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Widening disparities in all-cause and despair-related mortality among Swedish youths: Disentangling selection and causation

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  • Högberg, Björn
  • Scarpa, Simone

Abstract

Rising rates of "deaths of despair" – mortality from suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol-related causes – have contributed to widening educational disparities in mortality. It is not known to what extent the trends are due to selection effects (health causing education, or a third factor causing both) or social causation (education affecting health). This study investigated the relative contribution of selection and causation for these trends, focusing on the recently documented widening achievement-based disparities in mortality among Swedish youths.

Suggested Citation

  • Högberg, Björn & Scarpa, Simone, 2025. "Widening disparities in all-cause and despair-related mortality among Swedish youths: Disentangling selection and causation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 377(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:377:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625004605
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118130
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