scholarly journals Subjective Family Socioeconomic Status and Adolescents’ Attention: Blacks’ Diminished Returns

Children ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Shanika Boyce ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Child Behavior Checklist ◽  
Racial Minorities ◽  
Stop Signal Task ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Marginal Returns ◽  
Family Ses

Background: Racial minorities, particularly non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) in the US, experience weaker effects from their families’ socioeconomic status on tangible outcomes, a pattern called the Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory. These MDRs are frequently shown in the effects of the families’ socioeconomic status (SES) on NHB adolescents’ school performance. As a result of these MDRs, NHB adolescents from high SES families show a worse than expected school performance. The existing knowledge is, however, minimal about the role of attention in explaining the diminished returns of the families’ SES with regard to the adolescents’ outcomes. Aim: To investigate the racial differences in the effects of the subjective family SES on adolescents’ attention, we compared non-Hispanic white (NHW) and NHB adolescents to assess the effect of the subjective family SES on adolescents’ attention. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis that included 4188 adolescents from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The independent variable was the subjective family SES. The primary outcome was the adolescents’ attention to be measured by the stop-signal task (SST). The attention domain of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was also measured. Results: Overall, a high subjective family SES was associated with a higher task-based and CBCL-based attention. Race showed statistically significant interactions with subjective family SES in terms of adolescents’ attention outcomes. These interactions suggested that a high subjective family SES has smaller tangible effects on increasing the attention of NHB than NHW adolescents. Conclusion: The boosting effect of subjective family SES on attention is diminished for NHB rather than NHW adolescents. To minimize the racial gap in attention-related behaviors, such as school performance, we need to address the diminished returns of resources in the lives of NHB families. Not only should we equalize SES, but also increase the marginal returns of SES for racial minorities, particularly NHB families. Such efforts require public policies that empower NHB families to better leverage their SES resources and turn them into tangible outcomes. In addition, social policies should directly aim to alter the societal barriers that limit NHB families’ ability to effectively utilize their resources. Discrimination, segregation, and racism should be targets of our policy solutions.

scholarly journals Persistent influence of family socioeconomic status on education in Britain over 95 years

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie von Stumm ◽  
Sophie Nicole Cave ◽  
Paul Wakeling
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Family Background ◽  
General Assumption ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Children's Education ◽  
Differential Learning ◽  
Children’S Education ◽  
Family Ses

In Britain and elsewhere, the influence of family socioeconomic status (SES) on education is already evident in primary school, and it persists and increases throughout the school years, with children from impoverished families earning lower grades and obtaining fewer educational qualifications than children from more privileged backgrounds. Reducing the effect of family background on children’s education is a pivotal aim of educators, policymakers, and researchers, but the success of their efforts is poorly evidenced to date. Here, we show for the first time that over 95 years in Britain the influence of family SES on children’s school performance has remained stable. Across 15 British population cohorts born between 1921 and 2011 (N = 83,249), we confirmed previous findings of a correlation between family SES and children’s school performance of .27 [95% Confidence Interval .21-.32], adjusted for cohort-specific confounders. However, contrary to the general assumption that family background inequality has increased over time, we observed only minimal differences in the association between family SES and school performance across British cohorts. We argue that education policies must prioritize equity in learning outcomes over equality in learning opportunities, if they seek to disrupt the perpetuation of social and economic inequality across generations. We speculate that the effect of family SES on children’s education will only noticeably weaken if primary education settings become better equipped to meet and remediate the children’s differential learning needs.

scholarly journals Family Socioeconomic Status, Religiosity and Alcohol Use among Secondary School Adolescents in Bushenyi Ishaka Municipality, Uganda

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanansio Spencer Bashaija ◽  
Aloysius Rukundo
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis

This paper reports research on levels of family socioeconomic status, religiosity and alcohol use among secondary school adolescents in Bushenyi Ishaka Municipality, Uganda (BIM). The study employed a cross- sectional survey design with quantitative method of data collection and analysis.  Proportionate stratified, and systematic simple random sampling techniques were used to arrive at the final sample of participants. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire with standardized scales. The instrument comprised Bio-data, SES scale, religiosity, spiritual scale for Youth, and AUDIT Test for Alcohol use. Responses were obtained from a total of 404 participants who included females as the majority (54.7%).  The mean age of the students was 15.91. Results show that majority of the students came from families with moderate levels of socioeconomic status. It was further discovered that students had low levels of alcohol use and high levels of religiosity. Implications of the study findings are discussed.

scholarly journals The extent of protective footwear use among school-age rural children at high risk for podoconiosis and socio-economic correlates: A household cross-sectional survey in Southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. e0009791
Author(s):  
Abebayehu Tora ◽  
Getnet Tadele ◽  
Gail Davey ◽  
Colleen M. McBride
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Household Head ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Rural Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status

