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

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

Nutrition and Health ◽

10.1177/0260106019900742 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 3-8

Author(s):

Bjørn E. Holstein ◽

Mogens Trab Damsgaard ◽

Pernille Due ◽

Rikke Fredenslund Krølner ◽

Trine Pagh Pedersen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Class ◽

Social Inequality ◽

Health Behaviour ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Soft Drinks ◽

School Aged Children ◽

Occupational Social Class ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Representative Samples

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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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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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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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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1482 Occupational social class and self rated health. a cross sectional study of older irish adults from the irish longitudinal study on ageing

10.1136/oemed-2018-icohabstracts.109 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

S Kelly ◽

A McCarren ◽

A Reid

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Social Class ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Occupational Social Class

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Residential area deprivation predicts fruit and vegetable consumption independently of individual educational level and occupational social class: a cross sectional population study in the Norfolk cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk)

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech.2003.008490 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 58 (8) ◽

pp. 686-691 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

S. Shohaimi

Keyword(s):

Social Class ◽

Educational Level ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Residential Area ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Area Deprivation ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Class A ◽

Occupational Social Class ◽

Prospective Investigation

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Occupational Social Class and Personality Traits in Relation to Leisure-Time Physical Activity Level: Cross-Sectional Results From the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/0898264317714928 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 1263-1283 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gitte L. Petersen ◽

Erik L. Mortensen ◽

Naja H. Rod ◽

Theis Lange ◽

Trine Flensborg-Madsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Class ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Activity Duration ◽

Unit Increase ◽

Occupational Social Class ◽

Physical Activity Duration

Objective: To investigate separate and combined associations of occupational social class and personality traits with late midlife leisure-time physical activity duration and intensity. Method: Cross-sectional data from the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank ( N = 4,649) were analyzed using linear regression models with leisure-time physical activity (metric equivalence) as outcome. Results: Low versus high occupational social class was associated with 4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [3%, 5%]) greater leisure-time physical activity duration, but 2% (CI = [1%, 3%]) lower intensity. Each 10-unit increase in extraversion was associated with 5% (CI = [2%, 8%]) greater duration. Intensity increased by each 10-unit increase in conscientiousness (6%, CI = [4%, 7%]), openness (3%, CI = [1%, 4%]), neuroticism (3%, CI = [1%, 4%]), and extraversion (5%, CI = [4%, 7%]). Conscientiousness was positively associated with duration in low, but not in high, occupational social class (interaction p value = .002). Discussion: Higher occupational social class was associated with lower leisure-time physical activity duration, but higher intensity. Extraversion was positively associated with duration and intensity. Conscientiousness, openness, and neuroticism were positively associated with intensity. Overall, interactions were not consistent.

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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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