Brage (Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt)
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Does country of resettlement influence the risk of labor market marginalization among refugees? A cohort study in Sweden and Norway
Full text linkObjectives This study aimed to compare the risk of labor market marginalization among refugees across different host countries of resettlement and examine the moderating role of birth country and length of stay on these associations. Methods Cohorts of refugees and native-born individuals aged 19–60 in Sweden (N=3 605 949, 3.5% refugees) and Norway (N=1 784 861, 1.7% refugees) were followed during 2010–2016. Rates (per 1000 person-years) of long-term unemployment, long-term sickness absence, and disability pension were estimated for refugees and the host populations. Cox regression models estimated crude and adjusted (for sex, age, educational level, and civil status) hazard ratio (HRadj) for refugees compared to their respective host population, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Analyses were also stratified by birth country and length of stay. Results Refugees in Norway and Sweden had a higher incidence of labor market marginalization compared to their host population. Refugees in Sweden had a comparatively lower relative risk of long-term unemployment but higher risk of disability pension (HRadj 3.44, 95% CI, 3.38–3.50 and HRadj 2.45, 2.35–2.56, respectively) than refugees in Norway (HRadj 3.70, 3.58–3.82 and HRadj 1.57, 1.49–1.66, respectively). These relative risks varied when stratifying by birth country. A shorter length of stay was associated with a higher risk of long-term unemployment and a lower risk of disability pension, with a stronger gradient in Sweden than in Norway. Conclusions The relative risk of labor market marginalization varied by the refugees’ birth country but followed similar trends in Sweden and Norway. Although speculative, these findings may hint at non-structural factors related to the refugee experience playing a more important role than host country structural factors for the risk of labor market marginalization among refugees. Future research, including host countries with more variability in structural factors, is required to further investigate these associations. The higher risk of long-term unemployment among refugees with shorter length of stay indicates a need for more efficient labor market integration policies for newly-arrived refugees.Does country of resettlement influence the risk of labor market marginalization among refugees? A cohort study in Sweden and NorwaypublishedVersio
Pro-inflammatory and genotoxic responses by metal oxide nanomaterials in alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages in submerged condition and air-liquid interface: An in vitro-in vivo correlation study
Full text linkStudies on in vitro-in vivo correlations of inflammatory and genotoxic responses are needed to advance new approach methodologies. Here, we assessed pro-inflammatory and genotoxic responses by 13 nanosized metal oxides (nMeOx) and quartz (DQ12) in alveolar epithelial cells (A549) and macrophages (THP-1a) exposed in submerged conditions, and in A549:THP-1a co-cultures in air-liquid interface (ALI) system. Soluble nMeOx produced the highest IL-8 expression in A549 and THP-1a cells in submerged conditions (≥2-fold, p < 0.05), whereas only CuO caused a strong response in co-cultures exposed in the ALI system (13-fold, p < 0.05). IL-8 expression in A549 cells with concentrations as nMeOx specific surface area (SSA) correlated with neutrophil influx in mice (r = 0.89–0.98, p < 0.05). Similarly, IL-8 expression in THP-1a cell with concentrations as mass and SSA (when excluding soluble nMeOx) correlated with neutrophil influx in mice (r = 0.81–0.84, p < 0.05). DNA strand breaks (SB) was measured by the comet assay. We used a scoring system that categorizes effects in standard deviation units for comparison of genotoxicity in different models. Concordant genotoxicity was observed between SB levels in vitro (A549 and co-culture) and in vivo (broncho-alveolar lavage fluid cells and lung tissue). In conclusion, this study shows in vitro-in vivo correlations of nMeOx-induced inflammatory and genotoxic responses.publishedVersio
Symphony of Success: Leader-Practitioner Reciprocity during Evidence-Based Practice Implementation
Full text linkThis study aimed to explore the reciprocal relationships between implementation leadership and practitioner implementation citizenship behavior during the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs). Data were collected at two timepoints with a time lag of six months during a national implementation of evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in Norwegian mental health clinics. Data from 72 leaders and 346 practitioners were analyzed with a two-wave cross-lagged panel model, accounting for the nested structure and adjusting for demographic variables. Significant positive autoregressive effects for both implementation leadership and implementation citizenship behavior indicated some stability in ratings across time. Significant cross-lagged effects in both directions indicated that practitioners who experienced greater implementation leadership from their leaders demonstrated greater implementation citizenship behavior six months later, and vice versa. Findings hence supported both the social exchange hypothesis and the followership hypothesis, suggesting reciprocal associations between the constructs. The findings underscore the mutually influential relationship between leaders’ behavior and practitioners’ engagement in citizenship behavior during EBP implementation. The study emphasizes the importance of interventions focusing on leadership behaviors that encourage practitioner engagement and mutually beneficial behavior patterns, highlighting the reciprocal and vital roles that both leaders and practitioners play in successful EBP implementation.Symphony of Success: Leader-Practitioner Reciprocity during Evidence-Based Practice ImplementationpublishedVersio
