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Risk-behaviors are a major contributor to the leading causes of morbidity among adolescents and young people; however, their association with pathological Internet use (PIU) is relatively unexplored, particularly within the European context. The main objective of this study is to investigate the association between risk-behaviors and PIU in European adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of the FP7 European Union project: Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE). Data on adolescents were collected from randomized schools within study sites across eleven European countries. PIU was measured using Young’s Diagnostic Questionnaire (YDQ). Risk-behaviors were assessed using questions procured from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS). A total of 11,931 adolescents were included in the analyses: 43.4% male and 56.6% female (M/F: 5179/6752), with a mean age of 14.89 ± 0.87 years. Adolescents reporting poor sleeping habits and risk-taking actions showed the strongest associations with PIU, followed by tobacco use, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. Among adolescents in the PIU group, 89.9% were characterized as having multiple risk-behaviors. The significant association observed between PIU and risk-behaviors, combined with a high rate of co-occurrence, underlines the importance of considering PIU when screening, treating or preventing high-risk behaviors among adolescents.

Objectives. We investigated the association between unemployment and early cause-specific mortality to determine whether the relationship was modified by other risk indicators. Methods. Female and male twins (n=20632) were followed with regard to mortality from 1973 through 1996. Questionnaire data from 1973 were used to obtain information on experience of unemployment and on social, behavioral, health, and personality characteristics. Results. Unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide and death from undetermined causes. Low education, personality characteristics, use of sleeping pills or tranquilizers, and serious or long-lasting illness tended to strengthen the association between unemployment and early mortality. Conclusions. An increased risk of death from external causes implies a need for support for those experiencing unemployment, particularly susceptible individuals.

The study examines various combinations of levels of social isolation in private life and peripheral work position as predictors of disability pension (DP). A second aim was to test the potential interaction effects (above additivity) of social isolation and peripheral work position on the future risk of DP, and to provide results for men and women by age. The study was based on a sample of 45567 women and men from the Swedish population who had been interviewed between 1992 and 2007. Further information on DP and diagnoses was obtained from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's database (1993-2011). The studied predictors were related to DP using Cox's proportional hazard regression. The analyses were stratified on sex and age (20-39 years, 40-64 years), with control for selected confounders. Increased risks of DP were found for most combinations of social isolation and peripheral work position in all strata. The hazard ratios (HRs) for joint exposure to high degree of social isolation and a peripheral work position were particularly strong among men aged 20-39 (HR 5.70; CI 95% 3.74-8.69) and women aged 20-39 (HR 4.07; CI 2.99-5.56). An interaction effect from combined exposure was found for women in both age groups as well as a tendency in the same direction among young men. However, after confounder control the effects did not reach significance. Individuals who were socially isolated and in a peripheral work position had an increased risk of future DP. The fact that an interaction effect was found among women indicates that a combination of social isolation and peripheral work position may reinforce adverse health effects. There was no evidence that a peripheral work position can be compensated by a high degree of social intergration in private life.

The aim was to examine the potential influence of social isolation and low societal participation on the future risk of receiving disability pension among individuals in Sweden. A specific aim was to describe differences depending on disability pension diagnoses, and how the results were modified by sex and age. The study comprised representative samples of Swedish women and men, who had been interviewed in any of the annual Swedish Surveys of Living Conditions between 1990 and 2007. Information on disability pension and diagnoses was added from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's database (1991-2011). The mean number of years of follow-up for the 53920 women and men was twelve years (SD 5.5), and the study base was restricted to the ages 20 to 64 years of age. The predictors were related to disability pension by Cox's proportional hazards regression. Social isolation and low societal participation were associated with future disability pension also after control for age, year of interview, socio demographic conditions and self reported longstanding illness. Lone individuals were at increased risk of disability pension, and the effect of living without children was modified by sex and age. An increase in risk was particularly noticeable among younger women who reported that they had sparse contacts with others, and no close friend. Both women and men who reported that they did not participate in political discussions and who could not appeal on a decision by a public authority were also at increased risk. The effects of social isolation were mainly attributed to disability pension with mental diagnoses, and to younger individuals. The study suggests that social isolation and low societal participation are predictors of future disability pension. Social isolation and low societal participation increased particularly the risk of future disability pension in mental diagnoses among younger individuals.

Objective: We sought to determine how do working life and private life characteristics relate to sickness absence. Methods: Questionnaire data for 1557 female and 1913 male employees were related to registered sickness absence by multivariate analyses. Results: Apart from health problems, clear associations with sickness absence were observed for complaints attributed to heavy, arduous work, and sickness presenteeism. The use of tranquilizers, occurrence of bullying, and the existence of a high total workload from paid and unpaid work were associated with sickness absence in women. In men, the use of alcohol as sedative, anxiety of reorganization, not holding a supervisor position, adverse life events, and divorce were related with sickness absence. Conclusions: Our study identified different areas at work and outside work for women and men that could be targets for actions aiming at preventing high sickness absence.

During the past 20 years, the role of family history in early-onset coronary heart disease in men has been well established 1 – 14 . However, only a few prospective studies have investigated the influence of familial factors on this disease in women 15 , 16 . Furthermore, the effect of a family history of coronary heart disease in older subjects, either men or women, has been examined in only one recent study 17 . The extent to which the familial occurrence of coronary heart disease is due to genetic mechanisms can be assessed in twin or adoption studies. Early studies from the Swedish and . . .

