernille Due ◽

Mogens T. Damsgaard ◽

Katrine R. Madsen ◽

Line Nielsen ◽

Signe B. Rayce ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Class ◽

Social Inequality ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Increasing Trend ◽

Symptom Check List ◽

Occupational Social Class ◽

Socioeconomic Strata ◽

Relative Differences

Aims: The aims of this study were: (a) to examine trends in daily emotional symptoms among 11- to 15-year-olds from 1991 to 2014 in Denmark, and (b) to examine trends in social inequality in daily emotional symptoms, that is, whether the differences in prevalence between adolescents with parents of varying occupational social class changed over time. Methods: We combined seven comparable cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children surveys ( N=31,169). Daily emotional symptoms were measured by the HBSC Symptom Check List and occupational social class (OSC) by students’ reports about parents’ occupation. We calculated absolute (per cent) differences in emotional symptoms between high and low OSC and relative differences by odds ratio for emotional symptoms by parents’ OSC. Results: Eight per cent reported at least one daily emotional symptoms, with an increasing trend from 1991 to 2014 ( p<0.001). The prevalence in high, middle and low OSC was 6.2%, 7.4% and 10.6% ( p<0.0001). From 1991 to 2014, there was an increase in the prevalence of daily emotional symptoms in high ( p<0.0001) and middle ( p<0.0001) but not low OSC ( p=0.4404). This resulted in a diminishing absolute social inequality in emotional symptoms. The statistical interaction between OSC and survey year was significant ( p=0.0023) and suggests a diminishing relative social inequality in emotional symptoms from 1991 to 2014. Conclusions: There was an increasing prevalence of daily emotional symptoms from 1991 to 2014 and a diminishing social inequality in prevalence of daily emotional symptoms in terms of both absolute and relative social inequality.

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A Belgian study on the reliability and relative validity of the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children food-frequency questionnaire

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1079/phn2003466 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

pp. 581-588 ◽

Cited By ~ 164

Author(s):

Carine A Vereecken ◽

Lea Maes

Keyword(s):

Health Behaviour ◽

Food Frequency Questionnaire ◽

Weighted Kappa ◽

Study Data ◽

Soft Drinks ◽

Food Diary ◽

Food Frequency ◽

Relative Validity ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Food Items

AbstractObjective:In the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey, the frequency of consumption of a limited number of food items – focusing on fibre, calcium and less healthy items – is queried using a 15-item food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The present study was conducted to assess the reliability and relative validity of the HBSC FFQ among school pupils in Belgium.Design and subjects:To assess the reliability of the FFQ, 207 pupils aged 11–12 years and 560 pupils aged 13–14 years completed the questionnaire twice, with a test–retest interval of 6 to 15 days. To assess the relative validity of the FFQ, in a first study data were collected as part of the Flemish HBSC 2000 survey: 7072 pupils (11–18 years) completed the FFQ and a 24-hour food behaviour checklist (FBC). In a second study, 101 pupils (11–12 years) completed the FFQ and a 7-day food diary (FD).Results:Reliability – weighted kappa values between test and retest ranged from 0.43 to 0.70, percentage agreement from 37 to 87%, and Spearman correlations from 0.52 to 0.82. Relative validity – comparison of the FBC with the percentage of respondents who should have consumed the food items on a random day, computed from the FFQ, showed good agreement between the FFQ and the FBC for most items. Only for cereals, diet soft drinks and other milk products were considerably higher food frequencies than expected found from the FBC. Comparison of the FFQ with the FD showed overestimation for all but three food items (cheese, soft drinks and chips). Spearman correlations ranged between 0.10 for crisps and 0.65 for semi-skimmed milk.Conclusion:The HBSC FFQ is a reliable questionnaire that can be used for ranking subjects for most food items, although one must consider the overestimation when the FFQ is used for estimating prevalences.

