Socio-economic disparities in mental health begin in childhood – families’ living conditions must be supported
Mental health disorders accumulate disproportionately according to social status and are closely intertwined with the issue of inequality. The MEDIG research project, funded by the Research Council of Finland, examined how mental health, family background, education and genetic predisposition shape inequality over in the course of a person’s life – and at what points this trend could be influenced.
The research results showed that mental health disorders are a central, but not the only, mechanism that creates inequality. Mental health disorders start early, affect educational paths and can reinforce a disadvantaged position if not addressed in time.
In light of the project results, it seems that early and adequate support received by families, pupils and students are key tools for reducing the socio-economic disparities in mental health.
Parents’ low level of education and personal mental health issues are risks to children’s mental health
A register study of all the 4–17-year-olds in Finland, the project found that mental health disorders become unevenly distributed among children and young people already at an early stage. About five per cent of children and young people had a mental health disorder diagnosed by specialised medical care or had a psychiatric treatment contact.
Parents’ level of education was consistently linked with children’s health disorders; this connection was even more pronounced than the family’s income level. The lower the parents’ education, the greater the risk of a child’s mental health disorder – and this link remained throughout childhood and adolescence.
Parents’ mental health problems significantly increased children’s risk of mental health disorders but did not explain the socio-economic differences of mental health.
“Parents’ mental health problems are intertwined with socio-economic status, and both factors are strongly linked to children’s mental health disorders, which in turn have negative consequences for a child’s future socio-economic status. In other words, we have to take an intergenerational and dynamic approach when examining socio-economic health inequalities and their mechanisms”, says Chief Researcher Maria Vaalavuo.
Mental health in youth explains some of inherited disadvantage
The project also examined how much of disadvantage inherited from one generation to the next is related to mental health disorders diagnosed in adolescence.
The results showed that mental health disorders diagnosed in adolescence are strongly linked to a weaker socio-economic position in early childhood, even when family background and school performance are taken into account.
However, mental health only explains some of the inherited disadvantage in the overall population.
“The results indicate that it is important to support mental health, but at the same time, we have to be careful about unilaterally “medicalising” disadvantage”, says Vaalavuo.
Childhood mental health affects education and income paths
Mental health disorders in childhood impact education and income paths throughout youth and early adulthood, even when comparing siblings who share the same growing environment.
Those who had experienced mental health disorders had lower final grades in comprehensive school, a higher risk of not having a secondary level degree and a lower probability of completing a higher education degree. These differences were also reflected in earnings during early adulthood.
“Sibling comparisons showed that the differences are not solely explained by family background, but that mental health is also linked to education and income trends within the same family”, says Vaalavuo.
Genetic data brings new perspectives to research on inequality
The multidisciplinary project combined exceptionally extensive data from Finnish registers and genetic data with versatile and partly novel statistical methodology.
The findings form an overall picture of how socio-economic inequalities in mental health start in early childhood, how they can strengthen the mechanism of inherited disadvantage and how educational paths can either alleviate or reinforce these differences.
“It’s good to consider how our society treats people with mental health disorders. What opportunities do people have if they struggle with mental health at an early age and how can institutions such as the education system either prevent or strengthen social exclusion”, says Vaalavuo.
Additional information
Maria Vaalavuo
Chief Researcher
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
tel. +358 29 524 6754
[email protected]
Vaalavuo, M., Niemi, R., Suvisaari, J. (2022). Growing up unequal? Socioeconomic disparities in mental disorders throughout childhood in Finland. SSM – Population Health, 20, 101277.
Niemi, R., Vaalavuo, M., Suvisaari, J. (2022) Sosioekonomiset erot mielenterveyden häiriöissä ilmenevät jo elämänkulun alussa lapsilla ja nuorilla. (Socio-economic disparities in mental health disorders start early for children and young people.) THL Research in brief 38/2022.
Dobewall, H., Sirniö, O., Vaalavuo, M. (2023). Does social disadvantage persist over generations due to unevenly distributed mental health problems? A longitudinal investigation of Finnish register data. Social Science & Medicine, 330, 116037.
Vaalavuo, M., Friel, C., Sirniö, O. (2026) Diverging destinies? A sibling fixed effects study on family background differences in the educational and economic consequences of childhood mental health disorders. INVEST working paper 153/2026.