Health inequities among adolescents in three types of welfare states

Abstract

Health inequities are a problem across the globe, both for adults and young people. Despite technological advancements in health care and the rollout of extensive welfare states, health outcomes are for many related to their socioeconomic position. This is considered one of the greatest disappointments of public health. The present study examined to what extent different types of welfare states succeed in diminishing health inequities among adolescents. In all welfare state types, a higher socioeconomic status was significantly associated with better health outcomes. Furthermore, it was found that in the conservative welfare regime the association between socioeconomic status and adolescent health is smallest, followed by the social democratic welfare regime and the liberal welfare regime. Together, these findings might suggest that countries with a conservative welfare regime are in the best position to reduce health inequities among adolescents, whereas the liberal regime is least successful.