Swedish Survey Research Articles

Suffering of Common Mental Disorders but Still at Work: A Longitudinal Study During Periods of Differences in Regulations for Having Sick Leave.

The aim was to analyse the relationships between work environment characteristics and periods of sick leave (> 14days) in individuals diagnosed with common mental disorders (CMDs) across 1993-2014. Additionally, the study describes changes in the work environment and sick leave trends over these two periods. From the Swedish Work Environment Surveys (SWES) 1993-2013, participants with a diagnosis of a CMD up to five years before the interview were drawn (n = 3795). Risk ratios (RRs) of the annual average number of sick leave days one year after the interview in SWES (1993-2014) were calculated for various work environment characteristics, along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Having flexible working hours (RR 0.65: 0.46-0.91) and having an active job (RR 0.60: 0.41-0.88), that is, high job demands and high job control, were associated with a significantly decreased risk for a spell of sick leave > 14days after adjusting for interview year,age, sex, and educational level. There was a tendency that also some aspects of job control, i.e. influence over working hours (RR 0.79: 0.62-1.01) and influence over work pace (0.80: 0.62-1.03), were associated with a lower risk of having > 14days of sick leave. There was a more substantial effect on these work environment factors in 2009-2013 than 1993-2007. Enabling flexible working hours and influencing work pace and working hours can decrease the risk of sick leave among employees diagnosed with a CMD.

Resources and strategies young people use and need to promote mental health - a qualitative study from a salutogenic perspective.

The aim of this study was to explore young people's experiences of resources and strategies for promoting their mental health. 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. 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. 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.

Association between job strain and working life expectancy: a longitudinal study of older people in Sweden.

Many European countries have increased retirement ages to address the challenge of population ageing. However, job strain which is the combination of high job demands and low job control may be an obstacle to extending the working lives of older workers. Job strain is associated with poor health and early work exit among older workers, but less is known about whether job strain impacts working life expectancy (WLE)-an increasingly employed summary measure capturing the length of working lives. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature. The sample included n = 13225 individuals aged 50years or older at baseline providing 53004 persons-observations from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health in 2008 through 2020. We used continuous time multi-state Markov models to assess the average number of years people may be expected to work beyond age 50years by job strain, and stratified by sex, occupational class, and level of education. Job strain was associated with a significantly shorter WLE (by about 6 months to a year) among those who experienced job strain compared to those who did not experience job strain. Our findings suggest that job strain may play a role in shortening the working lives of older people. The findings further suggest that if older workers are to remain in the labor market for longer periods, this may require improvements of psychosocial working conditions.

Construction logistics status and actors’ opinions – an industry wide survey in Sweden

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate whether construction logistics services are still carried out mostly in an ad hoc manner, or has advanced to a more standardized, strategically implemented practice and to explore different actors’ attitudes towards construction logistics.Design/methodology/approachUnlike previous studies of construction logistics, relying on single or multiple case studies, a survey was designed to deliver a generalizable snapshot of contemporary industry practices and the status of construction logistics. A total of 902 responses from the Swedish construction industry were collected with the help of the industry wide questionnaire.FindingsThe results show that construction logistics setups (CLSs) are only used by 14% of the responding organizations, which confirms that construction logistics services are still mostly carried out in an ad hoc manner. This may change considering that respondents with more experience in the industry claim an increased demand for CLSs. The ad hoc approach is less common among contractors than other types of organizations and large organizations. Furthermore, there is a more positive attitude towards the benefits of construction logistics among the respondents from organizations having a standard CLS.Originality/valueThis is the first industry wide survey presenting the status of implementation level of standardized logistics services in the construction industry and the attitudes among industry actors towards logistics.

Suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic among Swedish employees: a cohort study on the role of job instability and job insecurity

BackgroundSuicidal ideation may be a warning sign for suicide and previous work has indicated a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Job loss and job insecurity are potential risk factors for suicidal ideation, but their importance during the pandemic, and the role of organizational changes for suicidal ideation, is unclear. This study examined the association between various experiences associated with job loss and job insecurity during the pandemic and thoughts of suicide/self-harm in Sweden.MethodsThe study sample was drawn from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH). Auxiliary data collections in February 2021 and 2022 assessed exposure to job loss/unemployment, furlough, workplace downsizing, or increased job insecurity versus stable employment and thoughts of suicide or self-harm (PHQ-9) during the pandemic. The analyses were based on 1558 individuals (2 349 observations) participating in either or both waves and who had been working before the pandemic. Logistic regression models with cluster-robust standard errors were fitted, including sociodemographic factors and prior mental health problems to control for potential confounding. Measures of personality based on a brief version of the Big-Five personality inventory were also added.ResultsThe results indicated an association between all experiences, except furlough, and thoughts of suicide/self-harm, when adjusting for sex, age, civil status, socioeconomic status and prior mental health (job loss odds ratio (OR) = 3.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.79–7.63, downsizing OR = 2.41, CI 1.24–4.70, job insecurity OR = 2.77, CI 1.15–6.67). The associations for job loss and insecurity were attenuated by adjustment for personality, although it remained statistically significant for downsizing.ConclusionsThe results suggested a higher risk of suicidal ideation connected with loss of employment and survival of a downsizing, but not a forced reduction in working times/pay during the COVID-19 pandemic. The association for subjective job insecurity was less robust and may be partly explained by personality.

