The impact of school bullying on adolescent migration expectations in Iceland

Abstract Adolescent migration expectations are shaped by various background characteristics, social relations, and lifestyle considerations. However, the impact of negative social experiences in adolescent society on migration expectations received limited attention. Research on the social consequences of school bullying has nevertheless demonstrated that bullying often leads to social withdrawal and place avoidance. In this study, we examine the potential effects of being bullied in school on adolescent migration expectations in rural, exurban, and urban communities in Iceland. We find adolescents who are regularly bullied to be about twice as likely to expect to move within the country or abroad. Interestingly, there are no significant differences across the rural?urban continuum in this respect. The results are discussed in the context of prior research on migration intentions and the social consequences of bullying

Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in old persons: Age, Gene/environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study.

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field.PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence and signs of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in an old cohort. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: We included 5272 persons aged ≥66 years, randomly sampled from the Reykjavik area. METHODS: Fundus images were taken through dilated pupils using a 45-degree digital camera and graded for drusen size, type, area, increased retinal pigment, retinal pigment epithelial depigmentation, neovascular lesions, and geographic atrophy (GA) using the modified Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age-related macular degeneration in an elderly cohort. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 76 years. The prevalence of early AMD was 12.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0-13.9) for those aged 66 to 74 years and 36% (95% CI, 30.9-41.1) for those aged ≥85 years. The prevalence of exudative AMD was 3.3% (95% CI, 2.8-3.8). The prevalence of pure GA was 2.4% (95% CI, 2.0-2.8). The highest prevalence of late AMD was among those aged ≥85 years: 11.4% (95% CI, 8.2-14.5) for exudative AMD and 7.6% (95% CI, 4.8-10.4) for pure GA. CONCLUSIONS: Persons aged ≥85 years have a 10-fold higher prevalence of late AMD than those aged 70 to 74 years. The high prevalence of late AMD in the oldest age group and expected increase of elderly people in the western world in coming years call for improved preventive measures and novel treatments.National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Ageing and the National Eye Institute Z01-EY00401 N01-AG-1-2100 IHA Icelandic Parliament University of Icelan

The effect of sexual orientation on satisfaction with place of residency and future migration plans of adolescents in Iceland

Background: Research has suggested that sexual minorities have higher rates of migration (i.e., changes in residential locations) than heterosexual individuals suggesting that homosexual individuals aspire to remove themselves from potentially toxic environments that are anathema to their wellbeing. Objective(s): To examine whether lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) adolescents (boys and girls) were more likely than heterosexual adolescents or adolescents of unknown sexual orientation to be unhappy with their place of residency and want to change residential location within the same country or even relocate permanently overseas. Methods: Data from the Icelandic Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in 2009/10 for year 10 students was examined. The sample totaled 3,774 participants or about 78.5% of the total population in this age group. Results: LGB girls were more likely to be very unhappy with their current place of residency than heterosexual girls or girls of unknown sexual orientation. However, these girls were no more likely to want to leave their current place of residency than other girls. LGB boys were unhappier with their current residency and more inclined to want to leave and migrate overseas permanently than heterosexual boys or boys of unknown sexual orientation. Conclusions: LGB girls seem no more likely to leave their current place of residency than their female counterparts while LGB boys are more like to want to migrate than their male counterparts

Health and life satisfaction among 16 year old Icelandic students by sexual orientation: From 2006 to 2018

In 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018, a large percentage of Icelandic adolescents aged 16 years (class 10 at school) responded to the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey or 43.8%, 78.6%, 80.1%, and 50.4%, respectively. The surveys included questions covering topics such as health, sexual orientation, liking school, life satisfaction, and bullying. Objective(s): The main objective was to examine changes to various health and social indicators over time by sexual orientation. Method: Various health and social indicators from the different surveys were examined such as liking school, life satisfaction, bullying, general health, drug use, and support from family and friends. Results: Changes over time show that the situation for LGB adolescents, as compared with heterosexual adolescents, was generally worse in 2010 than in 2006. However, it has improved from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2014 to 2018. With the 2018 levels generally being much better than in 2006. Conclusions: Life for LGB adolescents in Iceland appears to be improving over time across various health and social indicators

Social indicators of health and wellbeing of Icelandic students according to sexual orientation: 2006 to 2018

A large proportion of Icelandic adolescents aged 16 years (class 10 at school) responded to the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in 2006 (43.8%), 2010 (78.6%), 2014 (80.1%), and 2018 (50.4%). The participants were asked questions covering topics such as health, liking school, life satisfaction, and bullying. Objective(s): The objective was to examine changes to various health and social indicators over time according to an individual’s sexual orientation. Method: Questions relating to each of the health and social indicators of interest from the Icelandic HBSC survey were examined. Results: Changes over time indicate that the situation for LGB adolescents, compared to heterosexual adolescents, was generally worse in 2010 than in 2006. However, some improvements in wellbeing from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2014 to 2018 has since been seen. The 2018 levels are generally much better than those seen in 2006. Conclusions: Life for sexual minority adolescents in Iceland appears to be improving across various health and social indicators

The 7-year cumulative incidence of cornea guttata and morphological changes in the corneal endothelium in the Reykjavik Eye Study.

