1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«[T]he first objective of this study was to examine the extent to which these constructs (subjective SES [socioeconomic status], community SES, and income inequality) overlap in adolescents. [T]he second objective of this study was to examine the independent contributions of subjective SES, community SES, and income inequality on adolescent health. [T]he third objective of this study was to examine the unique contributions of subjective SES, community SES, and income inequality on several domains of adolescent health, including mental health, health and substance use behaviors, reported physical health, and biomarkers of health.» (p. 592-593)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«We hypothesized that these variables [subjective SES, community SES, and income inequality] would be moderately correlated with one another. […] We hypothesized that, when all measures of relative SES were considered, the effects of each measure would be attenuated somewhat due to a similar underlying construct of relative SES, but that independent associations would remain due to differences in these measures [W]e hypothesized that subjective SES would be closely associated with mental health, community SES would be closely associated with health and substance behaviors, and income inequality would be strongly related to physical health.» (p. 592-593)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The Quebec Child and Adolescent Health and Social Survey (QCAHS) was a school-based, population-representative sample survey of youth in Quebec, Canada. […] The current study included 13- (n = 1,049) and 16-year olds (n = 1,150) from the original sample; 9-year-olds were excluded because subjective SES was not measured in this age group. After excluding participants […] our sample consisted of 2,199 adolescents». (p. 593)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«We expected that, after controlling for family objective SES and other measures of relative SES, subjective SES would be independently associated with self-rated health and mental health problems. The results partly supported this hypothesis, as lower subjective SES was linked to poorer self-rated health and more mental health problems (depression, anger, anxiety, low self-esteem). In addition, lower subjective SES was related to lower physical activity levels, less consumption of fruits and vegetables, more general health symptoms, and more asthma. […] Thus, associations between subjective SES and adolescent health seem to vary by health outcome. Finally, we examined correspondence of subjective SES with other SES indicators. Subjective SES was associated with parental education and household income, but not with community SES or income inequality[.] Household income relative to community income explained more variance in subjective SES than parental education relative to school education/employment. Adolescents’ subjective ratings of SES were positively related to their family’s objective SES and negatively related to community SES. In other words, adolescents rated their SES highest when they had high family SES and lower community SES, which suggests that subjective SES reflects underlying status relative to community.» (p. 596-597)