The Northern Swedish Cohort (NoSCo)

In 1981 a longitudinal study began that includes all pupils who attended or should have attended the last year of compulsory school in the municipality of Luleå. The population consists of 1083 pupils (506 girls and 577 boys) and this group has since been followed by repeated questionnaires, but also through personal meetings, interviews, blood pressure measurements and other Health examinations. The main purpose of the survey was to study the social and medical consequences such as unemployment leads among these young people, who find themselves in the joint between school, training and employment. The questionnaire consisted of around 90 validated questions regarding social background, work situation, health, family situation, leisure time etc. The questionnaire was almost identical at all investigations. The cohort has been investigated with a comprehensive questionnaire — in 1981 (age 16 years), 1983 (age 18 years), 1986 (age 21 years), 1995 (age 30 years) and 2008 (age 43 years). Clinical measurements were performed in 1981, 1986 and 2008 and interviews were performed with key persons, such as the school nurses in 1981 and with the form teachers in 1981 and 1983. The subsample with early unemployed participants has been followed up with personal interviews since autumn 1981. Until now, they have been interviewed on average four times per person. The main topic has been the health consequences of unemployment. One of survey results was that unemployment appears to have more serious health consequences for young people than for adults and that health consequences of youth unemployment persists to some extent in adulthood. Purpose: Initially, the overall objective of the research programme was to analyse the significance of unemployment in relation to mental health in adolescence for well-being and health status into adult age.