Sammanfattning
BACKGROUND Long-term illness and work incapacity in young adulthood has consequences for both the individual and for society. The purpose of the study was
to investigate the association between adolescent health and receipt of long-term sickness and disability benefits for young adults in their twenties.
MATERIAL AND METHOD An adolescent population of 8949 school students (aged 13-21 years) assessed their own health in the Young-HUNT1 Study (1995 -
1997). Health was measured by means of a questionnaire enquiring about chronic somatic illnesses, somatic symptoms, symptoms of anxiety and depression,
sleep disturbance, poor concentration, self-reported health and smoking, and by measuring height and weight. Information about receipt of long-term benefits
was retrieved from the FD-Trygd registry for the period 1998-2008 and defined as receipt of sickness benefit (>180 days/year), medical/vocational rehabilitation
benefit and disability pension in the age group 20-29 years. We investigated the relationship between adolescent health and long-term social insurance benefits
with logistic regression, adjusted for sex, age, follow-up time, mother’s education and family composition. Siblings with different exposure and outcome were
investigated to adjust for all familial factors shared by siblings.
RESULTS Each of the health measures was associated with an increased risk of long-term benefit. For example, adolescents who reported one or more somatic
illnesses or poor concentration had a 5.4 and 3.4 percentage point higher risk, respectively, of receiving long-term benefits at the age of 20-29 years than
adolescents who did not report somatic illness or poor concentration. Moreover the risk increased with an increase in the number of health problems. Sibling
analyses supported these associations.
INTERPRETATION Health in adolescence is an indicator of increased vulnerability in the transition to the labour market. Preventing health selection during this
transition should be a priority for welfare policy.