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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2/2014

01-02-2014 | Original Paper

Parental socio-economic position during childhood as a determinant of self-harm in adolescence

Authors: Andrew Page, Glyn Lewis, Judi Kidger, Jon Heron, Catherine Chittleborough, Jonathan Evans, David Gunnell

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 2/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

Socio-economic position (SEP) during childhood and parental social mobility have been associated with subsequent health outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. This study investigates whether parental SEP during childhood is associated with subsequent self-harm in adolescence.

Methods

This study uses data from a prospective birth-cohort study (the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) which followed 14,610 births in 1991–1992 to age 16–18 years (n = 4,810). The association of parental SEP recorded pre-birth and throughout childhood with self-harm was investigated using logistic regression models, with analyses conducted separately for those reporting self-harm (a) with and (b) without suicidal intent. The impact of missing data was investigated using multiple imputation methods.

Results

Lower parental SEP was associated with increased risk of offspring self-harm with suicidal intent, with less consistent associations evident for self-harm without suicidal intent. Associations were somewhat stronger in relation to measures of SEP in later childhood. Depressive symptoms appeared to partially mediate the associations. Adolescents of parents reporting consistently low income levels during childhood were approximately 1.5 times more likely to engage in SH than those never to report low income.

Conclusions

Lower SEP during childhood is associated with the subsequent risk of self-harm with suicidal intent in adolescence. This association is stronger in those experiencing consistently lower SEP.
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Metadata
Title
Parental socio-economic position during childhood as a determinant of self-harm in adolescence
Authors
Andrew Page
Glyn Lewis
Judi Kidger
Jon Heron
Catherine Chittleborough
Jonathan Evans
David Gunnell
Publication date
01-02-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0722-y

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