Background Podoconiosis is preventable if genetically susceptible people wear shoes starting from an early age and do so consistently. However, lack of routine use of footwear is one of the major risk factors for podoconiosis and several other foot-related Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). This study is aimed at describing the extent of footwear use among school-age rural children susceptible to the disease and investigating associated socioeconomic factors. Methods Cross sectional surveys were conducted in 330 randomly selected households in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. A household head and a child aged between 9 and 15 years were recruited from each household. Household heads provided socioeconomic data while children were asked about their footwear ownership and footwear use. Results Nearly half (49.5%) of the children reported either walking barefoot or wearing under-protective footwear in a range of situations. Girls, older children, those in higher school grades, who belonged to families with higher socio-economic status, and those who owned a larger number of pairs of footwear reported more protective use of footwear. The linear regression model constituting the adequacy of footwear ownership and interaction term (i.e. family socioeconomic status by adequacy of footwear ownership) variables explained 30% of variance in the protective use of footwear (AR2 = 0.307). The interaction effect of adequate ownership of footwear and family socioeconomic status consistently predicted the protective use of footwear among children (β = -0.175, p<0.01) though the main effect of adequacy of footwear ownership was stronger (β = 0.507, p<0.001). Conclusion Increased adoption of protective footwear is needed to effectively prevent school-age children living in endemic areas from developing podoconiosis and other neglected tropical diseases. Interventions aimed to improve the protective footwear use should consider approaches that also increase the socio-economic capacity of families in podoconiosis endemic communities.

scholarly journals Race, Ethnicity, Family Socioeconomic Status, and Children’s Hippocampus Volume

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. p25
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Ethnic Group ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
White Families ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
American Children ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Hippocampus Volume ◽  
Family Ses

Introduction: The hippocampus has a significant role in memory, learning, and cognition. Although hippocampal size is highly susceptible to family socioeconomic status (SES) and associated stress, very little is known on racial and ethnic group differences in the effects of SES indicators on hippocampus volume among American children. Purpose: This study explored the multiplicative effects of race, ethnicity, and family SES on hippocampus volume among American children. Methods: Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD), we analyzed the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data of 9390 9-10 years old children. The main outcome was hippocampus volume. The predictor was parental education. Subjective family SES was the independent variable. Age, sex, and marital status were the covariates. Racial and ethnic group membership were the moderators. To analyze the data, we used regression models. Results: High subjective family SES was associated with larger hippocampus volume. This effect was significantly larger for Whites than Black families. Conclusions: The effect of subjective family SES on children’s hippocampus volume is weaker in Black than White families.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and The Patterns of Food and Nutrition Consumption of the Household in Rural Areas of Muaro Jambi Regency

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-124
Author(s):  
Suandi Suandi ◽  
Yusma Damayanti
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
The Family ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
The Relationship

The objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between family socioeconomic status and nutritional adequacy rate in rural areas of Muaro Jambi, Jambi Province. The study design was cross-sectional. The study was conducted in rural areas of Muaro Jambi, Jambi province by selecting three districts, namely: district of Sekernan, Kumpeh Ulu, and Mestong. The research was conducted from July to December 2014. The sample was 180 families and were taken by purposive and simple random sampling. Data were tested by descriptive and Product Moment Correlation. The results showed that consumption of food and nutrition in the study area is almost close to the recommended nutrition adequacy standard. Results of the analysis showed that the variables of household head age, family size and income are positively and significantly correlated to energy and protein consumption adequacy of the family, while the factor of household head education was unrelated.

Family Socioeconomic Status, Educational Expectations, and Academic Achievement Among Chinese Rural-to-Urban Migrant Adolescents: The Protective Role of Subjective Socioeconomic Status

2020 ◽  
pp. 027243162098345
Author(s):  
Yi Ren ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Ying Jiang ◽  
Silin Huang
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Educational Expectations ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Urban Migrant ◽  
Migrant Adolescents ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Subjective Ses ◽  
Family Ses

The adverse impact of a low family socioeconomic status (SES) on rural-to-urban migrant children’s academic achievement has been widely demonstrated. However, knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying this relationship is limited. The current study aimed to examine the potential mediating effects of educational expectations and the moderating effects of subjective SES on the relationship between family SES and academic achievement among Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents. A sample of 321 rural-to-urban migrant adolescents (48.2% girls; mean age = 11.73 years, SD = 1.16 years) was recruited in China. The results indicated that migrant adolescents’ educational expectations mediated the relationship between family SES and academic achievement. In addition, the link between family SES and educational expectations was weak among adolescents with higher levels of subjective SES. These findings suggest that subjective SES serves as a protective factor buffering the negative effects of a low family SES on migrant adolescents’ academic achievement through educational expectations.

scholarly journals Migration intentions of Asian and African medical students educated in China: a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Li ◽  
Hong Sun
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
High Income ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Healthcare Workforce ◽  
Academic Grades

