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Table 2 Demographic characteristics of participants

From: Describing socioeconomic gradients in children’s diets – does the socioeconomic indicator used matter?

 

All (n = 628)

Boys (n = 275)

Girls (n = 353)

Child age (years)

11.3 (0.90)

11.4 (0.89)

11.3 (0.90)

School grade (%)

   

  Grade 5

26.2

26.6

26.0

  Grade 6

39.9

38.3

41.2

  Grade 7

33.9

35.0

32.8

Parent age (years)

42.1 (5.54)

42.3 (5.30)

42.0 (5.70)

Marital status (%)

   

  Partner

78.2

76.2

79.9

  No partner

21.8

23.8

20.1

Mother’s education levela (%)

   

  Never attended school

0.2

0.0

0.3

  Some high school

22.9

22.3

23.4

  Completed high school

19.1

18.2

19.8

  Trade or diploma

26.9

24.5

28.5

  University degree

19.2

22.3

16.9

  Higher University degree

11.8

12.8

11.0

Gross household incomebc (%)

   

  Low

33.9

31.9

35.2

  Mid

37.4

39.2

36.1

  High

28.7

28.8

28.6

SEIFAd (%)

   

  Low

33.5

31.8

35.0

  Mid

31.8

32.8

30.8

  High

34.7

35.4

34.2

Mother’s occupatione, f (%)

   

  Managers

7.0

5.9

7.8

  Professionals

22.5

24.8

20.8

  Technicians and trades

4.4

4.8

4.0

  Community and personal service

11.5

12.2

11.0

  Clerical and administrative

21.6

20.7

22.0

  Sales

4.7

6.7

3.2

  Machinery operators and drivers

0.3

0.4

0.3

  Labourers

4.9

5.9

4.0

  Not in the labour force

21.2

17.4

24.3

Mother’s employment (%)

   

  Not in the labour force

21.7

17.6

24.9

  Employed

78.3

82.4

75.1

  1. Data reported as percentage (%) where indicated, or as mean (standard deviation).
  2. aEducation level measured on an 8-point scale (never attended school – higher university degree) – no participants recorded for responses ‘completed some primary school’ and ‘completed primary school’ so these are not reported in table.
  3. bGross household income reported in Australian Dollars per annum, for all people in the household before tax, including all wages, salary, pensions and allowances. Low income < $60,000 AUD per annum, mid income = $60,001-$100,000 AUD per annum, high income > $100,000 AUD per annum.
  4. cn = 36 missing responses for income; participants responses ‘refused to answer’ or ‘unsure’.
  5. dSEIFA = Socioeconomic Index for Areas, area-level measure of SES using determined for postal code.
  6. eMother’s occupation coded into eight categories according to Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). Additional category created for not in the labour force = individuals engaged in full-time home duties, retired persons, unemployed and students.
  7. fn = 12 missing responses for mother’s occupation; participants did not provide sufficient information to enable accurate coding of occupation.