BackgroundChildhood adversity places individuals in a vulnerable position, resulting in potentially enduring disadvantage across life domains like health and work. Studying the manifestation of this disadvantage is crucial for understanding which resources society can provide to mitigate or prevent it, which makes this subject a fundamental public health concern. This study investigated whether disadvantage patterns after childhood adversity differ by gender and educational level, using out-of-home care as proxy for early adversity.MethodsWe used register data from a 1953 Swedish birth cohort. Distinct profiles of socioeconomic and health disadvantage in individuals with out-of-home care experience were identified using group-based multi-trajectory modelling. Multinomial logistic regression was then used to determine whether gender and education, individually or in interaction with each other, predict group membership.ResultsIn the population without history of out-of-home care, adulthood disadvantage was highly gendered, with women being more likely to experience disadvantage related to unemployment and poor health, while criminality and substance misuse was more common among men. History of out-of-home care was associated with a general increase in adulthood disadvantage, but the gender differences were largely absent. Women in this group were however less likely than men to experience disadvantage across multiple life domains (complex disadvantage OR = 0.56, p = 0.046; unemployment-related disadvantage OR = 0.51, p = 0.005). Higher level of education was associated with reduced likelihood of membership in the group marked by disabling health disadvantage (OR = 0.55, p = 0.002) and complex disadvantage (OR = 0.37, p = 0.001). An interaction term between gender and education was not significant.ConclusionsAdulthood disadvantage was more common in the group with history of out-of-home care. The gender differences in disadvantage present in the full cohort were largely attenuated among individuals with out-of-home care history. We showed that using administrative data on outcomes across multiple life domains can provide rich descriptions of adult experiences after childhood adversity. Future research could examine gender differences in mechanisms translating into resilient or vulnerable trajectories, including the protective potential of education in relation to specific disadvantage patterns.

Peer victimization is a common and complex issue among young people worldwide and is affecting mental health development during a critical developmental period in their lives. By means of a Latent Class Analysis (LCA), this study explores peer poly-victimization subgroups among adolescents and their association with psychosomatic symptoms. A sample of 1536 Swedish students in grades 7–9 completed an electronic questionnaire on various types of victimization over the past six months, including physical violence, as well as in-person and cyber sexual harassment and bullying. The LCA identified three subgroups for boys and four for girls, revealing a gendered pattern of victimization, especially in the case of sexualized violence, which was more prevalent among girls. In girls, this type of violence also increased with age. Victimization was strongly associated with psychosomatic symptoms across genders, with sexualized violence having more severe health consequences. The findings emphasize the need for preventive programs that avoids siloed interventions and instead targets multiple forms of violence, including online harassment, to promote adolescent mental health. 

Public perceptions play a crucial role in shaping the image of any profession, and social work is no exception. It is widely assumed that adverse public views of social work can negatively impact the legitimacy of social services and the well-being of social workers—ultimately threatening efficiency and retention. Yet, empirical studies addressing these assumptions are rare. The current study investigates social workers’ experiences of public perceptions of the social work profession and key factors contributing to public views. Focus groups with Swedish social workers were conducted, and data were analysed via qualitative content analysis. The dirty work framework was applied in interpreting the findings. The analysis revealed that adverse public views are experienced as prevalent and that organisational structures, legislation, and social work practice contribute to such views. However, media portrayals are seen as the most influential factor in establishing adverse public views. Based on the social workers’ experiences, it is concluded that the social services in Sweden can be understood as socially and morally tainted, but that levels of taint differ between social services areas, and efforts to reduce such taint are discussed. 

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a life-changing experience for the individuals and their close relatives. Psychosocial support is critical in helping individuals adapt to and cope with the new conditions following a brain injury. However, knowledge about the different components of psychosocial support and their impact on people with acquired brain injury is limited. The aim of this interview study is to develop knowledge about important aspects of psychosocial support in the Swedish health care system by exploring the experiences and perceptions of people with ABI and their close relatives. Participants were aged 18 years and older, and had met with a hospital social worker at least twice. Semi structured interviews were conducted with twenty-three individuals with acquired brain injury and ten interviews with close relatives. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Preliminary findings indicate the importance of person-centered psychosocial support at different stages of brain injury rehabilitation. Participants share a wide range of experiences of accessing and shaping of the psychosocial support. Participants in this study experience a need for hospital social workers who know the common characteristics of having an ABI, but who are also interested in the person on a personal level. The participants is in need of psychosocial support with different designs, especially crisis support, supportive counselling, counselling for the close relatives, information and some practical help. Preliminary findings also indicate a need of a distinct way to access psychosocial support when needed. 

Background Psychiatric disorders are a substantial public health concern, and childhood adversity a well-known risk factor for it. Investigating gender differences in vulnerability and resilience processes following out-of-home care (OHC) as proxy for childhood adversity can help map opportunities for the prevention of psychiatric disorders.Methods We followed a large birth cohort for psychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression, and self-harm, and substance misuse) between age 25-62 years, comparing individuals with and without OHC experience. We investigated different extra-familial risk and resources factors following OHC via gender-stratified mediation and moderation analyses to approximate risk accumulation (vulnerability processes) and buffers of risk (resilience processes).Results OHC is prospectively associated with psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Lower school grades, delinquency, and early parenthood are mediators of the association, with the exception of education in girls in relation to anxiety, depression, and self-harm, and early parenthood in boys in relation to substance misuse. Number of best friends moderates OHC experience in boys, and there is a trend for higher educational achievement to also act as buffer, even though this trend was not statistically significant. Leisure time activities did not act as buffer.Conclusion Vulnerability and resilience processes after childhood adversity are gendered: Risk accumulation runs via delinquency and poorer educational outcomes in boys more than in girls, while early parenthood is a more dominant risk factor in girls. Having more best friends and higher grades may act as buffer, especially in boys.

