Objectives Emotional symptoms are widespread among
adolescents with the highest prevalence among lower
socioeconomic groups. Less is known about why and how
to reduce this inequality but personal control, e.g., selfefficacy may be crucial. This study examines whether selfefficacy is a mediator in the association between occupational social class (OSC) and emotional symptoms.
Methods Data stem from the cross-sectional Health Behavior in School-aged Children-Methodology Development
Survey 2012 (HBSC-MDS) conducted among 11–15-year old
schoolchildren in two Danish municipalities. Participation rate
was 76.8 % of 5165 enrolled schoolchildren, n = 3969.
Results Low OSC is associated with higher odds of daily
emotional symptoms and low selfefficacy. Schoolchildren
with low self-efficacy have higher odds for daily emotional
symptoms. We find a strong and statistically significant
direct effect between low OSC and daily emotional
symptoms (OR = 1.55, 95 % CI: 1.33; 1.84) and a borderline statistically significant indirect effect of selfefficacy [OR = 1.17 (0.99; 1.38)].
Conclusions Socioeconomic inequality in emotional
symptoms exists. This inequality is partly explained by
socioeconomic inequality in self-efficacy. Promotion of
personal competences like self-efficacy may reduce emotional symptoms among all socioeconomic groups, thereby
reducing socioeconomic inequalities in emotional
symptoms.