Moor I, Lampert T, Rathmann K, Kuntz B, Kolip P, Spallek J, Richter M. Int. J. Public Health 2014; 59(2): 309-317.
Affiliation
Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical Sociology (IMS), Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 8, 06112, Halle/Saale, Germany, irene.moor@medizin.uni-halle.de.
OBJECTIVES: There is little evidence on the explanation of health inequalities based on a gender sensitive perspective. The aim was to investigate to what extent health behaviours mediate the association between educational inequalities and life satisfaction of boys and girls.
METHODS: Data were derived from the German part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study 2010 (n = 5,005). Logistic regression models were conducted to investigate educational inequalities in life satisfaction among 11- to 15-year-old students and the relative impact of health behaviour in explaining these inequalities.
RESULTS: Educational inequalities in life satisfaction were more pronounced in boys than in girls from lower educational tracks (OR 2.82, 95 % CI 1.97-4.05 and OR 2.30, 95 % CI 1.68-3.14). For adolescents belonging to the lowest educational track, behavioural factors contributed to 18 % (boys) and 39 % (girls) in the explanation of educational inequalities in life satisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between educational track and life satisfaction is substantially mediated by health-related behaviours. To tackle inequalities in adolescent health, behavioural factors should be targeted at adolescents from lower educational tracks, with special focus on gender differences.