Karina Nilsson

Nest Leaving in Sweden: The Importance of Early Educational and Labor Market Careers.

This article investigates the importance of the early educational and labor market career for nest leaving and for returning to the parental home. Using unique individual life course data for the e ...

Unemployment, gender and mental health : the role of the gender regime

Existing research suggests that gender differences in the effect of unemployment on mental health are related to the different positions and roles that are available for men and women in society and the family; roles that are connected with their different psychosocial and economic need for employment. The aim of this article is to analyse the role of gender in the relationship between unemployment and mental wellbeing in Sweden, representing a gender regime with a similar need for employment among women and men, and Ireland, representing a gender regime in which the need for employment differs between women and men. The results, based on longitudinal data from the two countries, show that unemployment was more negatively related to mental health among men than among women in Ireland, while men and women were equally affected by unemployment in Sweden. Factors related to the family and economic situation, as well as gendered selection into the unemployment population, explains the difference in mental health between unemployed men and women in Ireland. The overall conclusion is that the context has a major influence on the relationship between unemployment, gender and mental health.

Social inequality in pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain in the first and second pregnancy among women in Sweden

Background High pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with adverse short and long-term maternal and neonatal outcomes and may act as modifiable risk factors on the path to overweight/obesity, but their social patterning is not well established. This study investigates the association of education with BMI and GWG across two consecutive pregnancies. Methods The study includes 163 352 Swedish women, having their first and second singleton birth in 1982–2010. In both pregnancies, we investigated the association of womens education with (1) pre-pregnancy weight status and (2) adequacy of GWG. We used multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for childs birth year, mothers age and smoking status. Results Overall, the odds of starting either pregnancy at an unhealthy BMI were higher among women with a low education compared to more highly-educated women. Lower education also predicted a greater increase in BMI between pregnancies, with this effect greatest among women with excessive GWG in the first pregnancy (p<0.0001 for interaction). Education was also inversely associated with odds of excessive GWG in both pregnancies among healthy weight status women, but this association was absent or even weakly reversed among overweight and obese women. Conclusions Lower educated women had the largest BMI increase between pregnancies, and these inequalities were greatest among women with excessive GWG in the first pregnancy. The importance of a healthy pre-pregnancy BMI, appropriate GWG and a healthy postpartum weight should be communicated to all women, which may assist in reducing existing social inequalities in body weight.

Housework and Family Formation - Exploring the Relationship Between Gender Division of Housework and Having Children

Housework and family formation : - exploring the relationship between gender division of housework and having children

Dual university‐graduate households in Sweden: the effect of regional variations and migration on income equality

This article examines the effect of regional variations and migration on the income gap within young dual university-graduate households in Sweden. Using a unique database for the entire Swedish population which makes longitudinal comparison possible, the geographical distribution of, and the intra-household income gap in, young dual-graduate households are analysed. Focus is placed on changes in the internal income gap in the households, depending on residential region, migration or staying, and the region of in-migration. The young dual-graduate households in Sweden are more concentrated in large city areas and in educational centres, compared with other households in the same age groups. The results of the analyses show that regional differences in income level are manifested in absolute differences in intra-household income equality. Regions considered to be more gender-equal do not have a greater degree of income equality. As for migration, the migratory action in itself increases the intra-household income gap within the studied households. Copyright

Regional inequalities in pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity in Sweden, 1992, 2000, and 2010

Aims: To investigate regional differences and time trends in women’s overweight and obesity in Sweden. Methods: Using data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register (women aged ⩾18 years, first pregnancy only) and the Total Population Register accessed through the Umeå SIMSAM Lab, age-standardized prevalence of pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity (BMI ⩾ 25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ⩾ 30 kg/m2) were estimated by county for the years 1992, 2000, and 2010. Maps were created using ArcMap v10.2.2 to display regional variations over time and logistic regression analyses were used to assess if the observed trends were significant. Results: The prevalence of pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and obesity increased significantly in all Swedish counties between 1992, and 2010. In 2010, Södermanland and Gotland exhibited the highest age-standardized overweight/obesity (39.7%) and obesity (15.1%) prevalence, respectively. The sharpest increases between 1992 and 2010 were observed in Västerbotten for overweight/obesity (75% increase) and in Gotland for obesity (233% increase). Across the years, Stockholm had the lowest prevalence of overweight/obesity (26.3% in 2010) and obesity (7.3% in 2010) and one of the least steep increases in prevalence of both between 1992 and 2010. Conclusions: Substantial regional differences in pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity prevalence are apparent in Sweden. Further research should elucidate the mechanisms causing these differences.

