{"title":"Sustainability and the impact on health and wellbeing.","authors":"Eva-Carin Lindgren, Anne Liveng, Steffen Torp","doi":"10.1177/14034948251319382","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14034948251319382","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11951386/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143607003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unmet need for and barriers to receiving health care and social welfare services in Finland.","authors":"Katja M Ilmarinen, Anna-Mari Aalto, Anu L Muuri","doi":"10.1177/14034948241299019","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14034948241299019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Need-based access to health care and social welfare services is an element of health promotion, and it endorses equity and the principles of universalism in society. To explore access to services, this study analyses unmet need for services, barriers that impede access and whether individual characteristics are associated with service access. The study period coincided with the COVID-19-pandemic and health and social services reform in Finland.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The prevalence of subjective unmet need was used as an indicator of service access. Inconvenient opening hours, a difficult journey to the service unit and high user fees were barriers to receiving services. A nationally representative FinSote survey 2018 and 2020 was used in the analyses. Data were examined with multivariate logistic regression models using SPSS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A high prevalence of unmet need for health care and especially for social welfare services was observed. The prevalence of unmet need increased from 2018 to 2020, but in health care only, and access to social welfare services deteriorated. In particular, women, younger people, those who need income support and those with poor health or quality of life forgo care.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>\u0000 <b>A considerable share of the Finnish population do not receive essential services according to need and face barriers in accessing services. Individual characteristics are associated with perceived unmet need and access barriers despite the ethos of equal opportunities. COVID-19 measures are likely to have worsened the situation. Actions to improve access must urgently be implemented to achieve the policy goals of health promotion, equity in health and universalism.</b>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"52-63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11951374/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142814780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Camilla Ihlebæk, Ragnhild Ånestad, Emma C A Nordbø
{"title":"Bridging discourses on health promotion and social sustainability towards healthy community development.","authors":"Camilla Ihlebæk, Ragnhild Ånestad, Emma C A Nordbø","doi":"10.1177/14034948241290282","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14034948241290282","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this paper is to argue for the need to bridge the discourses of health promotion and social sustainability as an important step toward healthy community development. By building on theories and empirical knowledge from both disciplines, we advocate for the field of health promotion to take a more assertive role within the social sustainability discourse because the theoretical and empirical knowledge from health promotion research is needed. Likewise, we argue that the strong emphasis on social justice and contextual community factors within the social sustainability discourse could contribute to developing the health promotion discourse. Furthermore, we suggest that place-based methods and analyses used in current health promotion research could serve as tools to better integrate knowledge on both physical and social dimensions, thereby enhancing inter-disciplinary collaboration to develop socially sustainable communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"16-23"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142649517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Resources and strategies young people use and need to promote mental health - a qualitative study from a salutogenic perspective.","authors":"Sofie Lundström, Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdottir, Ellinor Tengelin","doi":"10.1177/14034948241302392","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14034948241302392","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim of this study was to explore young people's experiences of resources and strategies for promoting their mental health.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Individual interviews with 33 people aged 16-25 years were conducted using a method inspired by cognitive interviewing, which combines think aloud techniques with probing questions. The interviews were based on the young people's reflections of the questions in the Swedish national public health survey. Data were analysed with reflexive thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The resources and strategies that the young people in this study described as important for promoting mental well-being are related to societal prerequisites needed to navigate life; to their immediate surroundings, including social interactions; and to the young people themselves. These resources and strategies are presented under the following three themes: prerequisites for navigating life, social interactions on one's own terms, and who I am and what I can do.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Young people have a variety of resources and strategies of their own available for promoting mental well-being. However, they cannot promote mental health just on their own; access to social networks and the opportunity to share thoughts and feelings are central. Further, to promote mental health, young people need good social conditions, knowledge, and support from adults so that the existence they struggle to navigate feels comprehensible, manageable and meaningful.