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Food poverty and health among schoolchildren in Ireland: findings from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980007226072 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 364-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Michal Molcho ◽

Saoirse Nic Gabhainn ◽

Colette Kelly ◽

Sharon Friel ◽

Cecily Kelleher

Keyword(s):

Social Class ◽

Health Behaviour ◽

Well Being ◽

Social Classes ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Life Dissatisfaction ◽

Hbsc Study

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the relationships between food poverty and food consumption, health and life satisfaction among schoolchildren.DesignAnalysis of the 2002 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, a cross-sectional survey that employs a self-completion questionnaire in a nationally representative random sample of school classrooms in the Republic of Ireland.SubjectsA total of 8424 schoolchildren (aged 10–17 years) from 176 schools, with an 83% response rate from children.ResultsFood poverty was found to be similarly distributed among the three social classes (15.3% in the lower social classes, 15.9% in the middle social classes and 14.8% in the higher social classes). It was also found that schoolchildren reporting food poverty are less likely to eat fruits, vegetables and brown bread, odds ratio (OR) from 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.45–0.87) to 0.81 (95% CI 0.63–0.99); more likely to eat crisps, fried potatoes and hamburgers, OR from 1.20 (95% CI 1.00–1.40) to 1.62 (95% CI 1.39–1.85); and more likely to miss breakfast on weekdays, OR from 1.29 (95% CI 0.33–1.59) to 1.72 (95% CI 1.50–1.95). The risk of somatic and mental symptoms is also increased, OR from 1.48 (95% CI 1.18–1.78) to 2.57 (95% CI 2.33–2.81); as are negative health perceptions, OR from 0.63 (95% CI 0.43–0.83) to 0.52 (95% CI 0.28–0.76) and measures of life dissatisfaction, OR from 1.88 (95% CI 1.64–2.12) to 2.25 (95% CI 2.05–2.45). Similar results were found for life dissatisfaction in an international comparison of 32 countries. All analyses were adjusted for age and social class.ConclusionsFood poverty in schoolchildren is not restricted to those from lower social class families, is associated with a substantial risk to physical and mental health and well-being, and requires the increased attention of policy makers and practitioners.

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Chronic Backpain Among Adolescents in Denmark: Socioeconomic Inequality and Trends 1991-2018

10.21203/rs.3.rs-435779/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bjørn E. Holstein ◽

Mogens Trab Damsgaard ◽

Katrine Rich Madsen ◽

Trine Pagh Pedersen ◽

Mette Toftager

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Inequality ◽

International Health ◽

Participation Rate ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Hbsc Study ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

School Surveys ◽

Representative Samples

Abstract Chronic backpain among adolescents is important because the prevalence and the burden of disability is high. Chronic backpain tracks into adulthood and is associated with several health problems. The objective was to study trends in the prevalence of chronic backpain among adolescents 1991-2018, to examine the association with socioeconomic status (SES) and whether this association changed over time. The study used data from eight comparable cross-sectional school-surveys of nationally representative samples of 11-15-year-olds in 1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, the Danish arm of the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. The participation rate was 88.0%, n=29,952. Chronic backpain was defined as self-reported backpain daily or several days a week during the last six months. The prevalence of chronic backpain was 11.1%, significantly increasing from 8.9% in 1991 to 11.7% in 2018. The OR for chronic backpain was 1.20 (1.10-1.31) in middle and 1.56 (1.41-1.73) in low compared to high OSC. Sensitivity analyses with two other cut-points for backpain frequency showed similar associations. Conclusion: Chronic backpain is common among adolescents and the prevalence increased from 1991 to 2918. The prevalence was highest in lower SES families. We recommend increased efforts to prevent chronic backpain.

