Reproduction of socioeconomic differences and mental health across generations (REMENTA)
Project
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Our aim is to understand the role of mental health in the reproduction of socioeconomic differences.
Summary
Children of parents with low socioeconomic status do less well in school and are at risk of drop-out, low education, unemployment, and social exclusion. It is not adequately understood why social differences reproduce.
Abstract:
Children of parents with low socioeconomic status do less well in school and are at risk of drop-out, low education, unemployment, and social exclusion. It is not adequately understood why social differences reproduce. There is a close relationship between socioeconomic status and mental health that signals that mental health could be a key to understand reproduction of social differences and mobility. Our aim is to understand the role of mental health in the reproduction of socioeconomic differences.
Family members resemble each other with regard to both socioeconomic status and mental health. The intergenerational associations can be due to genetic or environmental factors shared by parents and children, or direct influences between parents and offspring. We will therefore investigate how the relationship between socioeconomic status and mental health unfolds in a new generation, and how children’s school performance are shaped by their parental background and by their own, unique mental development. We study school performance among children and adolescents because it is an important and early observable determinant of later socioeconomic status. Since partners have a tendency to have similar educational levels, some children experience risk factors in 'double doses'. We will therefore investigate whether and how partner choices have consequences for social differences in mental health.
We utilize survey and genetic data from The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study and register data on health, demography and school performance. We will use administrative register data from the entire population of Norway. Using several research methods allow us to draw firmer conclusions if the results point in the same direction. Hopefully, we will identify modifiable risk factors that can be targeted in future interventions aimed at reducing social reproduction and improving mental health.
Project leader
Fartein Ask Torvik, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Project participants
Hans Fredrik Sunde, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Magnus Nordmo, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Wendy Nilsen, Work Research Institute, Oslomet - Oslo Metropolitan University
Eivind Ystrøm, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
Kristin Gustavson, Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Espen Moen Eilertsen, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Helga Ask, Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Ragnhild Eek Brandlistuen, Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Martin Flatø, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
About the project
Start
01.08.2020
End
31.07.2024
Status
Active
Project owner/ Project manager
Norwegian Institute of Public Health