Field of study, political attitudes, and support for the radical right in Sweden and Europe

This study uses three different surveys to investigate the links between various educational fields, radical right support, and political opinions. Logit regressions and KHB mediation analysis of 41,770 observations from the Swedish SOM survey (2011-2019) reveal that graduates from technical and agricultural fields are approximately twice as likely to support the radical right as graduates from sociocultural fields. Fields such as natural sciences, business, and health demonstrate medium to medium-high support. These differences are partially mediated by horizontal, but not vertical, labor market allocation. Replication using the European Social Survey (ESS) indicates that these patterns are generalizable to Western, but not Eastern, Europe. Additional analyses show that radical right support and refugee intake skepticism decrease with years spent in sociocultural, but not technical, fields in upper-secondary school. Moreover, panel data from the Swedish Level of Living Survey (LNU) show that progressive attitude shifts occur predominantly following education in sociocultural fields.

Assessing the Reversed Gender Gap in the Swedish Crime Survey: Reasons Why Young Women Report Higher Victimization Rates Than Young Men During the Period 2009 to 2016

Self-reported victimization among young women in the Swedish Crime Survey increased during the early- to mid-2010s, resulting in a gender gap, with young women reporting 10% to 15% higher victimization rates than young men. In this study, we use multi-group confirmatory factor analysis to assess whether the increase in victimization rates is due to declines in measurement equivalence across different cohorts of young women during the period 2009 to 2016. The results show cohort differences in how young women interpret the victimization items in the Swedish Crime Survey, especially with regard to the item about sexual victimization. The results show that the increasing victimization rates are likely the result of changes in perceptions about sexual offences, rather than an actual increase.

R&D investments, ownership and local firm growth

Abstract How do research and development (R&D) investments stimulate the local economy? Our paper complements and extends the voluminous literature on the externalities of R&D investments by looking at internal firm growth across regions and the “spillovers” from R&D workers on other workers within the same firm. More specifically, we examine how R&D investments affect the change in employment and productivity in the same firm over time. We also investigate the differences that come with domestic or foreign ownership. Combining data from the Swedish biennial survey series on R&D with firm and establishment registers, we find that R&D-stimulated growth is a localized phenomenon: firms tend to grow in the same regions where they invest in R&D activities. This link is particularly strong for employment effects. While we find that the positive association between R&D and labor productivity holds for all firms, growth effects on local employment are limited to domestically owned firms, especially in manufacturing. The results strengthen our understanding of the correlation between R&D and firm growth on a local level, and contribute to both the academic and policy debate on the effects of globalization on local economic growth.

Oral health in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A cross-sectional survey in Sweden.

The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to assess oral health, including prevalence of periodontitis and rate of tooth loss, in a Swedish cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A questionnaire on general anamnestic and socio-economic aspects, IBD diagnosis, and various oral health aspects was distributed online. The analyses focused on the comparison between patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) as well as on factors associated with self-reported severe periodontitis and tooth loss. Analyses were based on answers from 786 patients; 415 with UC, 371 with CD, 74% female. In both disease entities, high prevalence of severe periodontitis (i.e., 38.5%) was reported, and about 19% of the population had less than 20 remaining teeth and 6.5% a poor oral health-related quality of life. CD patients tended to be more severely affected than UC patients (p > 0.05 in the adjusted analysis). Almost 90% of CD patients were aware of being entitled to a bi-annual governmental financial support for dental care due to IBD; however, 1 out of 4 UC patients did not. Furthermore, IBD patients largely believe that the interest of their physicians in any oral lesions due to IBD diagnosis is low. Severe periodontitis and high rate of tooth loss are frequent in Swedish IBD patients. Even though IBD patients receive bi-annually some special financial support for dental care, it seems this is still not sufficient and more preventive measures appear necessary.

