Inequality within the family (i.e. differential parenting) is associated with a variety of measures of child adjustment. To date there is no research examining the effects of this phenomenon on children’s physical health, or on the fashion in which this phenomenon may combine and interact with socioeconomic markers. The present study assessed 375 mothers and their children over a period of 18 months. Differential maternal negativity between siblings predicted change in child health, controlling for child gender, age, maternal education, income/assets, and absolute level of negativity in the household. The association between maternal education and change in child health was strongest when children were also exposed to high differential negativity, suggesting that these predictors combined in a cumulative fashion. Findings indicate that multiple forms of social disadvantage (i.e. between families and between siblings) can operate independently or in combination with one another to predict change in child health.

Inequality within the family (i.e. differential parenting) is associated with a variety of measures of child adjustment. To date there is no research examining the effects of this phenomenon on children’s physical health, or on the fashion in which this phenomenon may combine and interact with socioeconomic markers. The present study assessed 375 mothers and their children over a period of 18 months. Differential maternal negativity between siblings predicted change in child health, controlling for child gender, age, maternal education, income/assets, and absolute level of negativity in the household. The association between maternal education and change in child health was strongest when children were also exposed to high differential negativity, suggesting that these predictors combined in a cumulative fashion. Findings indicate that multiple forms of social disadvantage (i.e. between families and between siblings) can operate independently or in combination with one another to predict change in child health.

Inequality within the family (i.e. differential parenting) is associated with a variety of measures of child adjustment. To date there is no research examining the effects of this phenomenon on children’s physical health, or on the fashion in which this phenomenon may combine and interact with socioeconomic markers. The present study assessed 375 mothers and their children over a period of 18 months. Differential maternal negativity between siblings predicted change in child health, controlling for child gender, age, maternal education, income/assets, and absolute level of negativity in the household. The association between maternal education and change in child health was strongest when children were also exposed to high differential negativity, suggesting that these predictors combined in a cumulative fashion. Findings indicate that multiple forms of social disadvantage (i.e. between families and between siblings) can operate independently or in combination with one another to predict change in child health.

Considerable socioeconomic disparities have been identified for smoking and cessation: lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups have higher rates of tobacco use, are less likely to successfully quit, and may also be less likely to intend or attempt to quit. However, results are inconsistent for some quitting-related outcomes, and little is known about how socioeconomic disparities may vary across countries and over time. This study examined the extent to which SES was associated with smoking cessation and related constructs among representative samples of smokers in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia, using data from the first five waves (2002-2006) of the ITC Four Country Survey (35 532 observations from 16 458 respondents). Generalized estimating equations modeling was used to examine whether education and income were related to intentions to quit (any, and within the next six months), incidence of quit attempts, smoking abstinence (for at least one, six and 12 months), and reduction in daily cigarette consumption by at least half. Potential differences in the associations over time and across countries were also considered. In addition, logistic regression modeling examined associations between education and income, reasons for quitting, and use of cessation assistance, using a cross-sectional sample of the most recent survey wave. Respondents with higher education were more likely to intend to quit, have made a quit attempt, and be abstinent for at least one and six months, and those with higher income were more likely to intend to quit and be abstinent for at least one month. Associations were stable throughout the time period under study. Country differences were observed in quit intentions: UK and US respondents were less likely to intend to quit than Australians and Canadians. Also, UK respondents were least likely to attempt to quit overall, but those that did attempt were more likely to be abstinent for at least one and six months. Socioeconomic and between-country differences were also identified in the cross-sectional analyses of use and access to cessation assistance and reasons for quitting. The results suggest that socioeconomic disparities exist at multiple stages in the path to smoking cessation.

Considerable socioeconomic disparities have been identified for smoking and cessation: lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups have higher rates of tobacco use, are less likely to successfully quit, and may also be less likely to intend or attempt to quit. However, results are inconsistent for some quitting-related outcomes, and little is known about how socioeconomic disparities may vary across countries and over time. This study examined the extent to which SES was associated with smoking cessation and related constructs among representative samples of smokers in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia, using data from the first five waves (2002-2006) of the ITC Four Country Survey (35 532 observations from 16 458 respondents). Generalized estimating equations modeling was used to examine whether education and income were related to intentions to quit (any, and within the next six months), incidence of quit attempts, smoking abstinence (for at least one, six and 12 months), and reduction in daily cigarette consumption by at least half. Potential differences in the associations over time and across countries were also considered. In addition, logistic regression modeling examined associations between education and income, reasons for quitting, and use of cessation assistance, using a cross-sectional sample of the most recent survey wave. Respondents with higher education were more likely to intend to quit, have made a quit attempt, and be abstinent for at least one and six months, and those with higher income were more likely to intend to quit and be abstinent for at least one month. Associations were stable throughout the time period under study. Country differences were observed in quit intentions: UK and US respondents were less likely to intend to quit than Australians and Canadians. Also, UK respondents were least likely to attempt to quit overall, but those that did attempt were more likely to be abstinent for at least one and six months. Socioeconomic and between-country differences were also identified in the cross-sectional analyses of use and access to cessation assistance and reasons for quitting. The results suggest that socioeconomic disparities exist at multiple stages in the path to smoking cessation.

