Children's health-related quality of life, neighbourhood socio-economic deprivation and social capital. A contextual analysis

Soc Sci Med. 2003 Sep;57(5):825-41. doi: 10.1016/s0277-9536(02)00453-7.

Abstract

Neighbourhood objective socio-economic indicators and community-reported subjective measures of social capital were examined in relation to children's health-related quality of life in the Netherlands. Three different data-sources were used: (1) objective neighbourhood socio-economic indicators, (2) subjective neighbourhood data on social capital, and (3) individual data of a family cohort study, including questions on children's health-related quality of life, and family socio-economic status. Multilevel analyses were conducted using both neighbourhood level and individual level data. Neighbourhood socio-economic status and social capital were associated. Measures of socio-economic deprivation and social capital were both non-specifically associated with children's general health and satisfaction, independent of possible individual-level confounders. However, children's mental health and behaviour were specifically associated with one aspect of social capital, the degree of informal social control in the neighbourhood.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Behavior / ethnology
  • Child Behavior / psychology
  • Child Welfare / ethnology*
  • Child Welfare / psychology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Family / ethnology*
  • Family / psychology
  • Humans
  • Mental Health
  • Netherlands
  • Poverty Areas*
  • Psychosocial Deprivation
  • Quality of Life*
  • Residence Characteristics / classification*
  • Social Control, Informal
  • Social Support*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vulnerable Populations