Stockholm university
Department of Public Health Sciences

News

Migrant workers laying a foundation.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Income inequalities strongly affect the mortality of male descendants of migrants in Sweden

Income inequalities have a negative impact on everyone’s health, but they have a greater impact on the mortality risk of male descendants of immigrants compared to the majority population without a migration background in Sweden. These findings are presented in a new study by researchers at the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Economy and Society - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page Social and economic sustainability - Theme page
Mother and daughter sitting in a sofa discussing lack of money.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Misfortune May Discontinue across Generations

Why do disadvantages persist in some families across generations, while others seem to escape the cycle? A new thesis from Stockholm University, sheds novel light on this question by tracing how socioeconomic and psychosocial disadvantages are associated with mental health problems across three generations. But it also reveals that it is possible to break such a vicious cycle of multigenerational disadvantages for improving mental health of future generations.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
Sad child sitting alone on the floor in a corridor.
Department of Public Health Sciences

A troubled childhood may leave an imprint for life

Childhood adversity is linked to an increased risk of mental health problems and physical diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions, across the life course. It can also contribute to long-term socioeconomic disadvantage. A new thesis from Stockholm University explores patterns in disadvantage, and pathways leading from early adversity to later health and socioeconomic outcomes.

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Three female students on a park bench at Stockholm University
Department of Public Health Sciences

Social Connectedness Plays an Important Role in Youth Mental Health

Social connectedness is a crucial factor in youth mental health, particularly across adolescence and young adulthood – life stages characterized by significant social transitions. A new thesis from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University explores the intricate relationship between social connectedness and mental health problems among young people.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Children and Young People - Theme page
Mother, father and older brother looking at baby playing with autumn leaves.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Higher Levels of Parental Leave Benefits is associated with Better Maternal Mental Health

Mothers with higher levels of paid parental leave are less likely to experience mental health problems after giving birth than mothers with the basic level of parental leave. This is shown in a new study from researchers at the Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, and Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm.

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Mother holding the hands of a child.
Department of Public Health Sciences

New Nordic Research Initiative Aims to Boost Family Resilience for Future Crises

Researchers at Stockholm University's Department of Public Health Sciences are participating in a new Nordic network project called UNIFAMN. This initiative aims to improve the resilience, preparedness, and overall well-being of families throughout the Nordic countries and will offer fresh insights into how to equip families for future crises.

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Profile photo of Lisa Pitozzi
Department of Public Health Sciences

“I would love to combine all my skills in impactful projects that improve public health”

Studying public health sciences at Stockholm University offers a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. Lisa Pitozzi, a second-year student at the bachelor´s programme at Stockholm University, moved to Stockholm from Switzerland where she previously had studied medicine. For her the experience has been nothing short of transformative. She even learned Swedish to be able to study the bachelor´s programme.

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Kelly Kamani - Students of Stockholm University

Helping people gives me back a sense of fulfillment

Kelly has always been a caring person, since her childhood. She came to Stockholm all the way from Cameroon to pursue an education and get the experience she feels is essential to make a difference in her home country. This is her story.

Side view of a little boy sitting on the grass in a park looking down.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Childhood adversity is a key driver of socioeconomic mortality inequalities

Childhood adversity is a major contributor to socioeconomic disparities in adult mortality. This is the result of a new study from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University. The study that was published recently in Social Science & Medicine highlights how early-life hardships significantly shape life expectancy outcomes.

Children and Young People - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page Social and economic sustainability - Theme page
An alcoholic father leaning over a kitchen table with a glass of whiskey.in the kitchen.
Department of Public Health Sciences

New research project on parental alcohol use disorder and out-of-home care placement of children

A new research initiative from Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet has been launched to explore how parental alcohol use disorders are associated with children entering out-of-home care (OHC). The project, titled “The intersection of parental alcohol use disorders and child welfare” has been awarded 200,000 SEK by Systembolagets Alkoholforskningsråd.

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Viviane Schultz Straatmann
Department of Public Health Sciences

SWIFT90 – a register cohort over people born in Sweden in the 1990s

Viviane S. Straatmann, Associate Professor and Researcher at the Department of Public Helth Sciences at Stockholm University and your colleagues have just published a cohort profile of the Swedish Families born in the 1990’s (SWIFT90). SWIFT90 is a population-based national register cohort that follows everyone born in Sweden between 1990 and 1999, their parents and siblings.

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A boy looking out of a train window at a railway station.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Large Grant Awarded for Research on Children in Out-of-Home Care

How does family reunification affect the healthcare of children placed in out-of-home care (OHC)? Is returning to their biological families always in the child’s best interest? These are key questions that a new research project at Stockholm University will explore, thanks to nearly 5 million SEK in funding from Forte (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare).

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Children and Young People - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page
Lea Stark
Department of Public Health Sciences

Our alumna Lea Stark was in the final of the Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix

Lea Stark, you studied the Master's programme in Public Health Science at Stockholm University and now you are working as a nurse and you are also a researcher at Karolinska Institutet. You were one of the finalists at the Swedish Researchers’ Grand Prix (Forskar Grand Prix) 26 November, where you presented your research in four minutes. A challenge for you I take it, you not being a native speaker of Swedish. How was it?