This dissertation focuses on results of multi-group SEM models estimated using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) in order to determine appropriate measurement and structural models for the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and health among six young adult U.S. social groups. Examining the links between SES and health during young adulthood is important because while there is a strong, documented link between lower SES and poorer health (Adler & Snibbe, 2003), young adults can exercise a considerable amount of agency with regard to their own SES and health. Young adults make critical decisions about pursuing post-secondary education, entering the workforce, and practicing healthy behaviors--activities which differ in their immediate and long-term economic and health payoff (Mirowsky & Ross, 2003; Elder, 1985; 1994). Yet, the nature of SES and its links with health for members of various gender and racial/ethnic groups is not entirely clear. Literature suggests that occupation, education, and income are neither defined nor linked among women in the same ways that they are for men (APA, 2007). Self-assessment of health is also thought to differ by gender and ethnicity (Krause & Jay, 1994). Moreover, limited research has addressed the unique mediating pathways by which aspects of SES affect health for specific social groups (Matthews, Gallo, & Taylor, 2010). In this work, I estimate measurement models for several aspects of SES among African American, Latina, and White men and women, then link aspects of SES with each other and with health using structural equation modeling. I also examine the unique mediating pathways by which aspects of SES are linked with health for these groups. / text

Background/Project Description: There is a growing interest in the contribution of late preterm (34 – 36 week gestational age (GA)) birth to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Late preterm infants have an increased incidence of both respiratory and non- respiratory complications over the first year of life. Rates of prematurity as well as morbidity/mortality in infancy are higher in lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups but how GA and SES interact is relatively unexplored. Methods/Participant Population: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken utilizing anonymized data housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP). A population-based cohort of infants born at 34 to 41 weeks of GA was assembled; individual and area-level income information was used to develop SES groups. Outcomes studied included diagnoses received during the birth hospitalisation, neonatal and post-neonatal admissions. Regression models were constructed to explore the effects of GA and SES as well as control for multiple perinatal variables. Appropriate approvals and safeguards for data privacy were maintained. Results: GA and SES exerted a gradient effect on morbidity, which persisted after controlling for multiple confounding variables. The effect of GA was strongest during the birth hospitalisation but persisted throughout the first year with increased morbidity evident with each week of decreasing GA. The detrimental association of low SES with morbidity increased in effect size throughout the first year surpassing that of GA for post-neonatal admissions. An interaction effect of maternal diabetes, respiratory morbidity and SES was suggested and merits further investigation. Neonatal stays of 3 days or longer negated the association of GA with readmission within the first 28 days; in addition shorter stay infants had the highest risks of readmission at 37 weeks as compared to the late preterm gestations. Conclusions: The consistent associations between poverty, prematurity and morbidity require both further study and attention. Attention to the neonatal health of both late preterm and term infants is important due to their large numbers and population impact. The added risk of poverty merits urgent and multifaceted interventions to lay the groundwork for healthy childhood and long-term success.

Background/Project Description: There is a growing interest in the contribution of late preterm (34 – 36 week gestational age (GA)) birth to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Late preterm infants have an increased incidence of both respiratory and non- respiratory complications over the first year of life. Rates of prematurity as well as morbidity/mortality in infancy are higher in lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups but how GA and SES interact is relatively unexplored. Methods/Participant Population: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken utilizing anonymized data housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP). A population-based cohort of infants born at 34 to 41 weeks of GA was assembled; individual and area-level income information was used to develop SES groups. Outcomes studied included diagnoses received during the birth hospitalisation, neonatal and post-neonatal admissions. Regression models were constructed to explore the effects of GA and SES as well as control for multiple perinatal variables. Appropriate approvals and safeguards for data privacy were maintained. Results: GA and SES exerted a gradient effect on morbidity, which persisted after controlling for multiple confounding variables. The effect of GA was strongest during the birth hospitalisation but persisted throughout the first year with increased morbidity evident with each week of decreasing GA. The detrimental association of low SES with morbidity increased in effect size throughout the first year surpassing that of GA for post-neonatal admissions. An interaction effect of maternal diabetes, respiratory morbidity and SES was suggested and merits further investigation. Neonatal stays of 3 days or longer negated the association of GA with readmission within the first 28 days; in addition shorter stay infants had the highest risks of readmission at 37 weeks as compared to the late preterm gestations. Conclusions: The consistent associations between poverty, prematurity and morbidity require both further study and attention. Attention to the neonatal health of both late preterm and term infants is important due to their large numbers and population impact. The added risk of poverty merits urgent and multifaceted interventions to lay the groundwork for healthy childhood and long-term success.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Abstract Oral diseases are, to a notable extent, behavioral diseases. The concept of lifestyle makes it possible to study behavior in a broad sense. The aim was to study the association of lifestyle with oral health and dental health behavior. All of the 1,012 55-year-old citizens of Oulu were invited to a clinical examination, and 780 of them participated. A lifestyle variable to measure health orientation was constructed. Smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits and physical activity were used as indicators of lifestyle. The association of lifestyle with dental caries, periodontal health, denture stomatitis and dental health behavior was studied with a cross-sectional design. An unhealthy lifestyle was associated with a higher number of dental decay, periodontal pockets and a higher prevalence of denture stomatitis. Lifestyle accounted for a large part of the differences between socioeconomic groups and between men and women in number of dental decay and periodontal pockets. An unhealthy lifestyle was associated with an increased prevalence of denture stomatitis in yeast carriers. A higher toothbrushing frequency and the use of extra cleaning methods were related to healthier lifestyle. Socioeconomic status was more important than lifestyle as a determinant of dental visits. Smoking was associated with higher lactobacillus counts and the presence of yeasts in saliva. Lifestyle explained a great part of the differences between the socioeconomic groups and between men and women in oral health. It seems that part of the association between oral and general health can be explained by lifestyle. It is important to control for general lifestyle when the biological connections between oral and general health are studied.