</p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"64-71"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11951348/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142824701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adolescents' screen-based media use and the relationship with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sports club participation and active commuting.","authors":"Ellen Haug","doi":"10.1177/14034948241293603","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14034948241293603","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>A worry regarding young people's physical activity engagement relates to a potentially competing development: the role of screen-based media (SBM) in their everyday lives. The present study aimed to assess time spent on different types of SBM, self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and physical activity in different domains and their interrelations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study is based on data from 3737 participants aged 11, 13 and 15 years from Norway collected in 2021/2022 as part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children collaborative cross-national survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings revealed high amounts of total SBM time. There were age and gender differences in physical activity, especially with lower levels of active transport during leisure time among girls than among boys. A series of binary logistic regression analyses with adjustment for age, gender and socioeconomic status showed that high levels of total SBM time were negatively associated with involvement in club sports, active school transport, active travel to friends and leisure activities, and 60 min MVPA 5 days/week. Gaming and social media use were also negatively associated with most of the physical activity indicators. All SBM variables were negatively associated with involvement in club sports and 60 min MVPA 5 days/week.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>\u0000 <b>The study demonstrates negative associations between SBM time among adolescents and physical activity in various domains. Actions to facilitate youth physical activity in the digital age seem crucial. Additional studies with nuanced data on these behaviours and longitudinal research design allowing for examining their interrelations over time are needed.</b>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"42-51"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11951388/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142824696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Payment problems and suicide: life under financial strain.","authors":"Carla L Hughes, Åsmund Hermansen","doi":"10.1177/14034948241312375","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948241312375","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Suicide deaths are often linked to impulsivity during moments of crisis, such as financial difficulties, relationship breakdowns and poor health. For individuals experiencing financial problems, risk factors for suicide can commonly include circumstances surrounding payment problems, including unemployment, divorce, low education and low income mediated by debt.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we investigate the impact of payment problems on suicide in Norway using a spline-based parametric survival analysis, with suicide as the outcome variable. With access to high quality Norwegian register data and unique information on payment problems, defined as deductions in wages or benefits, we investigated suicide amongst the entire adult Norwegian population over an 11-year period (2008-2018).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that the prevalence of payment problems among the Norwegian population between 2009 and 2018 was associated with a higher risk of suicide for both males and females. Despite the greater proportion of suicide occurring amongst males both globally and in Norway, we found that women experiencing financial hardship had a relatively higher suicide risk when adjusted for demographic variables than their male counterparts.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>\u0000 <b>These findings highlight the need for stronger protections for individuals struggling with financial difficulties and emphasise the importance of further research on the relationship between payment problems and suicide, with the aim of informing and enhancing national suicide prevention strategies.</b>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"14034948241312375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mari-Anne Wallius, Anne Kouvonen, Jenni Ervasti, Taina Leinonen, Jaakko Airaksinen, Tea Lallukka
{"title":"Are changes in perceived physical workload and strenuousness of work among partial disability pensioners associated with full disability pension?","authors":"Mari-Anne Wallius, Anne Kouvonen, Jenni Ervasti, Taina Leinonen, Jaakko Airaksinen, Tea Lallukka","doi":"10.1177/14034948251326706","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251326706","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>The aim of this study was to examine the changes in pensioners' perceived physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work before and after transition to partial disability pension (pDP), and whether these changes were associated with subsequent transition to full disability pension (fDP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used survey data on physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work and covariates from the Helsinki Health Study, an occupational cohort measured in four phases: 2000-2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. These data were prospectively linked to the Finnish Centre for Pensions' register data on pDP and fDP up to 2021 for those who had provided informed consent for such linkage (mean follow-up of 3 years). We included those who responded to the study surveys both before and after pDP (<i>n</i> = 235). Changes after transition to pDP in the physical strenuousness of work and in a constructed physical workload summary scale were analysed using log-binomial regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After transition to pDP, physical workload decreased among 20% of the participants, remained constantly low among 44% and constantly high among 36%. The changes in the physical strenuousness of work were similar. Thirty per cent (<i>n</i> = 70) of pDPs transitioned to fDP during the follow-up. The changes in physical workload or the physical strenuousness of work were not associated with transition to fDP.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>\u0000 <b>Despite the transition to pDP and thus part-time work, perceived physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work remained stable, and were not reflected in transition to fDP. More research on larger samples is warranted.