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Trends in social inequality in loneliness among adolescents 1991–2014

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdy133 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. e133-e140 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

K R Madsen ◽

B E Holstein ◽

M T Damsgaard ◽

S B Rayce ◽

L N Jespersen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Inequality ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Social Background ◽

Single Item ◽

Random Samples ◽

The Social ◽

Inequality In Health ◽

Study Population ◽

Occupational Social Class ◽

Relative Differences

Abstract Background Loneliness and social inequality in health are important public health concerns. We examined (i) trends in loneliness among adolescents from 1991 to 2014 in Denmark and (ii) trends in social inequality in loneliness. Methods Study population: 11–15-year olds in random samples of schools in 1991, 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2014, n = 19 096. Loneliness was measured by a single item and social background by parents’ occupational social class (OSC). We calculated absolute (%) differences in loneliness between high and low OSC and relative differences by odds ratio for loneliness. Results Across all surveys, 6.3% reported feeling lonely. The prevalence increased from 4.4% in 1991 to 7.2% in 2014. The prevalence of loneliness in high, middle and low OSC was 5.8, 5.9 and 8.0%. The increase in loneliness was more pronounced in higher than lower OSC, resulting in a decreasing absolute social inequality in loneliness. The statistical interaction between OSC and survey year was significant, P = 0.0176, i.e. the relative social inequality in loneliness also decreased from 1991 to 2014. Conclusion The prevalence of loneliness increased from 1991 to 2014. The social inequality in loneliness decreased in both absolute and relative terms because of a rising prevalence of loneliness among children from high OSC.

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Association between schizophrenia and social inequality at birth: case–control study

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.179.4.346 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 179 (4) ◽

pp. 346-350 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Glynn Harrison ◽

David Gunnell ◽

Cris Glazebrook ◽

Kim Page ◽

Rosemary Kwiecinski

Keyword(s):

Social Class ◽

Social Inequality ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Positive Family History ◽

Case Control ◽

Birth Certificates ◽

First Episode ◽

Adult Onset ◽

Increased Risk ◽

And Gender

BackgroundThe association between social inequality at birth and subsequent risk of schizophrenia is uncertain.AimsTo investigate the relationship between adult-onset schizophrenia and two indicators of social inequality at birth: social class and area of residence.MethodA matched case–control design was used with data from birth certificates of first-episode cases and age— and gender-matched controls.ResultsRisk increased with increasing levels of deprivation at birth. Subjects whose fathers were social class IV–V or who were born in deprived areas were at increased risk of schizophrenia (odds ratio=2.1; 95% Cl=0.8–5.5). Risk was greater in those with both of these indicators (odds ratio=8.1; 95% CI=2.7–23.9). There was some evidence that associations were stronger in older subjects. Exclusion of African–Caribbeans or cases with positive family history somewhat attenuated the association.ConclusionsIndicators of social inequality at birth are associated with increased risk of adult-onset schizophrenia, suggesting that environmental factors are important determinants of schizophrenic disorders.

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Childhood adversities as risk factors for onset and persistence of suicidal behaviour

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.109.074716 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 197 (1) ◽

pp. 20-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 167

Author(s):

Ronny Bruffaerts ◽

Koen Demyttenaere ◽

Guilherme Borges ◽

Josep Maria Haro ◽

Wai Tat Chiu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Suicidal Behaviour ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Multivariate Models ◽

Childhood Adversities ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Representative Samples ◽

Ratio Range

BackgroundSuicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, but the precise effect of childhood adversities as risk factors for the onset and persistence of suicidal behaviour (suicide ideation, plans and attempts) are not well understood.AimsTo examine the associations between childhood adversities as risk factors for the onset and persistence of suicidal behaviour across 21 countries worldwide.MethodRespondents from nationally representative samples (η = 55 299) were interviewed regarding childhood adversities that occurred before the age of 18 years and lifetime suicidal behaviour.ResultsChildhood adversities were associated with an increased risk of suicide attempt and ideation in both bivariate and multivariate models (odds ratio range 1.2–5.7). The risk increased with the number of adversities experienced, but at a decreasing rate. Sexual and physical abuse were consistently the strongest risk factors for both the onset and persistence of suicidal behaviour, especially during adolescence. Associations remained similar after additional adjustment for respondents' lifetime mental disorder status.ConclusionsChildhood adversities (especially intrusive or aggressive adversities) are powerful predictors of the onset and persistence of suicidal behaviours.

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