To meet the challenge of population ageing and social inequalities in late life health, it is of utmost importance to map out the life course predictors of healthy ageing.
The Nordic populations are ageing. The older segments of the populations are increasing both in terms of absolute numbers and as proportions of the populations. While the dramatic increase in life expectancy experienced throughout the past 150 years are one of the most remarkable achievements of human history, the ageing population, nevertheless, comprise a serious challenge to the Nordic welfare model as we know it.
Old age is often accompanied by poor health and functional disabilities. Thus, a growing proportion of older people in the population is likely to put a strain on the health and social care systems. This development, in turn, begs the question on whether the Nordic countries can afford to maintain their universal provision of largely tax-funded, welfare programmes. Moreover, health and survival in old age is unequally distributed throughout the populations. Women tend to have poorer health than men but yet outlive them. Individuals with low education, low income, and manual workers are substantially more likely to have health problems in old age and tend to die at earlier ages than individuals with more education, higher incomes, and backgrounds as non-manual workers. Similarly, with some notable exceptions, immigrants tend to have more health problems than those born in the Nordic countries.
This research programme rests on two pillars, one concerning life course influences, trends and trajectories in health and functioning, and the other concerning welfare state changes and inequality impacts of recent social reforms. To meet the challenge of population ageing and social inequalities in late life health, it is of utmost importance to map out the life course predictors of healthy ageing. Other urgent research questions springs from the intersection between ageing populations and welfare institutions. That is, how do these institutions meet the needs of older adults, and does the increased focus on the individual and market inspired solutions lead to increasing or new social inequalities?
Our research group consists of researchers with a wide range of academic backgrounds, from all of the Nordic countries. We will analyse these questions using a range of high quality Nordic databases, including both survey data and data from administrative registries. The results from the research programme concern one of the most pressing issues in welfare research today and, thus, have the potential to inform and influence future social policy.
Scientific Publications
Data source: Crossref. The list should not be assumed to represent the complete published research output of the project.
Are there educational disparities in health and functioning among the oldest old? Evidence from the Nordic countries
Journal Article published 2019-06-17 in
European Journal of Ageing
Research funded by
NordForsk
Authors:
Linda Enroth,
Marijke Veenstra,
Marja Aartsen,
Agnete Aslaug Kjær,
Charlotte Juul Nilsson,
Stefan Fors.
What Levels the Association Between Income and Mortality in Later Life: Age or Health Decline?
Journal Article published 2019-06-08 in
The Journals of Gerontology: Series B
Research funded by
NordForsk
Authors:
Johan Rehnberg.
Associations between education and need for care among community dwelling older adults in Iceland
Journal Article published 2019-05-06 in
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
Research funded by
NordForsk
Authors:
Milan Chang,
Olof G. Geirsdottir,
Sigurveig H. Sigurdarsdottir,
Ingemar Kåreholt,
Alfons Ramel.
Socio-demographic differences in the frequent use of emergency department care by older persons: a population-based study in Stockholm County
Journal Article published 2019-03-29 in
BMC Health Services Research
volume 19
issue 1
Research funded by
NordForsk |
Forskningsrådet för Arbetsliv och Socialvetenskap
Authors:
Megan Doheny,
Janne Agerholm,
Nicola Orsini,
Pär Schön,
Bo Burström.
Advantaged socioeconomic conditions in childhood are associated with higher cognitive functioning but stronger cognitive decline in older age
Journal Article published 2019-02-25 in
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
volume 116
issue 12
Research funded by
NordForsk |
RCN |
Marie Sklodowska-Curie
Authors:
Marja J. Aartsen,
Boris Cheval,
Stefan Sieber,
Bernadette W. Van der Linden,
Rainer Gabriel,
Delphine S. Courvoisier,
Idris Guessous,
Claudine Burton-Jeangros,
David Blane,
Andreas Ihle,
Matthias Kliegel,
Stéphane Cullati.
Sex differences in healthy life expectancy among nonagenarians: A multistate survival model using data from the Vitality 90+ study
Journal Article published 2019-02-01 in
Experimental Gerontology
volume 116
Research funded by
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek |
ZonMw |
Academy of Finland |
NordForsk |
Integrative Analysis of Longitudinal Studies of Aging and Dementia |
Pirkanmaa University Hospital
Authors:
Emiel O. Hoogendijk,
Maaike van der Noordt,
Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen,
Dorly J.H. Deeg,
Martijn Huisman,
Linda Enroth,
Marja Jylhä.
Why is the gender gap in life expectancy decreasing? The impact of age- and cause-specific mortality in Sweden 1997–2014
Journal Article published 2018-04-13 in
International Journal of Public Health
volume 63
issue 6
Research funded by
Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd |
NordForsk
Authors:
Louise Sundberg,
Neda Agahi,
Johan Fritzell,
Stefan Fors.
Social class and infirmity. The role of social class over the life-course
Journal Article published 2018-04-01 in
SSM - Population Health
volume 4
Research funded by
NordForsk |
Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte)
Authors:
Carin Lennartsson,
Harpa Sif Eyjólfsdóttir,
Roger Keller Celeste,
Johan Fritzell.
Social pathways to health: On the mediating role of the social network in the relation between socio-economic position and health
Journal Article published 2017-12-01 in
SSM - Population Health
volume 3
Research funded by
Norges Forskningsråd |
NordForsk |
Helse- og Omsorgsdepartementet |
Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs |
Ministry of Labour |
Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion |
Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development |
Statistics Norway
Authors:
Marja Aartsen,
Marijke Veenstra,
Thomas Hansen.
Does use of long-term care differ between occupational classes among the oldest old? Vitality 90 + Study
Journal Article published 2017-10-28 in
European Journal of Ageing
volume 15
issue 2
Research funded by
Academy of Finland |
NordForsk |
the Competitive Research Funding of the Pirkanmaa Hospital District
Authors:
Linda Enroth,
Mari Aaltonen,
Jani Raitanen,
Lily Nosraty,
Marja Jylhä.
Is the level of education associated with transitions between care settings in older adults near the end of life? A nationwide, retrospective cohort study
Journal Article published 2017-09-27 in
Palliative Medicine
volume 32
issue 2
Research funded by
NordForsk
Authors:
Susanne Kelfve,
Jonas Wastesson,
Stefan Fors,
Kristina Johnell,
Lucas Morin.
Smoking and Physical Inactivity as Predictors of Mobility Impairment During Late Life: Exploring Differential Vulnerability Across Education Level in Sweden
Journal Article published 2016-07-22 in
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Research funded by
National Institutes of Health |
NordForsk
Authors:
Neda Agahi,
Stefan Fors,
Johan Fritzell,
Benjamin A. Shaw.
The Association of Levels of and Decline in Grip Strength in Old Age with Trajectories of Life Course Occupational Position
Journal Article published 2016-05-27 in
PLOS ONE
volume 11
issue 5
Research funded by
NordForsk |
European Research Council (BE)
Authors:
Hannes Kröger,
Johan Fritzell,
Rasmus Hoffmann.