Preschool- and individual-level socioeconomic deprivation in relation to mental disorders among children in Sweden

Aims: This study aimed to estimate the associations between preschool-level and individual- level socioeconomic deprivation and later mental disorders among children in a Swedish setting. Methods: The study used a longitudinal cohort study design including 2678 children, aged 3–5 years in Uppsala Municipality during 2017, with data on individual-level socioeconomic deprivation, and preschool-level socioeconomic deprivation. We followed the children for approximately five and a half years to assess later mental disorders, based on data from the Swedish National Patient Register. Frailty Cox regression models were used to analyse the data. Results: No associations were observed between preschool-level socioeconomic deprivation and subsequent mental disorders. In terms of individual-level deprivation, children whose parents had lower educational levels had a higher risk of receiving a diagnosis of any mental disorder (hazard ratio (HR: 1.40; 1.04–1.90)) and any attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or conduct disorder (HR: 1.87; 1.24–2.80) during follow-up than children whose parents had higher education levels. Conclusions: Single individual-level socioeconomic deprivation factors appear to be more important predictors of mental health outcomes in children than preschool-level socioeconomic deprivation. Children growing up in socioeconomically disadvantaged families may constitute a particular risk-group for developing mental disorders. Swedish preschools and child health services could implement appropriate interventions targeting healthy development for these children.