We studied sunlight exposure from outdoor work in relation to cancer, using data from 323,860 men participating in an occupational health service program of the Swedish construction industry. An experienced industrial hygienist assessed the exposure for 200 job tasks. We estimated relative risks (RRs) adjusted for age, smoking, and magnetic field exposure. There was an increased RR in the high-exposure group for myeloid leukemia [RR = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.1-3.6] and lymphocytic leukemia (RR = 1.7, 95% CI = 0.9-3.2). For non-Hodgkin's lymphoma there was a 30% increase in risk in the high-exposure group (95% CI = 0.9-1.9). There was no increased risk of malignant melanoma, except for tumors of the head, face, and neck in the high-exposure group (RR = 2.0, 95% CI = 0.8-5.2), and we also found an increased risk for malignant melanoma of the eye in this group (RR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.1-10.5). Outdoor workers had no increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Nevertheless, the RR for lip cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) among the high-exposure group was estimated at 1.8 (95% CI = 0.8-3.7). Among other sites, an increased risk of stomach cancer was suggested in this group (RR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0-1.9). The results for lymphoma, leukemia, and possibly also for stomach cancer might reflect a suppression of the immune system from ultraviolet light in outdoor workers.

Studies of magnetic field exposure and cancer have focused on either residential or occupational exposure. We conducted a case-control study taking into account both exposure sources. We identified leukemia and central nervous system tumor cases and controls from a population living within 300 m of transmission lines in Sweden. We have previously reported results considering residential exposure alone. Here, we evaluate the effect of occupational exposure and of the combined exposures. We estimated residential exposure through calculations of the magnetic fields generated by power lines. We obtained information about occupation from censuses and linked the occupations to a job-exposure matrix based on magnetic field measurements. For occupational exposure of ≥0.2 μT, we estimated the relative risk for leukemia to be 1.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-2.7]. The increased risk was confined to acute myeloid and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. For residential exposure of ≥0.2 μT, the relative risk for leukemia was estimated at 1.3 (95% CI = 0.8-2.2), with higher risk estimates for acute and chronic myeloid leukemia. We estimated the relative risk for leukemia among subjects highly exposed both at home and at work to be 3.7 (95% CI = 1.5-9.4). These results provide support for an association between magnetic field exposure and leukemia. Relative risks for nervous system tumors were close to unity.

Rising global rates of pathological Internet use (PIU) and related psychological impairments have gained considerable attention in recent years. In an effort to acquire evidence-based knowledge of this relationship, the main objective of this study was to investigate the association between PIU, psychopathology and self-destructive behaviours among school-based adolescents in eleven European countries. This cross-sectional study was implemented within the framework of the European Union project: Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe. A representative sample of 11,356 school-based adolescents (M/F: 4,856/6,500; mean age: 14.9) was included in the analyses. PIU was assessed using the Young’s Diagnostic Questionnaire. Psychopathology was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Self-destructive behaviours were evaluated by the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory and Paykel Suicide Scale. Results showed that suicidal behaviours (suicidal ideation and suicide attempts), depression, anxiety, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention were significant and independent predictors of PIU. The correlation between PIU, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention was stronger among females, while the link between PIU and symptoms of depression, anxiety and peer relationship problems was stronger among males. The association between PIU, psychopathology and self-destructive behaviours was stronger in countries with a higher prevalence of PIU and suicide rates. These findings ascertain that psychopathology and suicidal behaviours are strongly related to PIU. This association is significantly influenced by gender and country suggesting socio-cultural influences. At the clinical and public health levels, targeting PIU among adolescents in the early stages could potentially lead to improvements of psychological well-being and a reduction of suicidal behaviours.

BackgroundThere is evidence of parental risk factors for suicidal behaviour in offspring, but research on variations in their effects with offspring's age at first exposure is sparse.AimsTo explore the effects of age at exposure to parental mortality and markers of morbidity on the risks of suicide and attempted suicide in offspring.MethodsThis was a case–control study effected through record linkage between Swedish registers. Individuals born 1973–83 who committed suicide (n=1407) or were hospitalised due to an attempted suicide (n=17 159) were matched to ≤10 controls by sex, month and county of birth. ORs were measured in time windows representing age at first exposure.ResultsA general pattern of increasing risks of suicide and attempted suicide in offspring with decreasing age at exposure to parental risk factors emerged. Adjusted suicide risk (OR (95% CI)) was most pronounced in the youngest exposure window for parental psychiatric disability pension (3.1 (1.6 to 5.8)), somatic disability pension (1.9 (1.0 to 3.4)), psychiatric inpatient care (2.5 (2.0 to 3.1)), parental attempted suicide (2.9 (2.0 to 4.1)) and suicide (2.9 (1.7 to 5.2)). For parental non-suicidal deaths, the general pattern was the opposite. Patterns in offspring attempted suicide were similar to completed suicide for parental disability pension, psychiatric inpatient care and non-suicidal death. Attempted suicide risk after parental suicide showed an increasing trend with increasing age at exposure.ConclusionParental morbidity and parental suicidal behaviour show the most detrimental effects on completed suicide among offspring when they appear early in life. Early interventions in families at risk are necessary to prevent suicide in offspring.