The role of living conditions on health and longevity: A longitudinal analysis of children who grew up in Northern Sweden during the 1920s and 1930s

Due to a very low standard of living in northern Sweden in the early 20th century, a large socio-medical survey was conducted on nutrition, health and living conditions among school children in Västerbotten and Norrbotten in 1929/30. During their lives, these children came to experience an improved and equalized standard of living.

Despite an historical social and economic equality in the 1980´s, large geographical differences in mortality were noted in some areas of Väster- and Norrbotten in relation to other parts of Sweden.

Research shows that early living conditions affect health later in life, however, it is more debated to what extent improved living conditions outweigh initial disadvantages.Research problem and specific questions  The aim of the project is to study the importance of living conditions in childhood for well-being and longevity in adulthood.

Can improved and more equal living conditions in adulthood mediate any disadvantages caused by poor living conditions in childhood? or do poor living conditions in childhood cause a cumulative disadvantage over the entire life cycle? Many of those affected by CVD mortality in the 1980s experienced poverty and malnutrition as children.

The state also ran a eugenic policy that worsened the schooling for children from the reindeer-herding Sami population, often living in Väster- and Norrbotten. Data and method The project uses the digitized material from the socio-medical survey 1929/30.

Through a longitudinal design with links to population and death registers, we investigate whether there are connections between childhood upbringing conditions, socioeconomic status in adulthood and life expectancy and cardiovascular mortality.

Societal relevance and utilisation  The generation studied in the project lived during a period when cardiovascular disease increased. Despite this, historical research on the period, based on analyzes of micro data, is limited.

Besides this, questions about early childhood living conditions are important in order to be able to make early interventions to promote greater equality in the health of the population. Plan for project realisation We will first investigate what factors that matter most for wellbeing in childhood.

In the second step, we examine whether social and geographical mobility might mediate the effects of negative living conditions in childhood.