Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status And Adolescent Health

Socioeconomic Status and Adolescent Health Socioeconomic status has been correlated in all aspects of adolescent health despite gender/race differences. Researchers have found that a relationship between income and health does exist. And that socioeconomic status plays a key role in adolescent risk behaviors. Mental health and wellbeing has also shown to be affected by income, but other factors are included to show positive correlation. Based on socioeconomic status, are adolescents more at risk to their health and wellbeing, and is there a correlation between socioeconomic status and more violent risk behaviors among adolescents. As we know, socioeconomic status has a profound impact on our lives. Socioeconomic status has been contributed …show more content…
“ The lifestyles of the upper and upper-middle classes are the healthiest and those of the lower class the least healthy. Virtually every study confirms this in every country where such research has taken place. These classes have healthier diets, little smoking, less problem drinking, more leisure-time exercise, utilize preventive care more frequently, greater opportunities for rest, relaxation, and making healthy changes in their behavior much more rapidly when diagnosed with a health problem” (Soteriades and DiFranza 2003). These healthy lifestyles or lack there of, also directly translates back to the child. These health lifestyles either healthy or unhealthy have a major impact on a child’s life moving throughout their life process. Studies have shown that this class-based lifestyle becomes locked-in and becomes harder to change as we reach middle-aged. This puts a greater influence on the fact that despite socioeconomic status, children of every ethnicity/race should be taught healthy lifestyle skills early on. Teaching healthy lifestyle will greatly impact on how a person can cope with the different life stressors that frequently come our way during our …show more content…
But what we also see, especially in adolescents, is how the pathways like social environment, lifestyle differences, and access to health care affects adolescent self-esteem and self-mastery. Youths living in poverty seldom see a way out. Without a proper support structure and believe system, adolescents become increasingly at risk for risk behaviors that could end up violent in nature. Not only that but also discussed earlier, they may not have the coping mechanisms in place to be able to change their behaviors before it becomes set in