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Madeleine Björnsdotter Orfanidou
Department of Public Health Sciences

Madeleine got a job as a public health strategist straight after her exam

When Madeleine Björnsdotter Orfanidou studied the Bachelor's programme in Education and Public Health, she felt that it was the latter subject that interested her most. She went on to study the International Master's Programme. She took her exam in May this year and immediately got a job as a public health strategist at Botkyrka Council in South Stockholm.

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Young woman in glasses studying scientific literature.
Department of Public Health Sciences

New set of guidelines will help students doing literature reviews

Sol Juarez, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University. Recently you and your colleague Helena Honkaniemi had a paper published with guidelines for the use of literature reviews in master’s theses in public health sciences. Could you please tell me a little bit about these guidelines and the purpose of them?

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page School, Education and Learning - Theme page
A smiling boss with a tablet, outside discussing with his collleagues.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Home environment has an impact on who becomes a boss

The fact that managers often come from families with high socio-economic status is well recognised in leadership research. But the home environment and attitudes in families also play an important role. This is shown by a new study from researchers at the Department of Public Health Sciences and the Swedish Institute for Social Research at Stockholm University.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page
Fire spreading through a forest.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Public health researcher Sara Causevic engages in AI for sustainability research

Sara Causevic, you are researcher at the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University. But recently on LinkedIn you shared a perspective article on AI for sustainability that you have published together with three other researchers in the scientific journal Discover Conservation. AI for sustainability research is a bit out of your sphere as a researcher of public health. What are the reasons for you engaging in this?

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Digitalization and AI - Theme page Climate and Environment - Theme page
A lonely girl with a phone sits on the steps
Department of Public Health Sciences

Loneliness is linked with increased psychosomatic complaints in young people

Higher levels of loneliness and lower levels of belonging are linked to increased youth psychosomatic complaints. This is shown in a new study from researchers at Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet. The study was published recently in the scientific journal BMC Public Health.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Psychology and Human Behaviour - Theme page
Depressed woman on an orange sofa
Department of Public Health Sciences

Risk of obesity and depression increases with PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common condition in women caused by an imbalance of ovarian hormones, can also increase the risk of obesity, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating disorders and/or sexual disorders. This is according to a new study by researchers from the Department of Public Health at Stockholm University and Lund University.

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Researchers in discussion at the ANDTG conference in Stockholm
Department of Public Health Sciences

New Nordic addiction research presented at a conference in Stockholm

New research on alcohol, tobacco, drugs, doping and gambling (ANDTG) with an emphasis on comparing Nordic experience was presented at a conference hosted by the Center for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SoRAD) and the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University 17–19 April.

Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
Close-up of a young mother holding her baby's hand.
Department of Public Health Sciences

More premature babies born following Swedish parental leave policy

The introduction of a policy protecting parental leave benefits in Sweden in 1980 had unintended consequences on child health. The policy led to an increase in premature birth rates. This is shown by a study from researchers at Stockholm University, published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Gender and Equality - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page

"The mentorship programme exceeded my expectations"

Working on issues related to the welfare of children and young people is Kanwal Humayoon's goal. She applied for the mentorship programme to gain experience and improve her chances of getting a job after graduation. Looking back, she finds the programme rewarding in many ways.

Happy Arabic deaf mute mother and daughter communicating at home using sign language.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Research on children of disabled parents gets a large funding

What is the association between parental disability and child outcomes with regard to health equality, from birth to young adulthood? What are the contributing and buffering factors, including the policy environment? Forte (the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare) has decided to give a grant of nearly 4,3 million Swedish kronor to the research project “Overlooked Children in Need (ORCHID): A Study on the Development and Well-Being of Children of Parents with Disabilities”.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page Children and Young People - Theme page
Sara Causevic
Department of Public Health Sciences

Launch of report on Peaceful Societies through Health and Gender Equality

Is it possible to achieve peace through investments in health and equality? Learn how improvements in health equity and gender equality can contribute to more peaceful societies from the authors, collaborators, and subject-matter experts of the Lancet Commission on Peaceful Societies through Health Equity and Gender Equality as the Commission report is released on September 7th. The prestigious medical publication The Lancet organizes this independent, cross-disciplinary project, which included 24 Commissioners and several partners.

Economy and Society - Theme page Gender and Equality - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
Profile picture of Elisa Vigna
Department of Public Health Sciences

Elisa is a research assistant at Karolinska Institutet

She moved from Italy to Sweden in 2016 to study the master´s programme in public health sciences at Stockholm University. After graduation she worked several jobs, among which at a reinsurance company in Switzerland. Two years ago Elisa Vigna moved back to Stockholm to work as a research assistant at the National Centre for Suicide Research at Karolinska Institutet.

