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”
Category Archives: RISE
Childhood adversity may even out otherwise observable gender differences
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.
Congratulations to Lisa Bornscheuer!
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!
Childhood adversity contributes to health inequalities
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.
What can prevent or reverse negative outcomes after early adverse experiences?
ICON members Lisa Bornscheuer, Karl Gauffin, and Ylva B Almquist published a scoping review in BMJ Open, examining resilience factors affecting adulthood outcomes from childhood adversity. Analyzing 102 studies, the review found a lack of gender focus, with only 22% addressing it. While long-term effects were similar across genders, resilience factors showed variations based on gender.
Risks of persistent offending among looked-after children
Ylva B Almquist and Lars Brännström, published a study in Developmental Child Welfare examining offending trajectories among adults with out-of-home care (OHC) histories. Analyzing data from over 740,000 individuals, the study reveals elevated persistent offending risks, particularly for men placed in OHC during adolescence. Nonetheless, most participants showed desistance patterns, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to curb criminal careers in this vulnerable population.
Cardiovascular disease in adults with a history of out-of-home care
Ylva B Almquist and Josephine Jackisch co-authored a systematic review and meta-analysis on cardiovascular disease in adults with a history of out-of-home care during childhood, published in The Lancet Regional Health–Europe. The study found that individuals who experienced out-of-home care have a 50% higher risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood, with evidence suggesting that socioeconomic status in adulthood partially mediates this relationship. The findings underscore the potential burden of cardiovascular disease among individuals who experienced out-of-home care during childhood.
ICON at SLLS 2023
Eleven ICON members attended the Society of Longitudinal and Life Course Studies conference in Munich where they organised a symposium “Making or breaking the cycle”. The event included several presentations and a poster presentation on topics such as life expectancy, psychiatric disorders, substance misuse, childhood adversity, resilience and vulnerability, and more. The team also led individual oral presentations related to socioeconomics, loneliness, parental health, and children’s care.