Abstract Background In recent years, the number of students from Asian and African countries to study medicine in China has been on the rise. This study investigated the migration intentions of China-educated international medical students (IMSs) after graduation and the factors that influence the migration intentions. Methods The cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study involved the IMSs from the 2nd to the 6th year of degree course at Xuzhou Medical University, China, conducted from April to July of 2018. The self-administrated questionnaire asked questions on students’ migration destinations for short-term stay and permanent stay. The influence of gender, continent of origin, academic performance, and family socioeconomic background on the migration intentions was analyzed. Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Among 266 valid responses, 124 (46.62%) students intended to return to their home countries. This intention to return was associated with Asian citizenship, lower academic performance, and middle/lower family socioeconomic status. The remaining 142 students desired to stay temporarily or permanently outside their home countries. The starting time for them to stay outside home countries was immediately after graduation or some time later. Among them, 88 (61.97%) expected to migrate to a high-income country. The intention to migrate to high-income countries was associated with female gender and higher academic grades. For students who intended to stay outside their home countries, the most popular destination for short-term stay was China, and that for permanent stay was the USA. Conclusion IMSs with characteristics of Asian citizenship, lower academic performance, or middle/lower family socioeconomic status are more likely to return to their home countries after graduation, and those with characteristics of female gender or higher academic grades are more likely to migrate to high-income countries. These results suggest that China-educated IMSs constitute a potential resource of healthcare workforce not only for their home countries, but also for the recipient countries. Our findings provide important information on healthcare workforce planning for the governments of the relevant countries.

Determinants of School Performance in Guatemala: Family Background Characteristics and Early Abilities

1993 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen S. Gorman ◽  
Ernesto Pollitt
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Family Background ◽  
Background Characteristics ◽  
School Enrolment ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Class Differences ◽  
Cumulative Deficit ◽  
And Performance

The purpose of this study was to explore how two sets of antecedent variables contribute to variation in school enrolment and performance in four villages in rural Guatemala. Measures of preschool cognition and indicators of family socioeconomic status (maternal education level and house quality) predicted school enrolment for boys and girls. Similarly, for those who went to school, socioeconomic status and preschool abilities were associated with age-atentry, the number of grades passed and failed, and the maximum grade attained. Multivariate regression analyses indicate that preschool abilities, after controlling for indicators of family background, explain significant portions of variance in age of entry and other measures of school performance. The results are interpreted in the light of the cumulative deficit hypothesis which postulates that early environmental disadvantages increase over time. These data indicate that the school experience contributes to maintaining, rather than reducing, social class differences.

scholarly journals Parental Human Capital and Adolescents’ Executive Function: Immigrants’ Diminished Returns

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Golnoush Akhlaghipour ◽  
Shanika Boyce ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan ◽  
Cleopatra Caldwell ◽  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Immigrant Families ◽  
Stop Signal Task ◽  
Continuous Measure ◽  
Immigration Status ◽  
Immigrant Adolescents ◽  
Hispanic White

Racial minorities, particularly non-Hispanic Blacks (immigrants) in the US, experience weaker effects of family socioeconomic status on tangible outcomes, a pattern called Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs). These MDRs are frequently shown for the effects of family SEP on immigrant adolescents' school performance. As a result of these MDRs, immigrant adolescents from high SEP families show worse than expected cognitive outcomes, including but not limited to school performance. However, the existing knowledge is minimal about the role of executive function in explaining diminished returns of family SEP on adolescents’ outcomes. To investigate racial differences in the effects of parental human capital on adolescents’ executive function, we compared non-Hispanic White (non-immigrant) and immigrant adolescents for the effect of parental human capital on adolescents’ executive function. This was a cross-sectional analysis that included 2,723 non-twin non-Hispanic White adolescents from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The independent variable was parental human capital (parental educational attainment), treated as a continuous measure with a higher score reflecting higher subjective socioeconomic status. The primary outcome was adolescents’ executive function measured by the stop-signal task (SST). Age, sex, parental marital status, parental employment, family income, and financial difficulties. Immigration status was the effect modifier. Overall, high parental human capital was associated with higher task-based executive function. Immigration status showed statistically significant interactions with parental human capital on adolescents’ executive function outcomes. This interaction term suggested that high parental human capital has a smaller effect on increasing immigrants' executive function than non-immigrant adolescents. The boosting effect of parental human capital on executive function is diminished for immigrants than non-immigrant adolescents. To minimize the inequalities in executive function-related outcomes such as school performance, we need to address the diminishing returns of existing resources for immigrants. Not only should we equalize groups based on their SEP but also equalize the marginal returns of their existing SEP. Such efforts require public policies that aim for equal processes. As such, social policies should address structural and societal barriers such as xenophobia, segregation, racism, and discrimination that hinder immigrant families’ ability to effectively utilize their resources. In a fair society, immigrant and non-immigrant families should be equally able to leverage their SEP resources and turn them into tangible outcomes.

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