Neighbors’ Social Class in Childhood and Adult Health Outcomes: A Life-Course of Place Study in Sweden, 1939-2015

Finn Hedefalk, Lund University
Ingrid K van Dijk, Lund University
Martin Dribe, Lund University

What are the long-term implications of the neighborhood of upbringing for health in adulthood, net of one’s own socioeconomic background? Is there a health benefit of growing up near children with a higher socioeconomic class than one’s own socioeconomic class? We answer these questions by exploiting unique geocoded longitudinal microdata at the address-level for the Swedish industrial city Landskrona, 1939-1967, linked to Swedish national registers, 1968-2015. To measure neighborhood conditions in 1939-1967, we combine geocoded microdata for the ~77,000 inhabitants in Landskrona, containing information on place of residence at the address-level, with several variables measuring SES and demographic conditions. We use flexible and individualized neighborhoods based on the socioeconomic characteristics of the k-nearest neighbors, and measure each move across the city. We follow up the historical population in the linked national registers (1968-2015). Besides information on occupation, marital status and other characteristics, these data contain detailed individual information on physical and mental health. This includes information on cause-specific mortality (from 1952), cognitive and physical status at military conscription, early retirement and sickness benefits, women’s health status at childbirth, and patient data. We conduct a nation-wide and long-term follow-up from 1968 to 2015, as well as analyzing causes of death from 1952. Thereby, we address health throughout the life-courses for both stayers and out-migrants from Landskrona. By studying a typical Swedish mid-sized town with low levels of social segregation, we contrast much of the existing neighborhood research that has studied highly segregated contexts. Our empirical analysis employs unique longitudinal data with detailed spatial, socioeconomic and demographic information, allowing dynamic neighborhood measurements. We apply a more realistic approach to analyze long-term neighborhood influences than has usually been done in previous research. Finally, we study health outcomes among a contemporary population, which underlines the relevancy of historical socioeconomic developments for today’s health outcomes.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 81. Health and Hazards II : Spatial & Historical Perspectives