Psychology and Human Behaviour - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
Two hands holding a medical face mask, seen from the person wearing it.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Migrants were hit harder by the pandemic

Higher mortality and more admissions to intensive care units. Many migrant groups in Sweden were hit harder than those born in Sweden during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the vaccine was crucial in reducing inequality. This is shown by a study by researchers at the Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, in collaboration with researchers from Stockholm University's Demographic Department (SUDA) and Karolinska Institutet. The study was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

Economy and Society - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Corona Research - Theme page
An illustration showing the Swedish and Finnish flags blending into each other.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Lower mortality among Finnish migrants in Sweden

The health of Finnish migrants in Sweden lies between that of the populations in Sweden and Finland. The mortality rate among Finns in Sweden is lower than that of the population in Finland. These are some of the results of a new study from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University in collaboration with researchers from the University of Helsinki.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page International Relations and Migration - Theme page Economy and Society - Theme page
Two commuters wearing face masks in the Stockholm underground.
Department of Public Health Sciences

People with lower income were hit harder by the pandemic

The relationship between income and Covid-19-related intensive care changed drastically in Sweden during the pandemic. A new study from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University shows examples of inequality in health and the importance of income differences with regards to how the pandemic affected people.

Corona Research - Theme page Economy and Society - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
A dark-haired boy in red shirt sitting down, looking sad, with his left hand on his right cheek.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Parental loss increases the risk of taking antidepressants

When a parent passes away, there is an increased risk for the bereaved child to start taking antidepressant medication, especially in the first year after the parent´s death. This is the main result of a study from researchers at the Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, in collaboration with researchers from Canada and the United States. The study was recently published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Children and Young People - Theme page
Sol Juárez speaking with Kari Hasselberg, Head of Secretariat for the Committee of Social Insurance.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Public health researchers presented evidence on parental leave and health at the Swedish Parliament

Members of a health equity perspective research group from the Department of Public Health Sciences were invited to present their research at the Swedish Parliament´s Research Day 8 June. They talked to the Committee of Social Insurance about their research on the unintended consequences of Swedish parental leave policy.

Gender and Equality - Theme page Economy and Society - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
Close-up shot of two women expecting a baby.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Fewer cases of adverse birth outcomes for lesbian couples who received IVF treatment

Adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight and/or pre-term birth occur to a lesser extent in children of lesbian couples who have undergone IVF treatment (in vitro fertilization) compared to heterosexual couples who received the same fertility treatment. This according to researchers from Sweden, the United Kingdom and Finland. These research results were published in an a research article in Journal of the American Medical Association.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
Woman, seen from the side, leans forward with hand over eyes.
Department of Public Health Sciences

Women’s suicide risk increases around the anniversary of a parent’s death

Women who have lost a parent run a higher risk of suicide around the anniversary of the death of a parent, according to researchers from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University. For men there does not seem to be a similar pattern. The research results were published recently in the medical journal Jama Network Open.

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
Department of Public Health Sciences

Dissertation: Under the influence

On January 13th 2023, Lauren Bishop will defend her thesis "Under the influence: Substance misuse from the perspective of linked lives"

Department of Public Health Sciences

Dissertation: Troubled childhoods cast long shadows

On November 10th, Josephine Jackisch will defend her thesis "Troubled childhoods cast long shadows: Studies of childhood adversity and premature mortality in a Swedish post-war birth cohort"

Newborn baby put on a scale.

Swedes with non-western background falling behind in terms of birthweight

In a new study, the researchers found large birthweight inequalities among the descendants of non-western immigrants compared to the descendants of Swedes. The largest differences were found in the third generation. The researchers warn inequalities may continue to widen in subsequent generations.

International Relations and Migration - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page
Department of Public Health Sciences

Dissertation: Intervening in a social world

Devy Lysandra Elling defends her doctoral thesis "Intervening in a social world: An evaluation of an alcohol prevention programme in a Swedish workplace context".

A student with a laptop in Studenthuset.

Problems with university accounts

Due to an error during a maintenance job, a large number of passwords to university accounts for students and employees have been reset. This results in the account being locked. We are sorry for any inconveniences caused.

Department of Public Health Sciences

Policy Insights: Use of parental leave improves mental health of migrant fathers

Migrant fathers experienced significant decreases in psychiatric hospitalisations alongside their changes in parental leave use. Policy Insights in Population Europe, by Helena Honkaniemi and Sol Pía Juárez, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University

Health and Living Conditions - Theme page Society, Democracy and Welfare - Theme page Gender and Equality - Theme page
Coronavirus
Department of Public Health Sciences

Updated information regarding our teaching Spring term 2022

UPDATED 11 FEBRUARY: The department's teaching will gradually return to campus during the next term period (February 17 - March 21). More detailed information on what this means for relevant courses is announced at Athena.

Department of Public Health Sciences

Mariko Kanamori awarded the prestigious Ikushi Prize

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science awarded the most prestigious Ikushi Prize to Mariko Kanamori, a visiting researcher within the SMASH project at the Department of Public Health Sciences.

Department of Public Health Sciences

Country of birth affects risk of dying in covid-19

Mikael Rostila, co-author of a new report from the Swedish Public Health Agency, appears at the national broadcaster SVT News, highlighting the disparity between residents born abroad and ethnic Swedes. Socio-economic factors such as low income and overcrowding are cited as the main reasons why those born abroad are hit harder.

Corona Research - Theme page Health and Living Conditions - Theme page
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