Research area Public Health Sciences

Public health sciences concerns the study of public health and its determinants. As a research subject, public health sciences mean trying to understand health from the single individual to the whole society, why illness arises and how health can be promoted.

Public health science is an interdisciplinary subject that studies individuals' health and its causes, changes and distribution in the population. Special focus lays on the importance of various factors for health development, such as living habits and living conditions, social conditions and the organization and working methods of health care, as well as environmental issues and biological conditions. The goal is good and equal health for the population.

Alcohol, Narcotics, Doping, Tobacco and Gambling (ANDTG)

Social science research on individuals' (mis)use of various addictive substances and behaviours, and societal handling thereof, is a prominent research focus at the Department of Public Health Sciences.

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Child and Adolescent Health

Our research aims to increase the knowledge about health and health-related habits among young people, such as mental health problems, smoking and alcohol habits. The research is based on sociological, psychological and epidemiological perspectives where both quantitative and qualitative data are used.

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Disability and health inequalities

Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by economic difficulties, unemployment, social exclusion, and limited access to healthcare, which can impact their health and lead to health inequity.

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Health (In)equity

The study of health inequity, or health inequalities, is concerned with how health and life expectancy differ by social characteristics, in particular by social class, education, income/wealth and migration status.

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Life Course Studies: Inter- and Multi-generational Perspectives

Applying a life-course perspective to health involves the recognition that living conditions during earlier stages of life - or even in earlier generations - matters for the development of health and well-being at both the individual and population levels.

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Migration and Health

Applying a social determinants of health perspective, we study how risk factors, health, disease and mortality are distributed between migrants and natives. Specifically, we investigate how various downstream and upstream social factors contribute to the development, continuity, or reduction of health inequalities by country of origin.

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Public Health Policy in the Welfare State

Within this area of research, we examine public health policy in various welfare systems. The research focuses on policy content, the organization and efforts of welfare systems, and health effects at both societal and individual levels.

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Women’s Health and Gender Inequalities

Building upon concepts and theories from several different disciplines, we aim to understand and integrate both biological and social mechanisms that contribute to gender differences in health.

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