Socioeconomic Status in Pediatric Health Research: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health Research
• Socioeconomic Status Measurement
• Health Outcomes

Background:

• Socioeconomic status (SES) is a critical determinant of child health.
• Current pediatric research employs a wide array of SES conceptualizations and measurement tools.
• Lack of standardized SES measures complicates cross-study comparisons and hinders understanding of specific impact mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of the literature.
• To describe the current conceptualization and measurement of socioeconomic status (SES) in pediatric health research.
• To identify trends and variations in SES measurement within the last two decades.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across four databases (1999-2018).
• Inclusion criteria: subjects <18 years, health outcome, explicit SES measurement.
• Data extraction and synthesis of identified SES measures.

Main Results:

• 228 studies met inclusion criteria, with 75% published since 2009.
• A total of 72 unique SES measures were identified (52 singular, 20 composite).
• Income (65%) and education (42%) were the most common SES indicators; census data and insurance status increased in recent years.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric studies exhibit significant heterogeneity in socioeconomic status (SES) measurement.
• While most studies report a significant impact of SES on child health outcomes, the lack of standardized measures limits comparability.
• Future research should focus on developing and utilizing comprehensive, evidence-based SES measures to elucidate specific mechanisms affecting child health.