The relationship between work and family preferences and behaviors A longitudinal study of gender differences in Sweden

Proposed theories to explain gender inequality in the labor market and family, such as gender specialization within families and gender segregation in the labor markets, lack consideration for individual preferences. Preference theory accounts for individual choice and gendered preferences but has been substantially criticized, indicating a need for further research. This study uses Swedish longitudinal data to explore how preferences for work and family relate to behavior. We explore three critical issues raised in previous research: gender differences in preferences; the relationship between work and family changes and subsequent preferences; how preferences relate to work and family behaviors. Our results showed small general gender differences in preferences, although women had a stronger preference for both children and work than men. Changes in work status were further related to changes in work preferences, while changes in family status were related to changes in family preferences. Moreover, preferences had poor predictive power in relation to work and family behaviors. Our results indicate that preferences do not explain gender inequality in Sweden. The relationship between preferences and behaviors seems bidirectional and preferences and behavior within the family sphere has little to do with preferences and behavior within the work sphere.

Mental health and parenthood – A longitudinal study of the relationship between self-reported mental health and parenthood

According to previous studies, the relationship between parenthood and mental health is not straightforward. One reason could be that selection effects on parenthood are seldom accounted for. Using the unique Northern Swedish Cohort dataset, following individuals from age 16 to 43 (n = 1001), this study examines whether there is a selection effect of self-reported mental health in adolescence into parenthood; and whether entry into parenthood is related to subsequent mental health after controlling for prior mental health. Our results show no evidence of a selection effect for women, but men with poor mental health at age 16 were less likely to become fathers. Having children improved womens subsequent mental health after controlling for adolescent mental health, something that was not true for men. Our result reinforces the need for future research of the complex relationship between mental health and parenthood through focusing on, for example, timing of parenthood as well as through using different mental health measures.

Effect of childhood coeliac disease on ninth grade school performance: evidence from a population-based study

Background Coeliac disease might affect school performance due to its effect on cognitive performance and related health consequences that might increase school absenteeism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether children with coeliac disease performed differently on completion of ninth grade in school compared with children without coeliac disease. Methods Analysis was performed on a population of 445 669 children born in Sweden between 1991 and 1994 of whom 1767 were diagnosed with coeliac disease. School performance at ninth grade was the outcome and coeliac disease was the exposure. Other covariates included sex, Apgar score at 5 min, small for gestational age, year of birth, family type, parental education and income. Results There was no association between coeliac disease and school performance at ninth grade (adjusted coefficient −2.4, 95% CI 5.1 to 0.4). A weak association was established between late coeliac diagnosis and higher grades, but this disappeared after adjusting for parent socioeconomic conditions. Being small for gestational age affected performance negatively (adjusted coefficient −6.9, 95% CI 8.0 to 5.7). Grade scores were significantly lower in children living with a single parent (adjusted coefficient −20.6, 95% CI 20.9 to 20.2), compared with those with married/cohabiting parents. A positive association was found between scores at ninth grade and parental education and income. Conclusion Coeliac disease diagnosis during childhood is not associated with poor school performance at ninth grade.

Childhood family structure and women's adult overweight risk : A longitudinal study

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether women’s adult overweight and obesity risk was associated with their childhood family structure, measured as their mothers’ marital status history, during the women’s first 18 years of life. Methods: Using linked register data, we analyzed 30,584 primiparous women born in Sweden in 1975 who were between 19–35 years of age when their height and pre-pregnancy weight was recorded. The outcomes were women’s overweight/obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and the predictor was mothers’ marital status history, which was summarized using sequence analysis. We carried out nested logistic regression models adjusting for women’s age and maternal sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Mothers’ marital status history was summarized into six clusters: stable marriage, stable cohabitation, married then divorcing, cohabiting then separating, varied transitions, and not with father. In fully adjusted models and compared with women whose mothers belonged to the stable marriage cluster: (1) women whose mothers belonged to the other marital status clusters had higher odds of overweight/obesity (odds ratio (OR) ranging 1.15–1.19; p < 0.05); and (2) women whose mothers belonged to the stable cohabitation (OR = 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14–1.52), cohabiting then separating (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.01–1.49), varied transitions (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.11–1.39), and not with father (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.00–1.54) clusters had higher odds of obesity. Conclusions: Women whose mothers were not in stable marriage relationships had higher odds of being overweight or obese in adulthood. The finding that even women raised in the context of stable cohabitation had higher odds of being overweight or obese is intriguing as these relationships are socially accepted in Sweden.