Jan M. Nicholson|Nina Lucas|Donna Berthelsen|Melissa Wake
Socioeconomic inequality profiles in physical and developmental health from 0–7 years: Australian National Study
Murdoch Children's Research Institute|Queensland University of Technology|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|Queensland University of Technology|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|University of Melbourne|Royal Children's Hospital
early persistent exposure socioeconomic disadvantage impairs childrens health wellbeing however unclear age health inequalities emerge whether relationships vary across ages outcomes address issues using crosssectional australian population data physical developmental health children ages 01 23 45 67 years10 physical developmental health outcomes assessed 2004 2006 two cohorts comprising around 5000 children socioeconomic position measured composite parental education occupation household incomelower socioeconomic position associated increased odds poor outcomes physical health outcomes socioemotional competence associations similar across age groups consistent either threshold effects poor general health special healthcare needs socioemotional competence gradient effects illness wheeze sleep problems injury socioemotional difficulties communication vocabulary emergent literacy stronger socioeconomic associations observed patterns linear accelerated varied across agesfrom early childhood social disadvantage associated poorer outcomes across measures physical developmental health showed evidence either strengthening attenuating older compared younger ages findings confirm importance early childhood key focus health promotion prevention efforts