Eksponering og helseeffekter av bioaerosoler i "grønne yrker". Eksponering for støv og mikroorganismer i norske avfallsannlegg
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New approach methodologies to enhance human health risk assessment of immunotoxic properties of chemicals — a PARC (Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals) project
Full text linkAs a complex system governing and interconnecting numerous functions within the human body, the immune system is unsurprisingly susceptible to the impact of toxic chemicals. Toxicants can influence the immune system through a multitude of mechanisms, resulting in immunosuppression, hypersensitivity, increased risk of autoimmune diseases and cancer development. At present, the regulatory assessment of the immunotoxicity of chemicals relies heavily on rodent models and a limited number of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines, which only capture a fraction of potential toxic properties. Due to this limitation, various authorities, including the World Health Organization and the European Food Safety Authority have highlighted the need for the development of novel approaches without the use of animals for immunotoxicity testing of chemicals. In this paper, we present a concise overview of ongoing efforts dedicated to developing and standardizing methodologies for a comprehensive characterization of the immunotoxic effects of chemicals, which are performed under the EU-funded Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals (PARC).New approach methodologies to enhance human health risk assessment of immunotoxic properties of chemicals — a PARC (Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals) projectpublishedVersio
Socioeconomic differences in working life expectancy: a scoping review
Full text linkBackground In the last decade, interest in working life expectancy (WLE) and socioeconomic differences in WLE has grown considerably. However, a comprehensive overview of the socioeconomic differences in WLE is lacking. The aim of this review is to systematically map the research literature to improve the insight on differences in WLE and healthy WLE (HWLE) by education, occupational class and income while using different ways of measuring and estimating WLE and to define future research needs. Methods A systematic search was carried out in Web of Science, PubMed and EMBASE and complemented by relevant publications derived through screening of reference lists of the identified publications and expert knowledge. Reports on differences in WLE or HWLE by education, occupational class or income, published until November 2022, were included. Information on socioeconomic differences in WLE and HWLE was synthesized in absolute and relative terms. Results A total of 26 reports from 21 studies on educational and occupational class differences in WLE or HWLE were included. No reports on income differences were found. On average, WLE in persons with low education is 30% (men) and 27% (women) shorter than in those with high education. The corresponding numbers for occupational class difference were 21% (men) and 27% (women). Low-educated persons were expected to lose more working years due to unemployment and disability retirement than high-educated persons. Conclusions The identified socioeconomic inequalities are highly relevant for policy makers and pose serious challenges for equitable pension policies. Many policy interventions aimed at increasing the length of working life follow a one-size-fits-all approach which does not take these inequalities into account. More research is needed on socioeconomic differences in HWLE and potential influences of income on working life duration.publishedVersio
Effect of the Norwegian agreement on a more inclusive working life on use of sick leave and pregnancy benefits among pregnant women: a cohort study
Full text linkBackground We aimed to estimate the effect of the voluntary Norwegian Agreement on a More Inclusive Working Life (IA Agreement) on use of sickness absence (SA) and pregnancy benefits among pregnant women. Methods Pregnant women (n = 112,486) with a birth during 1.12.2003–31.12.2010 were followed from 6 to 37 gestational weeks in a continuous time multistate model with the following states: work, full SA, graded SA, pregnancy benefits, maternity leave, and other. Women working in IA companies were compared to those in non-IA companies regarding incidence and duration of SA and pregnancy benefits. Differences between groups with respect to calendar year, age, civil status, education, industry, and number of employees in the company were adjusted for using inverse probability of treatment weighting. Absolute differences in probabilities over time, expected length of stay (ELOS) in each state and differences in ELOS between IA and non-IA were calculated. 