Using cross-sectional data from the US 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health, 8 social risk factors, both individually and as part of a cumulative social risk index, were tested as independent predictors of 4 parent-reported child health outcomes: global health status, dental health, socioemotional health, and overweight. The survey assessed 102,353 parents of children aged 0 to 17 years. The percentage of children in poorer health increased with the number of social risk factors across all health outcomes. More than half of children had ≥2 risk factors, and 24% had ≥4. In adjusted analyses, low maternal mental health, Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity, <200% of the federal poverty level, low household education, unsafe neighbourhoods, and lack of health insurance increased the odds for less than very good child health.
