Mental health and its impact on social inequality: A review

Abstract

The description and explanation of social inequalities is one of the central challenges of the social sciences. One area which has been largely neglected in this regard is the mental health of children, adolescents and young adults. However, differences in mental health are not only a consequence of social background, but also play a role in establishing and sustaining social inequalities. Empirical studies have shown that especially the presence of externalizing symptoms can negatively influence the social status of a person.