Social inequalities in child mental health trajectories: a longitudinal study using birth cohort data 12 countries.
Child mental health
Externalising problems
Internalising problems
Social inequalities
Socio‐economic circumstances
Socio‐economic position
Trajectories
Journal
BMC public health
ISSN: 1471-2458
Titre abrégé: BMC Public Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100968562
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
22 Oct 2024
22 Oct 2024
Historique:
received:
30
01
2024
accepted:
04
10
2024
medline:
23
10
2024
pubmed:
23
10
2024
entrez:
23
10
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Social inequalities in child mental health are an important public health concern. Whilst previous studies have examined inequalities at a single time point, very few have used repeated measures outcome data to describe how these inequalities emerge. Our aims were to describe social inequalities in child internalising and externalising problems across multiple countries and to explore how these inequalities change as children age. We used longitudinal data from eight birth cohorts containing participants from twelve countries (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom). The number of included children in each cohort ranged from N = 584 (Greece) to N = 73,042 (Norway), with a total sample of N = 149,604. Child socio-economic circumstances (SEC) were measured using self-reported maternal education at birth. Child mental health outcomes were internalising and externalising problems measured using either the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or the Child Behavior Checklist. The number of data collection waves in each cohort ranged from two to seven, with the mean child age ranging from two to eighteen years old. We modelled the slope index of inequality (SII) using sex-stratified multi-level models. For almost all cohorts, at the earliest age of measurement children born into more deprived SECs had higher internalising and externalising scores than children born to less deprived SECs. For example, in Norway at age 2 years, boys born to mothers of lower education had an estimated 0.3 (95% CI 0.3, 0.4) standard deviation higher levels of internalising problems (SII) compared to children born to mothers with high education. The exceptions were for boys in Australia (age 2) and both sexes in Greece (age 6), where we observed minimal social inequalities. In UK, Denmark and Netherlands inequalities decreased as children aged, however for other countries (France, Norway, Australia and Crete) inequalities were heterogeneous depending on child sex and outcome. For all countries except France inequalities remained at the oldest point of measurement. Social inequalities in internalising and externalising problems were evident across a range of EU countries, with inequalities emerging early and generally persisting throughout childhood.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Social inequalities in child mental health are an important public health concern. Whilst previous studies have examined inequalities at a single time point, very few have used repeated measures outcome data to describe how these inequalities emerge. Our aims were to describe social inequalities in child internalising and externalising problems across multiple countries and to explore how these inequalities change as children age.
METHODS
METHODS
We used longitudinal data from eight birth cohorts containing participants from twelve countries (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom). The number of included children in each cohort ranged from N = 584 (Greece) to N = 73,042 (Norway), with a total sample of N = 149,604. Child socio-economic circumstances (SEC) were measured using self-reported maternal education at birth. Child mental health outcomes were internalising and externalising problems measured using either the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or the Child Behavior Checklist. The number of data collection waves in each cohort ranged from two to seven, with the mean child age ranging from two to eighteen years old. We modelled the slope index of inequality (SII) using sex-stratified multi-level models.
RESULTS
RESULTS
For almost all cohorts, at the earliest age of measurement children born into more deprived SECs had higher internalising and externalising scores than children born to less deprived SECs. For example, in Norway at age 2 years, boys born to mothers of lower education had an estimated 0.3 (95% CI 0.3, 0.4) standard deviation higher levels of internalising problems (SII) compared to children born to mothers with high education. The exceptions were for boys in Australia (age 2) and both sexes in Greece (age 6), where we observed minimal social inequalities. In UK, Denmark and Netherlands inequalities decreased as children aged, however for other countries (France, Norway, Australia and Crete) inequalities were heterogeneous depending on child sex and outcome. For all countries except France inequalities remained at the oldest point of measurement.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Social inequalities in internalising and externalising problems were evident across a range of EU countries, with inequalities emerging early and generally persisting throughout childhood.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39438908
doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20291-5
pii: 10.1186/s12889-024-20291-5
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
2930Subventions
Organisme : H2020
ID : 874583
Organisme : H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
ID : 120616
Organisme : NHMRC
ID : 114285
Organisme : NHMRC
ID : 2010063
Organisme : Spanish Institute of Health Carlos III
ID : CPII18/00018
Organisme : Dutch Research Council
ID : NWA.1238.18.001
Pays : Netherlands
Organisme : NIHR
ID : 302438
Organisme : Norwegian Regional Health Authority South-East
ID : 2020024
Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
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