Health prospects of children and adolescents. On the importance of social background and school education

作者：Lampert Thomas^*

来源：Zeitschrift fur Soziologie der Erziehung und Sozialisation, 2010, 30(3): 231-247.

• youth
• social status
• school education
• health
• health behaviour
• inequality

Using data from the Robert Koch Institute's National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS), the article looks into the influence of social background and the type of school attended on the health prospects of 11- to 17-year-old adolescents in Western Germany and Berlin (n=4739). Behavioural problems, the exercise of violence in the past 12 months, and the adolescents' current smoking status are incorporated into the analysis as health outcomes. The results show that boys and girls from families with a low social status have behavioural problems, exercise violence against others, and smoke more frequently than their peers from the middle and high status groups. An analysis from the perspective of the type of school attended reveals marked health differences to the detriment of young people at secondary schools (Hauptschulen) compared to young people attending intermediate secondary schools (Realschulen) and comprehensive schools (Gesamtschulen) and grammar schools (Gymnasien). At the same time, however, it becomes clear that adolescents from the low status group who qualify, to attend a grammar school have better health prospects and show no significant health differences from their fellow students from socially better-off families. The results suggest that reducing educational inequality could contribute towards greater equality as regards the health prospects of the younger generation.

• 出版日期2010