Prevalence of problem drinking in the Swedish workforce: differences between labour market industries based on gender composition and main job activity

BackgroundIdentifying problem drinking patterns across industries is essential for addressing drinking problems in the workforce. Still, it is not well understood how problem drinking differs across industries and whether it is associated with industry gender composition. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of problem drinking (PPD) across Swedish industries and investigate possible associations between gender-typed industries and problem drinking.Methods9,155 current workers were selected from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) data collected in 2020. Participants’ work industries were identified through the Swedish Standard Industrial Classification (SNI) codes. Seven gender-typed industry categories were created based on gender composition and main job activity in each industry. Self-reported problem drinking was measured using a slightly modified Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilt, Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire and a cut-off score 2 was used to determine problem drinking. Poisson regression with robust standard errors was used to investigate the association between gender-typed industries and problem drinking.ResultsPPD in the workforce was 6.6%. Men (8.5%) had a higher prevalence than women (5.3%). Across industries, PPD varied from 2.3% in Water supply and waste management to 15.4% in Mining and quarrying. The highest prevalence for men was in Mining and quarrying (18.2%), whereas for women it was in Construction (11.1%). Within gender-typed industries, the highest PPD was in male-dominated Goods and Energy Production (7.7%), and the lowest was in female-dominated Health and Social Care (4.7%). In the regression analysis, both Education (aPR: 1.39, p = 0.03) and Labour-intensive Services (aPR: 1.39, p = 0.02) had higher adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) compared with Health and Social Care. However, there was no significant difference in aPR among gender-typed industries when considering the gender composition of industries only.ConclusionsPPD in the Swedish workforce varied significantly across industries, with differences observed between men and women. Problem drinking differed between industries when categorized by gender composition and main job activity, but not when categorized by gender composition only. Future research should investigate how industry-specific psychosocial factors influence individual alcohol consumption.

Explaining Temporal Trends in School‐Related Stress: A Decomposition Analysis of Repeated Swedish Survey Data

ABSTRACTConcerns related to school are consistently ranked as among the greatest stressors in the lives of adolescents. Research from varying contexts report rising rates of school‐related stress among students, but we currently lack knowledge on what drives these trends. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictors of temporal trends in school‐related stress in Swedish students between 2003 and 2020. To this end, repeated surveys of 9807 Swedish students aged 16 years are analysed using Blinder‐Oaxaca decomposition techniques. The results show that the rise in school‐related stress was primarily due to growing schoolwork difficulties and social exclusion among students, indicating possibly adverse consequences of a large‐scale educational reform as well as of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In addition, rising academic aspirations contributed to the increase, in line with arguments concerning the increasing weight attached to educational success among adolescents in the ‘schooled society’.

On the prevalence and intensity of labour shortages

On the prevalence and intensity of labour shortages

Analyzing the Relationship Between Housing and Social Engagement Among the Elderly

Utilizing a large-scale public health survey in Sweden, this paper analyzes the relationship between the fraction of elderly above the age of 80 who live in various tenure forms, and their social engagement. Social engagement is a measure of both social interaction with others, and overall engagement in society. This measure has an established relationship with mental and physical health, even as the causal mechanism are still understudied. Across 130 municipalities, we find that a higher fraction of elderly living in elderly housing is associated with a lower fraction of elderly classified as having a low level of social engagement. We also find that a higher fraction of elderly living in single-family houses is associated with a higher fraction of elderly classified as having a low level of social engagement. The results support that closer proximity to neighbors, and potentially the engagement offered through services in elderly care, increases overall social engagement among the elderly, thereby also assumably promoting better mental and physical health. We elaborate on the relationship between the findings, and housing policies toward elderly populations.

Pediatric head injury guideline use in Sweden: a cross-sectional survey on determinants for successful implementation of a clinical practice guideline

