Migration, Integration and Health. The Effects of Early Life Conditions on Health and Mortality in Later Life.

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated differences in health between immigrants and natives in Sweden along several dimensions, e.g. regarding self-reported health, hospitalisation rates, as well as mortality rates. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of early life conditions in the country of birth and current socioeconomic conditions in adult life in Sweden on severe morbidity (leading to hospitalisation) and on mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancers, and other causes, among immigrants and natives in Sweden.
The study uses two large-scale databases; SMD (Social Medicine Data Base) and SLI (Swedish Longitudinal Immigrant Database) Results show that when controlling for demographic characteristics only, most immigrant groups display higher rates of hospitalisation and higher all-cause mortality than native Swedes, but when socio-economic factors are introduced, only Nordic immigrants display rates that are significantly higher than for Swedish born.
The effects of current adult life socioeconomic conditions in Sweden on mortality are both stronger and more straightforward than the effects of early life conditions.

Keywords

Health, Migration, Social exclusion/inclusion,

Publications

Klinthäll, Martin & Lindström, Martin (2011) “Migration and Health: A study of early life experiences and current socioeconomic situation on mortality of immigrants in Sweden”. Accepted for Publication in Etnicity & Health.

Klinthäll, Martin (2008) “Ethnic background, labor market attachment and severe morbidity: Hospitalization among immigrants in Sweden 1990-2001.” Journal of International Migration and Integration. Vol. 9 (1) 2008. Springer Science & Business Media B.V.

Klinthäll, Martin (2007) “Etnisk bakgrund, integration och sjuklighet”. Working Papers in Social Insurance. Nr. 1 2007. Försäkringskassan.