@article{ref1,
title="Does self-efficacy mediate the association between socioeconomic background and emotional symptoms among schoolchildren?",
journal="International journal of public health",
year="2016",
author="Meilstrup, Charlotte and Thygesen, Lau Caspar and Nielsen, Line and Koushede, Vibeke and Cross, Donna and Holstein, Bjørn Evald",
volume="61",
number="4",
pages="505-512",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: Emotional symptoms are widespread among adolescents with the highest prevalence among lower socioeconomic groups. Less is known about why and how to reduce this inequality but personal control, e.g., self-efficacy may be crucial. This study examines whether self-efficacy is a mediator in the association between occupational social class (OSC) and emotional symptoms. <br><br>METHODS: Data stem from the cross-sectional Health Behavior in School-aged Children-Methodology Development Survey 2012 (HBSC-MDS) conducted among 11-15-year old schoolchildren in two Danish municipalities. Participation rate was 76.8 % of 5165 enrolled schoolchildren, n = 3969. <br><br>RESULTS: Low OSC is associated with higher odds of daily emotional symptoms and low selfefficacy. Schoolchildren with low self-efficacy have higher odds for daily emotional symptoms. We find a strong and statistically significant direct effect between low OSC and daily emotional symptoms (OR = 1.55, 95 % CI: 1.33; 1.84) and a borderline statistically significant indirect effect of self-efficacy [OR = 1.17 (0.99; 1.38)]. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic inequality in emotional symptoms exists. This inequality is partly explained by socioeconomic inequality in self-efficacy. Promotion of personal competences like self-efficacy may reduce emotional symptoms among all socioeconomic groups, thereby reducing socioeconomic inequalities in emotional symptoms.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1661-8556",
doi="10.1007/s00038-016-0790-3",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-016-0790-3"
}