BackgroundThe Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee guideline (SNC-16) was developed and published in 2016, to aid clinicians in management of pediatric head injuries in Scandinavian emergency departments (ED). The objective of this study was to explore determinants for use of the SNC-16 guideline by Swedish ED physicians.MethodsThis is a nationwide, cross-sectional, web-based survey in Sweden. Using modified snowball sampling, physicians managing children in the ED were invited via e-mail to complete the validated Clinician Guideline Determinants Questionnaire between February and May, 2023. Baseline data, data on enablers and barriers for use of the SNC-16 guideline, and preferred routes for implementation and access of guidelines in general were collected and analyzed descriptively and exploratory with Chi-square and Fisher's tests.ResultsOf 595 invitations, 198 emergency physicians completed the survey (effective response rate 33.3%). There was a high reported use of the SNC-16 guideline (149/195; 76.4%) and a strong belief in its benefits for the patients (188/197; 95.4% agreement). Respondents generally agreed with the guideline's content (187/197; 94.9%) and found it easy to use and navigate (188/197; 95.4%). Some respondents (53/197; 26.9%) perceived a lack of organizational support needed to use the guideline. Implementation tools may be improved as only 58.9% (116/197) agreed that the guideline includes such. Only 37.6% (74/197) of the respondents agreed that the guideline clearly describes the underlying evidence supporting the recommendation. Most respondents prefer to consult colleagues (178/198; 89.9%) and guidelines (149/198; 75.3%) to gain knowledge to guide clinical decision making. Four types of enablers for guideline use emerged from free-text answers: ease of use and implementation, alignment with local guidelines and practice, advantages for stakeholders, and practicality and accessibility. Barriers for guideline use were manifested as: organizational challenges, medical concerns, and practical concerns.ConclusionsThe findings suggest high self-reported use of the SNC-16 guideline among Swedish ED physicians. In updated versions of the guideline, focus on improving implementation tools and descriptions of the underlying evidence may further facilitate adoption and adherence. Measures to improve organizational support for guideline use and involvement of patient representatives should also be considered.

Citizen engagement in climate adaptation surveyed: Identifying challenges in education and capacity building

AbstractThe accelerating impacts of climate change present significant challenges to sustainable urban development, testing the resilience of current governance frameworks and stakeholder responsibilities. In alignment with the EU's Green Deal, robust adaptation strategies and proactive climate risk anticipation are essential. Traditional discussions emphasize overcoming technological, financial and institutional barriers; however, social and individual factors also significantly hinder adaptation. This study explores the pivotal role of citizen engagement in climate risk management and adaptation, focusing on the Lithuanian context and comparing the results with a survey in Sweden. The research evaluates both external influences, such as experiences with climate‐related hazards and adaptation actions, and internal factors, including beliefs, values and individual adaptive capacity. Key findings reveal that adaptation behaviour in Lithuania and in Sweden is deeply influenced by past experiences with extreme weather events and economic considerations, with a significant portion of the population having faced such events recently. Factors such as economic considerations (low costs, financial benefits) are identified as critical motivators for future adaptation actions in Lithuania. On the other hand, in Sweden, respondents first preferred ecological factors (such as contributing to climate change mitigation) when considering future adaptation actions. The study underscores the need for targeted educational interventions to enhance community resilience, highlighting the importance of socio‐cultural contexts in shaping adaptation strategies. It emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive, inclusive educational programmes that address local climate impacts and promote proactive community involvement. The findings advocate for further comparative studies across diverse socio‐cultural settings to deepen insights into effective adaptation measures and to support the development of resilient communities worldwide.

Illegitimate work tasks: an investigation of psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the BITS instrument and its suitability in human versus ‘non-human’ service occupations

BackgroundIllegitimate tasks, i.e. working tasks that are perceived as unnecessary or unreasonable, are commonly measured by the Bern Illegitimate Tasks Scale (BITS). Despite a growing research attention paid to illegitimate tasks, the Swedish version of BITS needs yet to be properly evaluated. Moreover, previous multiorganizational studies in this field have taken for granted, without really testing it, that the instrument functions invariantly in different contexts; a prerequisite for meaningful comparisons.MethodsTwo occupational groups that differs hugely—966 human services workers (teachers and registered nurses) and 750 non-’human service’ workers (construction and IT-workers) were targeted utilizing questionnaires data collected 2018 within the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) study. Psychometric properties, i.e., reliability, dimensionality, and measurement invariance between the occupations were examined using confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation models. Also, the associations between the two dimensions of illegitimate tasks and job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion, respectively, were tested.ResultsGood reliability was supported and two- versus one-dimensionality showed better psychometric properties. Partial scalar measurement invariance was satisfactory supported with only 25% relaxed constraints of equal intercepts between groups. Examining the two subdimensions revealed different associations with emotional exhaustion, where the associations was more substantial for unreasonable tasks. Nevertheless, the findings point to potential improvements for future investigation.ConclusionsThis study shows that the Swedish version of BITS is working satisfactory and allows for meaningful comparisons of occupational groups. Furthermore, construct validity of the two dimensions was corroborated.