</b>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"14034948251326706"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143744327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Use of over-the-counter analgesics in Norwegian children - a national cross-sectional study.","authors":"Frøydis Enstad, Sølvi Helseth, Borghild Løyland, Kristin Haraldstad, Siv Olga Skarstein","doi":"10.1177/14034948251328492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251328492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>We aimed to examine the proportion of recent use of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics among Norwegian children aged 10 to 12, and explore the relationship between a wide array of factors, both within and outside the indications for use of the medication and recent use of OTC analgesics in this age group.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were drawn from the nationwide, population-based Ungdata Junior study in Norway, encompassing children aged 10 to 12 (<i>N</i> = 102,919). We examined factors both within (recurrent pain in different parts of the body) and beyond (repeated bullying, depressive symptoms, screen time and organised activity frequency) medication indications by means of logistic regression. Covariates and background variables included sleep duration, frequency of sports activities, gender, age and socioeconomic status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed a high prevalence of recent OTC analgesic use (23.7%). Associations were noted with factors both within and beyond the medication's indications for use. Specifically, adjusted for all variables, recurrent headache (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 2.81-3.05) and pain (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.11-1.21), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.15-1.22) and repeated bullying (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.02-1.14) were significantly linked with an increased risk of recent OTC analgesic use.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>\u0000 <b>Our findings suggest a potential misuse of OTC analgesics early in life and raise concerns about potential overuse and unhealthy coping strategies. Enhancing children's and parents' understanding of pain and stress management may improve health behaviours and mitigate potential adverse effects from OTC analgesic use.</b>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"14034948251328492"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143711920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bengt Järvholm, Per Liv, Linnea Hedman, Maréne Landström, Kjell Torén, Alex Burdorf
{"title":"Smoking and the occurrence of larynx cancer in Sweden - a population analysis.","authors":"Bengt Järvholm, Per Liv, Linnea Hedman, Maréne Landström, Kjell Torén, Alex Burdorf","doi":"10.1177/14034948251327872","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251327872","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To study the importance of decreasing tobacco smoking on the occurrence of larynx cancer in men and women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The incidence rates of larynx cancer in the Swedish population between 1970 and 2021 were retrieved from the Swedish Cancer Register for ages 50-84 years, stratified for sex, age and calendar year. Data on the population's smoking habits was retrieved from surveys and from taxation on the sale of cigarettes. The occurrence of larynx cancer was compared to smoking habits, sex and age. The time trends were compared between larynx and lung cancer.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over the years, Swedish men and women have had different smoking habits, especially older persons during the 1970s. In 1963, the prevalence of current smokers in women 50-69 years was 11%, while it was 46% in men. Around 2020, less than 10% of men and women in all age groups were current smokers. However, men had higher incidence rates of larynx cancer than women, even when their smoking habits were similar. For example, men and women 60-64 years of age in 2017-2021 had similar smoking habits during their life but the relative risk of larynx cancer in men compared to women was 3.3 (95% CI 1.7-4.8). However, pipe smoking was much more common in men.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>\u0000 <b>The study indicates that other causes than cigarette smoking have an impact on the occurrence of larynx cancer in Sweden. Pipe smoking and occupational exposure to carcinogenic materials such as asbestos may be underlying causes of the difference in cancer risk between Swedish men and women.</b>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"14034948251327872"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143677330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of mental health indices among schoolchildren in Albania.","authors":"Alketa Qosja, Rudina Çumashi, Genc Burazeri, Mariana Bukli, Gentiana Qirjako","doi":"10.1177/14034948251326827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251326827","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Our objective was to assess the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of a wide range of mental health indices among Albanian children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania in 2022, including a nationwide representative sample of 5454 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15 years (~52% girls; response rate 96%). Data on 10 mental health indices were gathered, along with socio-demographic factors of schoolchildren. General linear model and binary logistic regression were employed for assessing the associations of mental health indices with socio-demographic factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, the prevalence of poorer mental health indices was 5.2% for not good health, 61% for feeling low, 59% for irritability, 56% for nervousness, 33% for sleep difficulties, 31% for loneliness, 16% for low mood, 36% for low self-efficacy, 15% for anxiety and 35% for negative COVID-19 impact on mental health. Girls, older schoolchildren and those whose fathers were unemployed exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of poorer mental health for most of the indices. Children from rural areas and those from less affluent families had a higher prevalence of poorer self-rated health.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>\u0000 <b>Our study sheds light on the concerning prevalence of various mental health indices among Albanian children. The main findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address these challenges, particularly among vulnerable groups such as girls, older children and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Urgent action is necessary to support the mental well-being of all children, especially those who are at the highest risk.</b>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":49568,"journal":{"name":"Scandinavian Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"14034948251326827"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143677327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}