To access publisher's full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field.To examine the corneal endothelium and establish the 7-year cumulative incidence of cornea guttata (CG).Population-based prospective cohort study with 573 participants (third wave of the Reykjavik Eye Study (RES) in 2008). Four hundred and thirty-seven subjects had either right or left eyes available for analysis after excluding confounding eye conditions. The baseline for eyes at risk for developing CG is the second wave of the RES in 2001. Participants underwent specular microscopy and a standardized eye examination.The cumulative 7-year incidence of CG in either eye was estimated as a 95% confidence interval for the expected value for both genders combined (15-23%), for males (8-18%) and for females (19-29%). In right eye only, the 7-year cumulative incidence for both genders combined was estimated to be 6-11%. For genders combined and for males only, the data indicated no correlation between 7-year cumulated incidence and age at baseline. In women, however, the change of 7-year incidence for CG in at least one eye appeared to be correlated to age at baseline. Reduction of endothelial cell density for corneas with CG at baseline was found [CI (0.95)-132 ± 94].The cumulative 7-year incidence of primary central CG for a middle-aged and older Caucasian population without history of potentially confounding eye disease has been established. Women tend to have higher incidence if onset occurs at middle age. If CG is present, the cell density and the cell size variation decrease within a 7-year period.Helga Jonsdottir and Sigurlidi Kristjansson Memorial Research Fun

Sexual orientation and migration intentions among rural, exurban and urban adolescents in Iceland

Rural areas have often been assumed to be somewhat hostile territory for sexual minorities. As a result, moving to an urban area may be an integral part of “coming out” for those living in a rural area. However, surprisingly few quantitative studies have examined the level of rural-to-urban migration intent among sexual minorities. In this study, we examined the migration expectations of adolescents in Iceland, a country characterised by a heavy urban concentration and a scattered rural population, strong international ties and comparatively high levels of formal rights and public acceptance of sexual minorities. Based on a population sample of 2,858 students aged 15–16 years, we found no evidence of greater overall migration expectations among rural or exurban lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning (LGBQ) youth than their urban counterparts. However, while urban LGBQ youth were more likely to move abroad, young people in other areas are more likely to move domestically. The results are discussed in the context of prior studies of sexual minorities in rural areas and migration expectations among rural youth

Differences in perceptions of gender equality among Icelandic year 10 boys and girls: Population studies 1992, 2006, and 2014 [Oral presentation]

Background: Surprising research in 2006 revealed that Icelandic 10th graders held less egalitarian views on gendered division of labor than did the their coevals in 1992.This finding suggested that Icelandic youth in 2006 held more traditional attitudes towards housework than their counterparts in the 1990s. Objective(s): To add evidence from a 2014 survey examining these trends further among Icelandic 10th graders. Method: Data from three Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys in 1992, 2006, and 2014 for year 10 students in Iceland were examined. The sampling proportions, 85.1% in 1992, 43.2% in 2006, and 77.9% in 2014, suggest that the results reflect population values rather than sample values. Results: The percentage of boys who rate the different jobs as being equally for men and women has increased from 1992 to 2014 despite a dip in 2006, with large increases in equality for 'minor house repairs' and 'car maintenance'. The changes from 1992 to 2014 are mixed for girls. Girls report higher equality in jobs such as getting up at night to tend to young children and car maintenance, while there was an increased view among girls that cooking is a man's job. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that Iceland has distinguished itself as a safe haven of gender equality. Attitudes towards gender equality are moving in the right direction in Iceland with girls tending to have more gender equal attitudes than boys

Differences in perceptions of gender equality among Icelandic year 10 adolescents: Population studies 1992, 2006, and 2014 [Poster presentation]

Background: It came as a surprise when research revealed that Icelandic 10th graders in 2006 held less egalitarian views on gendered division of labor than did the their coevals in 1992, suggesting that Icelandic youth in 2006 held more traditional attitudes towards housework than did their counterparts in the 1990s. 
 
 Objective(s): Adding evidence from a 2014 survey to examine these trends further among Icelandic 10th graders. 
 
 Method: Data from three Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys in 1992, 2006, and 2014 for year 10 students in Iceland were examined. The sampling proportions, 85.1% in 1992, 43.2% in 2006, and 77.9% in 2014, suggest that the results reflect population values rather than sample values.
 
 Results: The percentage of boys who rate the different jobs as being equally for men and women has increased from 1992 to 2014 despite a dip in 2006, with large increases in equality for ‘minor house repairs’ and ‘car maintenance’. The changes from 1992 to 2014 are mixed for girls. Girls report higher equality in jobs such as getting up at night to tend to young children and car maintenance, while there was an increased view among girls that cooking is a man’s job. 
 
 Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that Iceland has distinguished itself as a safe haven of gender equality. Attitudes towards gender equality are moving in the right direction in Iceland with girls tending to have more gender equal attitudes than boys