Objective:

To assess the family affluence scale (FAS), which consists of self-reported number of computers and cars in the home, having one’s own bedroom and holidays, as a family socioeconomic status (SES) indicator for adolescents in three Latin American countries.

Materials and methods:

14 717 secondary students from Argentina, Mexico and Guatemala were surveyed. The association between FAS and other SES indicators at familiar level (parent education and owning of technological goods and services) and school level (marginalization index, public or private school, and school fee) were evaluated.

Results:

The FAS was associated in the expected direction with all other NSE indicators.

Conclusions:

The FAS seems to be a valid indicator of the material wealth of adolescent families, as well as of school SES, and it can be used in studies on health inequities in Latin American adolescents.