Patrick West|Helen Sweeting
Evidence on equalisation in health in youth from the West of Scotland
MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit|MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
many studies report socioeconomic ses differences health youth pattern contrasting health inequalities childhood adulthood paper focuses childyouth transition examine hypothesis equalisation health period specifically test two hypotheses equalisation likely health state measures physical malaise symptoms accidents health status limiting longstanding illness selfrated health health potential height b patterning health period similar occupational social class nonoccupational deprivation housing tenure family affluence ses measures data derived west scotland 11 16 cohort followed late childhood aged 11 early 13 mid 15 adolescence results showed little evidence ses differences limiting longstanding illness age sexes selfrated health exhibited differentiation height expected consistent gradients throughout contrast among males evidence equalisation found physical malaise symptoms pedestrian road traffic accidents rtas among females equalisation confined specific physical symptoms pedestrian rtas sports injuries burnsscalds malaise symptoms reverse gradient age 11 strengthened age patterns generally unaffected ses measure used conclude evidence consistent equalisation hypothesis needs extending accommodate patterns ses differences particularly reverse gradients childhood patterns may reflect increasingly pervasive influence youth culture suggesting uk boundary childhood youth set earlier age turn suggests international comparisons considerable analytic potential identifying conditions equalisation occur