The Nordic Interdisciplinary Cohort Network
Klara Gurzo successfully defended her PhD thesis on income and health, revealing how inequalities stem from intergenerational factors and personal attributes. Her research highlights the importance of social connections, examining their impact on income mobility, mortality, and mental health, with findings varying by gender and socioeconomic background.
Congratulations Klara!
ICON members Baojing Li, Ylva B Almquist, Can Liu, and Lisa Berg have published a study the transmission of low income and psychiatric disorders across three generations. About the study There is a paucity of research examining the patterning of socioeconomic disadvantages and mental health problems across multiple generations. The current study therefore aimed toContinue reading “Grandparents’ mental health problems cast a long shadow”
ICON members Lisa Bornscheuer and Ylva B Almquist have published a study on the role of extra-familial risk factors in adolescence for the association between out-of-home care and adult psychiatric disorders. About the study Psychiatric disorders are a substantial public health concern, and childhood adversity a well-known risk factor for it. Investigating gender differences inContinue reading “Pathways from childhood adversity to mental ill-health differ between boys and girls”
ICON members Tanishta Rajesh, Viviane Straatmann, and Ylva Almquist have published a study exploring the diverse backgrounds and placement characteristics of children in out-of-home care (OHC) in Sweden.
Using group-based trajectory modelling, the study identified six distinct placement patterns, reflecting a wide range of experiences. Notably, children placed at younger ages were more likely to be exposed to adverse parental circumstances compared to those placed during adolescence.
The findings highlight important differences in family backgrounds across placement trajectories and underscore the need to recognize the heterogeneity of the OHC population to ensure more effective support and policy development.
A new publication by ICON members Lisa Bornscheuer, Karl Gauffin, and Ylva B Almquist explores how gender and education shape patterns of adulthood disadvantage among those with childhood experiences of out-of-home care.
Using data from a 1953 Swedish birth cohort, they found that while gendered patterns of disadvantage were strong in the general population, these differences were less pronounced among those with a history of care.
On June 5, Baojing Li successfully defended her PhD thesis “Misfortune (dis)continues across generations. Multigenerational studies linking socioeconomic and psychosocial disadvantages to psychiatric disorders”.
Her studies reveal that low income and psychosocial factors transmit across generations, influencing mental health outcomes in grandchildren. Improved parental circumstances can mitigate these risks, emphasizing the importance of a multigenerational approach in public health strategies for mental well-being.
Congratulations Baojing!
On June 4, Lisa Bornscheuer successfully defended her PhD thesis “Beating the odds of a bad hand. Studies of health and socioeconomic disadvantage in adults with experience of childhood adversity”. Her research explores vulnerability, resilience, and gender differences in psychosocial outcomes among individuals with out-of-home care experiences. The findings emphasize the importance of education in mitigating risks associated with early adversity across the life course.
Congratulations Lisa!
Josephine Jackisch’s study in Social Science & Medicine explores the impact of childhood adversity on the socioeconomic gradient in adult mortality. Analyzing data from the Stockholm Birth Cohort, it finds that in a counterfactual scenario, the education and income-related mortality gap was reduced by 40–54%. These findings suggest that addressing childhood adversity is a crucial policy entry point for reducing long-term health disparities.
On November 7th, Karl Gauffin will speak at a symposium at Uppsala University marking the 50th anniversary of Ivan Illich’s influential book “The Medical Nemesis”. Gauffin’s presentation, titled “The risk of risk awareness” explores the significance of risk assessment and the implications of risk terminology in public health and epidemiology.
Therese Reitan and Sten-Åke Stenberg’s study in Longitudinal and Life Course Studies examines how childhood factors, particularly family socioeconomic status (SES), influence adults’ leadership roles. Utilizing data from the Stockholm Birth Cohort, the research reveals that family background affects adult leadership probability primarily through cognitive capacity and education. Additionally, maternal attitudes toward education and parenting directly impact future leadership roles. The publication highlights the complex interplay of socioeconomic and parental influences on leadership development.