Socioeconomic Disparities in the Prevalence of Work-Related Injuries Among Adolescents in the United States

Abstract 

Purpose

To explore whether socioeconomic disparities exist in the prevalence of work-related injury among adolescents ages 14–18 in the United States.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of previously collected survey data was performed. Data were gathered in a single metropolitan high school and included work-related injury prevalence and two measures of socioeconomic status (SES): mother’s education level and working to support one’s family. Because of the high prevalence of our outcome, Cox regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios.

Results

Evidence of an inverse association between adolescents’ SES and prevalence of work-related injuries was found. A statistically significant dose–response relationship remained after controlling for hours worked per week, work history duration and race (Wald-test, 3 df, p = .039). A 30% drop in prevalence of work-related injuries was found between the lowest and highest level of mother’s education. In addition, adolescents who worked to support their families had an elevated prevalence of work-related injury (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [1.07, 1.46]). Race stratified results showed the associations between injury and both measures of SES were strongest among whites in this sample.

Conclusions

Results support the hypothesized protective effect of parental SES on the prevalence of work-related injuries among adolescents. More research is needed to test this association in a larger population and to understand the pathways that might explain it. Collection of SES measures in surveillance systems that gather data on work-related injuries is recommended to support new research on this topic.

Keywords: Adolescents, Teens, Health disparities, Inequality, Socioeconomic status, Work-related injury, Cox regression, Prevalence ratios