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated using bootstrapping (1,000 repetitions). Results Adjusted analyses suggest that women working in IA companies were more likely to be in full SA in the first and last trimesters, but less likely between 14 and 28 weeks, than those in non-IA companies. The probability of being in work mirrored this, with women in IA companies tending to spend half a day more in work (ELOS difference 0.55, 95% CI -1.79, 3.02). Differences were not statistically significant. The use of graded SA was slightly higher (ELOS difference 0.46, 95% CI -0.87, 1.72) and the use of pregnancy benefits slightly lower (ELOS difference − 0.43, 95% CI -1.32, 0.42) among those in IA companies compared to non-IA companies. Conclusions Women in IA companies tended to spend more time in work and graded SA, but less time on pregnancy benefits. Differences in full SA varied during pregnancy and were most positive mid-pregnancy. This indicates that IA measures could be more effective for conditions experienced at this point. However, effects were small and not statistically significant, which may indicate the IA Agreement has not focused much on pregnant women.publishedVersio
Timing of acute cold exposure determines UCP1 and FGF21 expression - Possible interactions between the thermal environment, thermoregulatory responses, and peripheral clocks
Full text linkThermoregulation is synchronized across the circadian cycle to uphold thermal homeostasis. To test if time-of-day matters for the response to environmental cold exposure, mice were acclimated to thermoneutrality (27 °C) for 2 months were subjected acutely (8 h) to cold ambient conditions (15 °C), whereas controls were maintained at thermoneutral conditions. The thermal exposure was tested in separate groups (N = 8) at three distinct time-of-day periods: in the LIGHT phase (L); the DARK phase (D); and a mix of the two (D + L). The magnitude of UCP1 protein and mRNA induction in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in response to acute cold exposure was time-of-day sensitive, peaking in LIGHT, whereas lower induction levels were observed in D + L, and DARK. Plasma levels of FGF21 were induced 3-fold by acute cold exposure at LIGHT and D + L, compared to the time-matched thermoneutral controls, whereas cold in DARK did not cause a significant increase of FGF21 plasma levels. Cold exposure affected, in BAT, the temporal mRNA expression patterns of core circadian clock components: Bmal1, Clock, Per1, Per3, Cry1, Cry2 Nr1d1, and Nr1d2, but in the liver, none of the transcripts were modified. Behavioral assessment using the Thermal Gradient Test (TGT) showed that acute cold exposure reduced cold sensitivity in D + L, but not in DARK. RNA-seq analyses of somatosensory neurons in DRG highlighted the role of the core circadian components in these cells, as well as transcriptional changes due to acute cold exposure. This elucidates the sensory system as a gauge and potential regulator of thermoregulatory responses based on circadian physiology. In conclusion, acute cold exposure elicits time-of-day specific effects on thermoregulatory pathways, which may involve underlying changes in thermal perception. These results have implications for efforts aimed at reducing risks associated with the organization of shift work in cold environments.Timing of acute cold exposure determines UCP1 and FGF21 expression - Possible interactions between the thermal environment, thermoregulatory responses, and peripheral clockspublishedVersio
IT really matters. Associations of computer hassles and technical support with medically certified sickness absence due to mental health complaints
Full text linkInformation and Communication Technology (ICT) at work can cause distress and frustration, commonly labeled ”technostress”. Nevertheless, few, if any, studies have examined the impact of ICT factors on sickness absence due to mental distress. We investigated effects of ”ICT-hassles” - disruption of work due to ICT-problems - on low or medium-level and high level sickness absence due to psychological diagnoses (LMSA-P/HSA-P). We also determined the mitigating influences of ICT-training and ICT-support. We surveyed 8620 workers in Norway, linking responses to official registry data of medically certified absence due to psychological complaints during 12 months following the survey. We used Bayesian multilevel multinomial logistic regression and analyzed ICT-variables at the individual level as well as averaged over employees within work-units. Moderated regressions determined whether effects of ICT-hassles varied with levels of support and training. Individual level ICT-hassles predicted HSA-P (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01,1.42) and work-unit level hassles LMSA-P (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.11,1.94). ICT-support at both levels predicted lower risk of LMSA-P (individual: OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74,0.97, work-unit: OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.50,0.80). Insufficient training appeared to have the most marked effects, with ORs ranging from 1.66 to 5.12. Effects were strongest at the work-unit level and persisted after adjustment for job demands and -control. No moderation of the effect of hassles by training and support was observed. In conclusion, ICT-hassles may promote absence whereas support and training prevent it. However, offering support after hassles have occurred may not be sufficient, suggesting that prevention is more effective than repairIT really matters. Associations of computer hassles and technical support with medically certified sickness absence due to mental health complaintspublishedVersio
Dieseleksoseksponering i petroleumsnæringen. - En kunnskapsoppsummering, del 2
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