Weinberg, Dominic and Stevens, Gonneke W J M and Currie, Candace and Delaruelle, Katrijn and Dierckens, Maxim and Lenzi, Michela and Main, Gill and Finkenauer, Catrin (2021) Country-level meritocratic beliefs moderate the social gradient in adolescent mental health: a multilevel study in 30 European countries. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68, (3), pp. 548-557. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.06.031.
External website: https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(20)30...
PURPOSE: Adolescents with higher socioeconomic status (SES) report better mental health. The strength of the association-the "social gradient in adolescent mental health"-varies across countries, with stronger associations in countries with greater income inequality. Country-level meritocratic beliefs (beliefs that people get what they deserve) may also strengthen the social gradient in adolescent mental health; higher SES may be more strongly linked to adolescent's perceptions of capability and respectful treatment.
RESULTS: For family affluence, in some countries, there was a social gradient in adolescent mental health, but in others the social gradient was absent or reversed. For perceived family wealth, there was a social gradient in adolescent life satisfaction and psychosomatic complaints in all countries. Country-level meritocratic beliefs moderated associations between SES and both life satisfaction and psychosomatic complaints: in countries with stronger meritocratic beliefs associations with family affluence strengthened, while associations with perceived family wealth weakened.
CONCLUSIONS: Country-level meritocratic beliefs moderate the associations between SES and adolescent mental health, with contrasting results for two different SES measures. Further understanding of the mechanisms connecting meritocratic beliefs, SES, and adolescent mental health is warranted.
G Health and disease > State of health > Mental health
L Social psychology and related concepts > Life circumstances
MA-ML Social science, culture and community > Sociocultural aspects of substance use > Societal attitude toward substance use / public opinion
T Demographic characteristics > Adolescent / youth (teenager / young person)
VA Geographic area > Europe
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland
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