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Socioeconomic status, stressful life situations and mental health problems in children and adolescents: Results of the German BELLA cohort-study

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  • Franziska Reiss
  • Ann-Katrin Meyrose
  • Christiane Otto
  • Thomas Lampert
  • Fionna Klasen
  • Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer

Abstract

Aim: Children and adolescents with low socioeconomic status (SES) suffer from mental health problems more often than their peers with high SES. The aim of the current study was to investigate the direct and interactive association between commonly used indicators of SES and the exposure to stressful life situations in relation to children’s mental health problems. Methods: The prospective BELLA cohort study is the mental health module of the representative, population-based German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Sample data include 2,111 participants (aged 7–17 years at baseline) from the first three measurement points (2003–2006, 2004–2007 and 2005–2008). Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were conducted to analyze associations among the SES indicators household income, parental education and parental unemployment (assessed at baseline), number of stressful life situations (e.g., parental accident, mental illness or severe financial crises; 1- and 2-year follow-ups) and parent-reported mental health problems (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire; 2-year follow-up). Results: All indicators of SES separately predicted mental health problems in children and adolescents at the 2-year follow-up. Stressful life situations (between baseline and 2-year follow-up) and the interaction of parental education and the number of stressful life situations remained significant in predicting children’s mental health problems after adjustment for control variables. Thereby, children with higher educated parents showed fewer mental health problems in a stressful life situation. No moderating effect was found for household income and parental employment. Overall, the detected effect sizes were small. Mental health problems at baseline were the best predictor for mental health problems two years later. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with a low SES suffer from multiple stressful life situations and are exposed to a higher risk of developing mental health problems. The findings suggest that the reduction of socioeconomic inequalities and interventions for families with low parental education might help to reduce children’s mental health problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Franziska Reiss & Ann-Katrin Meyrose & Christiane Otto & Thomas Lampert & Fionna Klasen & Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer, 2019. "Socioeconomic status, stressful life situations and mental health problems in children and adolescents: Results of the German BELLA cohort-study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0213700
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213700
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    3. Md Irteja Islam & Gail M Ormsby & Enamul Kabir & Rasheda Khanam, 2021. "Estimating income-related and area-based inequalities in mental health among nationally representative adolescents in Australia: The concentration index approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Jiang, Shan, 2020. "Psychological well-being and distress in adolescents: An investigation into associations with poverty, peer victimization, and self-esteem," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    5. Dar, Aehsan Ahmad & Deb, Sibnath, 2020. "Psychological distress among young adults exposed to armed conflict in Kashmir," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    6. Soomin Ryu & Lu Fan, 2023. "The Relationship Between Financial Worries and Psychological Distress Among U.S. Adults," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 16-33, March.
    7. Stefanie Theuring & Welmoed van Loon & Franziska Hommes & Norma Bethke & Marcus A. Mall & Tobias Kurth & Joachim Seybold & Frank P. Mockenhaupt, 2022. "Psychosocial Wellbeing of Schoolchildren during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Berlin, Germany, June 2020 to March 2021," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-11, August.

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