Remes, Social Determinants of Mortality from Childhood to Early Adulthood

The purpose of this study was to examine the social determinants of mortality at a young age. Extensive individual-level register data was obtained from Statistics Finland. Mortality in childhood among both boys and girls was clearly associated with family type and parental socioeconomic factors. In late adolescence and early adulthood the associations between parental social background and mortality were distinct but smaller, and were largely mediated by the current factors and age at leaving the parental home. Targeting support to high-risk groups in early childhood and in the transition to adulthood could prove to be effective in reducing health inequalities and preventing social exclusion not only among the young but also later in life.