Norwegian researchers have found a link between popularity among peers and how often children get infections, such as colds and inflammation.
The more popular among the others, the less risk of getting sick in the coming year. The Norwegian researchers formed a hypothesis that being socially excluded has a connection with the immune system, reports Aftenposten.
Together with research colleagues, research fellow Vidar Sandsaunet Ulset at the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo has published his scientific article in the journal Plos One.
They found a connection indicating that the most popular children are getting fewer infections.
579 children aged two to six years were followed each year over three years. Popularity was measured by how interested others were in sitting with them on the bus. Parents subsequently reported infection rates.
The findings showed that the more children who would sit with them on the bus, the less likely it was that the child would contract an infection in the coming year.
“It is nevertheless interesting that we found such a proportional context, because it can say something about how social inequality affects health, and that it starts early in life. Many studies have established that this is the case for adults,” says Ulset.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
