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Health-Related Behaviors in Adolescents Mediate the Association between Subjective Social Status and Body Mass Index

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  • Asborg A. Bjertnaes

    (Department of Pediatrics, Lillehammer Hospital, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Anders Sandvigs Gate 17, 2609 Lillehammer, Norway
    Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway)

  • Catherine Schwinger

    (Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway)

  • Petur B. Juliusson

    (Department of Health Registries, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 973 Sentrum, 5808 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 87, 5021 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Pediatrics, Haukeland University Hospital, P.O. Box 1400, 5021 Bergen, Norway)

  • Tor A. Strand

    (Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Furnesvegen 25, 2380 Brumunddal, Norway)

  • Mads N. Holten-Andersen

    (Department of Pediatrics, Lillehammer Hospital, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Anders Sandvigs Gate 17, 2609 Lillehammer, Norway
    Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1171 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway)

  • Kjersti S. Bakken

    (Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Lillehammer Hospital, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Anders Sandvigs Gate 17, 2609 Lillehammer, Norway)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the association between adolescent subjective social status (SSS) and body mass index (BMI) at two different time points and to determine whether this association was mediated by health-related behaviors. In 2002 (n = 1596) and 2017 (n = 1534), tenth-grade students (15–16 years old) in schools in the District of Oppland, Norway, completed a survey. Four categories of perceived family economy were measured as SSS, and structural equation modeling was performed, including a latent variable for unhealthy behavior derived from cigarette smoking, snuff-use, and alcohol-drinking as well as dietary and exercise as mediators. No linear association was found between SSS and BMI in 2002 (standardized ß −0.02, (95% confidence interval (CI) −0.07, 0.03)). However, an association was present in 2017 (standardized ß −0.05 (95% CI −0.10, −0.001)), indicating that BMI decreased by 0.05 standard deviations (0.05 × 3.1 = 0.16 BMI unit) for every one-category increase in SSS. This association was mediated by exercise (standardized ß −0.013 (95% CI −0.02, −0.004) and unhealthy behavior (standardized ß −0.009 (95% CI −0.002, −0.04)). In conclusion, a direct association between SSS and BMI was found in 2017 in this repeated cross-sectional survey of 15–16-year-old Norwegian adolescents. This association was mediated through health-related behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Asborg A. Bjertnaes & Catherine Schwinger & Petur B. Juliusson & Tor A. Strand & Mads N. Holten-Andersen & Kjersti S. Bakken, 2020. "Health-Related Behaviors in Adolescents Mediate the Association between Subjective Social Status and Body Mass Index," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:7307-:d:424488
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    1. West, Patrick, 1997. "Health inequalities in the early years: Is there equalisation in youth?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 44(6), pages 833-858, March.
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