Intra- och intergenerationella effekter av inkomst och socioekonomisk status på psykisk hälsa
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Socioeconomic status (SES) has been widely recognized as an important determinant of mental health, yet less is known about the extent to which socioeconomic conditions are transmitted across generations. The present study aimed to examine whether parental childhood SES and income were associated with mental health outcomes in their children. Data were drawn from a large Finnish population-based sample of twins and their family members. Mental health was assessed using measures of subjective well-being, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and alcohol use. Multilevel regression models were used to account for dependence between individuals within families. The results showed that individuals’ current SES was consistently associated with subjective well-being, symptoms of anxiety and symptom of depression. Current household income was associated with all mental health outcomes. Lower SES and income were associated with lower subjective well-being and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Lower current household income was also associated with higher levels of alcohol use. In contrast, parental childhood SES and income were not significantly associated with any of the examined mental health outcomes, and no interaction effects between parental SES or income and parent gender were observed. These findings suggested that current socioeconomic conditions were more important for mental health than intergenerational factors. The results indicated that intergenerational transmission of socioeconomic disadvantage may be weaker than previously assumed, particularly in contexts characterized by low income inequality and strong welfare systems. Future research should examine these associations in different societal contexts.
Source: Doria (University of Helsinki)
Author: Lillsunde, Fanny
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7162715045