Contribution of socioeconomic position to health inequalities of British children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities

Emerson, Eric and Hatton, Chris (2007) Contribution of socioeconomic position to health inequalities of British children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 112 (2). pp. 140-150. ISSN 0895-8017

Abstract

We examined the contribution of socioeconomic position to the health and mental health status of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities in a sample of 10,438 British children. Intellectual disability was a significant risk factor for poorer general health, OR = 4.5, emotional disorders, OR = 2.0, and conduct disorders, OR = 7.7. Between-group differences in socioeconomic position and household composition, however, accounted for 24% of the increased risk of poor health, 23% of the increased risk for conduct disorder, and 37% of the increased risk for emotional disorder. We concluded that socioeconomic disadvantage may account for a significant proportion of the increased risk for poorer health and mental health of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.