People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and limited access to healthcare, among other disadvantages, which can affect their children across the life course. However, little is known about the needs of these children in a Swedish context.This project therefore aims to investigate the association between parental disability and child outcomes from birth to young adulthood, and to evaluate contributing and buffering factors, including the policy environment.
The project will utilise multigenerational linked longitudinal data from Swedish national registers on all children and youth aged 0-30 years (1990-2022). Researchers will study the associations between parental disability status and a range of indicators of child development and well-being, including perinatal health, mental health, child welfare recipiency, and education. Nationally representative survey data will be analysed as a complement to the register information. Mediation analysis will be used to estimate the extent to which adverse factors explain any child outcomes associated with parental disability. Researchers will also evaluate the impact of disability rights legislation on children of parents with disabilities using difference-in-differences analysis.
The project will generate insights into the disadvantages of children of parents with disabilities and identify potential gaps in health and social services available to these families. As such, the project findings will provide guidance to parents, policymakers, service providers, and health and care workers to develop needs-based and family-centred care and support.
Project information
Project members
- Can Liu, Principal Investigator
- Ylva B Almquist
- Alessandra Grotta
- Ayako Hiroshi
- Mikael Rostila
Project period
2024 – 2027
Project funder
Forte