Children’s Quality of Life in Europe: National Wealth and Familial Socioeconomic Position Explain Variations in Mental Health and Wellbeing—A Multilevel Analysis in 27 EU Countries
Sizeable variations in quality of life (QoL) and wellbeing according to socioeconomic status and national wealth have been observed. The assessment of children’s wellbeing may vary, depending on whether a parental or a child perspective is taken. Still, both perspectives provide important and valid information on children’s wellbeing. The Flash Eurobarometer no. 246 which was conducted for the European Commission assesses parents’ reports on their children’s health and wellbeing in 27 EU member states. Overall, 12,783 parents of 6–17-year-old children in the 27 EU states participated in telephone interviews. Parents reported children’s QoL and wellbeing using the KIDSCREEN-10 measure, as well as their occupational status and education level. Within a multilevel analysis, the KIDSCREEN-10 was regressed on parental occupation and education level. Random intercepts and slopes were regressed on gross domestic product per capita and income inequality. Low QoL was reported in 11.6% of cases, whereby cross-national variation accounted for 13% of the total variance in QoL. Children from countries with higher national wealth and lower income inequality were at lower risk for low QoL and wellbeing. Higher age of the child, a medium or low parental occupational status, and low parental educational status were associated with a higher risk for low QoL and wellbeing. 1. Introduction It is commonly reported that a higher socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with better health in adults, children, and adolescents [1]. Previous studies in adolescents have found associations between socioeconomic status and indicators of mortality and morbidity as well as self-rated health [2–10]. Subjective health and wellbeing has been increasingly recognised as important for predicting health services utilisation and future morbidity. It has also been increasingly recognised as important for detecting hidden morbidity and health care needs that are not identified using traditional medical indicators [11–14]. Subjective health, or quality of life (QoL) [11], has been defined as “individuals’ perceptions of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.” QoL and wellbeing incorporates a person’s physical health, psychological state, level of independence, and social relationships, as well as personal beliefs and their relationships to salient features of the environment [15]. Socioeconomic status concerns aspects of education, occupation status, and income. It has been
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