Rightwing populism and public opinion on the Covid‐19 pandemic in Sweden: The role of strategic party positioning and political cues

AbstractDuring the early stages of the Covid‐19 pandemic, the Swedish government did not implement the hard lockdowns and coercive measures found in many countries and instead relied on voluntary social distancing measures and work‐from‐home initiatives. Unlike its international counterparts in most countries, the rightwing populist party in Sweden early on took a critical approach toward the government's handling of the Covid‐19 pandemic, calling for stricter government measures to curb virus transmission. Based on theories about strategic party positioning, and theories about political elite cues and framing effects, we use Swedish survey data from the early stages of the pandemic to show that the views of rightwing populist party supporters aligned with the rhetoric of the Swedish rightwing populist party in demanding more (rather than less) government intervention to curb the spread of SARS‐COV‐2. Our results suggest that they did so by drawing on core rightwing populist themes of anti‐elitism and nationalism. Hence, our results speak to the role of elite cues and framing in public opinion formation during times of crisis, particularly among rightwing populists, who generally opposed stricter government measures to fight the Covid‐19 pandemic.

Exposure to workplace sexual harassment and risk of cardiometabolic disease: a prospective cohort study of 88 904 Swedish men and women.

Exposure to work-related sexual harassment may increase the risk for certain adverse behavioural and emotional outcomes but less is known about its association with somatic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. This study investigated the prospective association of work-related sexual harassment and risk of cardiometabolic diseases. This cohort study included 88 904 Swedish men and women in paid work who responded to questions on workplace sexual harassment in the Swedish Work Environment Survey (1995-2015) and were free from cardiometabolic diseases at baseline. Cardiometabolic diseases (CVD and type 2 diabetes) were identified from the National Patient Register and Causes of Death Register through linkage. Cox proportional hazard regression was used, adjusting for socio-demographic, work-related psychosocial, and physical exposure at baseline. Overall, 4.8% of the participants (n = 4300) reported exposure to workplace sexual harassment during the previous 12 months. After adjustment for sex, birth country, family situation, education, income, and work-related factors, workplace sexual harassment was associated with increased incidence of CVD [hazard ratio (HR) 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.51] and type 2 diabetes (1.45, 1.21-1.73). The HR for CVD (1.57, 1.15-2.15) and type 2 diabetes (1.85, 1.39-2.46) was increased for sexual harassment from superior or fellow workers, and sexual harassment from others was associated with type 2 diabetes (1.39, 1.13-1.70). The HR for both CVD (1.31, 0.95-1.81) and type 2 diabetes (1.72, 1.30-2.28) was increased for frequent exposure. The results of this study support the hypothesis that workplace sexual harassment is prospectively associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Future research is warranted to understand causality and mechanisms behind these associations.

Estimation of intake and quantification of hemoglobin adducts of acrylamide in adolescents in Sweden.

Blood samples (n = 600) from participants in the Swedish dietary survey Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-17 were analyzed with respect to hemoglobin (Hb) adducts from acrylamide (AA) and its metabolite glycidamide (GA) as biomarkers of internal dose/exposure. The results are presented from statistical analyses of food consumption data (2-day dietary recall and questionnaires) and measured Hb adduct levels. The estimated exposure as well as consumption data were examined in relation to non-dietary factors such as sex, age (group medians of 12, 15, and 18 years), place of residence (urban/rural), smoking status, and parental education level. The median AA adduct level was estimated to be 34 pmol/g Hb (range 14-225). No significant difference was found for place of residence, parental education, sex, or age. A significant difference was found between the median adduct levels of daily smokers (n = 8) and never smokers (n = 323) in the older age groups, but not between occasional smokers (n = 47) and never smokers. The median differences between daily smokers and never smokers were 76, 40, and 128 pmol/g Hb for AA, GA, and AA + GA, respectively. The median AA intake for the whole group of adolescents, as estimated from dietary recall data combined with reported concentrations in food, was 0.40 μg/kg bw/day. The corresponding median intake estimated from measured Hb adduct levels of AA was 0.20 μg/kg bw/day. A significant, although low, positive Spearman correlation was found between the two intake estimates (p-value = 8 × 10-3; ρ = 0.11). From the estimated intake of AA from food frequency questionnaires, significance was found for the 15-year-old children with higher AA adduct levels observed at higher consumption frequencies of fried potatoes/French fries. AA is considered a genotoxic carcinogen. For the estimated intake of AA for any age group and method (dietary recall or AA adduct), both a calculated margin of exposure as well as lifetime quantitative cancer risk estimates indicate health concern. A future study on food consumption designed with respect to AA exposure would provide a better understanding of the correlation between consumption and exposure and should give a more reliable estimate of the contribution of dietary AA to the overall cancer risk.

How do advertised prices affect consumers' financial well‐being and happiness?

How do advertised prices affect consumers' financial well‐being and happiness?