Height and Social Mobility: A Study of the Height of 10 Year Olds in Relation to Socio-economic Background and Type of Formal Schooling

Based on a representative sample of Stockholm schoolchildren 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.