Height and Social Mobility

Abstract

Based on a representative sample of Stockholm school-children born in 1943, the association between the height at 10 years of age and the selection to higher and lower education at the same age was examined for upper and lower social groups defined by the father's occupational status. The hypothesis that there is a link between height and change of social position even among children was examined. Upwardly mobile boys (lower class boys selected for higher education) were taller than those staying in their social position. Downwardly mobile boys (higher class boys selected only for elementary education) were smaller than those remaining in their social position. The same tendency was found for girls — although not statistically significant.

Keywords

height social mobility 10 year old school-children Stockholm father's occupation type of formal schooling

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Thomson AM. Maternal stature and reproductive efficiency. Eugen Rev 1959; 51: 157–62.

2. Nyström Peck AM. Childhood environment, intergenerational mobility and adult height – evidence from Swedish data. J Epidemiol Community Health 1992; 46: 71–4.

3. Cernerud L. Differences in height between socially more and less privileged 10 year old Stockholm children born in 1933–1963. J Soc Med 1992; 20: 5–10.

4. Schumacher A , Knussmann R . Are the differences in stature between social classes a modification or an assortment effect? J Hum Evolution 1979; 8: 809–12.

5. Bielicki T , Charzewski J . Body height and upward social mobility. Ann Hum Biol 1983; 10: 403–8.

6. Westin-Lindgren G. Achievement and mental ability of physically late and early maturing schoolchildren related to their social background. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 1982; 23: 407–20.

7. Lindgren G. Height, weight and menarche in Swedish urban school children in relation to socio-economic and regional factors. Ann Hum Biol 1976; 3: 501–28.