Contribution of socioeconomic position to health inequalities of British children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities

Am J Ment Retard. 2007 Mar;112(2):140-50. doi: 10.1352/0895-8017(2007)112[140:COSPTH]2.0.CO;2.

Abstract

We examined the contribution of socioeconomic position to the health and mental health status of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in a sample of 10,438 British children. Intellectual disability was a significant risk factor for poorer general health, OR = 4.5, emotional disorders, OR = 2.0, and conduct disorders, OR = 7.7. Between-group differences in socioeconomic position and household composition, however, accounted for 24% of the increased risk of poor health, 23% of the increased risk for conduct disorder, and 37% of the increased risk for emotional disorder. We concluded that socioeconomic disadvantage may account for a significant proportion of the increased risk for poorer health and mental health of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Affective Symptoms / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Conduct Disorder / epidemiology
  • England
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Risk
  • Socioeconomic Factors*