Teachers in preschools and schools have a central role in detecting children at risk of maltreatment. The aim of this study was to provide a longitudinal understanding of teachers’ temporary and prolonged concerns for children's home situations (CCHS), from preschool (age 3–5 years) to year 1–3 of elementary school (age 8–10 years). Teacher- and parent reports from an ongoing prospective longitudinal study was used (baseline n = 2,113; 5-year follow-up n = 1,829). The study applied the bio-ecological systems framework by assessing how teachers’ CCHS were associated with person-, process-, and context-related factors. Both temporary and prolonged CCHS were primarily associated with teachers’ concern for different aspects of the children’s development, poor contact with parents and low parental SES, while school-related factors were less prominent. The longitudinal pattern indicates three risk levels and highlights the importance of the contact between teachers and parents in understanding when CCHS arises, ceases, or persists over time. 

Aim This study assessed the association between exposure to alcohol adverts on social media and alcohol use among university students in Uganda since alcohol consumption has severe effects, especially in countries with weak regulations for alcohol marketing.Methods In total, 996 undergraduate students at Makerere University responded to a questionnaire assessing exposure to alcohol advertising on social media (independent variable) and alcohol use (dependent variable). Adjusted multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse data.Results One in ten students reported hazardous drinking, while three in ten students were low-risk drinkers. Most students (70.1%) reported low exposure to alcohol adverts on social media, followed by high exposure (12.1%), and 17.8% reported no exposure. A key finding was that exposure to alcohol adverts on social media was significantly associated with alcohol use, especially the high exposure and hazardous drinking (odds ratio = 12.62, 95% confidence interval: 4.43-35.96). Students reporting high exposure to alcohol adverts on social media also had higher odds of low-risk drinking (odds ratio = 3.70, 95% confidence interval: 1.88-7.27) than those with low exposure (odds ratio = 1.77, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-2.87), in reference to no exposure.Conclusion Among Ugandan university students, exposure to alcohol adverts on social media is common and associated with alcohol use, in a dose-response manner. These findings suggest a need for a design and implementation of alcohol interventions for students using social media. Short Summary: Forty percent of students reported using alcohol, including hazardous alcohol drinking (10%). Most students were exposed to alcohol adverts on social media to some degree (low exposure, 70.1%; and high exposure, 12.1%). The exposure to alcohol adverts on social media was significantly associated with alcohol use. The association was strong for high exposure in relation to hazardous drinking.

News and media reports on social work have had policy and legislative consequences for social work practice in Sweden. Generally, it is often argued that media reports have negative implications for public perception and public trust towards social services. However, empirical studies supporting such claims are rare. Going back to the classic theory of cultivation regarding media effects, this study investigates possible associations between news media use, public trust in news, and public trust towards social services in Sweden. Analyses are based on survey data from a representative sample of Swedish adults and young adults (n = 1 697) and linear regressions have been applied. In contrast to assumptions in the existing literature, no associations were identified between the level of news use, preferred news outlet and public trust towards the social services, whereas trust in news predicted trust in social services. The findings challenge dominating notions on the implications of news media use and public trust in social services. In short, news reports of the social services do not simply translate into public (dis)trust. This also enable, linear regressions has been applied. In contrast to assumptions in existing literature, no associations.

The relationship with place has been recognized as a significant dimension of rural youth leisure, both through the discursive constructions of place, but also as affective and embodied dimensions. This study captures these processes by applying the concept of place-making as a set of recurrent discursive processes, analyzing how girls in Northern Sweden engage in place-making alongside, beyond, and in contrast to dominant discourses on leisure, rurality and wellbeing. The study draws on data from photo-elicited focus groups with girls from two sports organizations. The discursive psychology analysis resulted in three interpretative repertoires. The first repertoire describes the sharp contrast between discourses of the 'rural dull' and how stressful the participants constructed their own places of leisure. The second illustrates the gendered discourses around what is considered to be productive and respectable leisure. The third shows how the participants are made responsible for the survival of their leisure. Through place-making, the participants shape places of leisure, affecting both themselves and their rural community. They engage in, conform to, and challenge place-making within discourses of responsibility and precariousness, creating space for their own initiatives, which are simultaneously shaped by the material conditions under which these practices take place.

Public trust towards social workers is essential for legitimacy and accessibility of the social services, as well as for help-seeking behaviour. However, research on public trust towards the social services is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the extent to which Swedish citizens trust social workers who work within the social services, and to explore patterns in level of trust based on demographic factors and history of service use. The analysis draws on survey data from 2010, 2014, and 2018 (total n = 4975). Logistic regressions were conducted to assess associations between predictor variables and trust. Findings On average, 40 percent of the general public reported a high level of trust regardless of year. Approximately 20 percent reported a low level of trust. The results indicate a slight decrease in trust between 2010 and 2014 but not between 2014 and 2018. No gender or age differences were identified. Low income level, being related to a service user, and low level of education were all associated with low level of trust. Applications Our findings provide new insights regarding variations in levels of trust in the general population. Economically and educationally disadvantaged groups as well as those related to a service user are more likely to report low trust than their more advantaged counterparts. To strengthen legitimacy and accessibility, these groups should be prioritised in trust-enhancing efforts. Still, reports of high trust were predominant, indicating that social workers are generally perceived as trusted providers of social support.