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Virva Siira, Faculty of Education, University of Oulu presents on behalf of the team: Helinä Hakko, Clinic of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital; Karl-Erik Wahlberg, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu
Abstract
General systems theory originated from Ludwig von Bertalanffy and biopsychosocial approach created by George Engel propose a foundation to the theoretical framework for the research of the complex interaction of elements that are needed for the construction of socioeconomic status (SES).
The data for the present study comes from the families of 385 adopted away high-genetic-risk children (HR) born to biological mothers with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and their low-genetic-risk controls (LR). SES was measured for the biological adopting-away mothers, adopted-away HR and LR children and their adoptive families’ parents. Risk factors include evaluations of the psychiatric disorder and genetic risk for the psychiatric disorder. Protective factors were assessed for HR and LR adoptees’ individual strength characteristics (Goldstein premorbid adjustment, Strauss-carpenter levels of functioning) and for features adoptive families (Oulu Family Rating Scale).
However, since no single factor has been found to explain the transgenerational pathways of SES, hypotheses from the adoption family study data utilizing high-risk study method, where interaction of the genetic and environmental factors may be studied, are to be presented. The aim of the present research is in trying to clarify the multifactorial and multidirectional nature in the transmission of SES.
When supposed that psychiatric disorder and SES are associated it is interesting to compare SES among HR children and their biological mothers with SES among LR children and their biological mothers. From the nurture point of view the relation between SES of the child and measures of the family environment and functioning will be studied. Associations between psychiatric status, SES and individual strengths of HR and LR adoptees with raising family environment and SES will be studied for the hypothesis on more complex, interactive mechanisms in the transmission of SES.
Preliminary results of the analysis will be presented.