Birth order and alcohol-related mortality by ethnic origin and national context: Within-family comparisons for Finland and Sweden

Previous studies have found that birth order is an important predictor of later life health, including hospitalisation for alcohol use. We examine the relationship between and alcohol-related mortality in two national contexts, within native families who differ on ethnic origin. study association after age 17, using Finnish register data cohorts born 1953−1999 Swedish 1940−1999. apply Cox proportional hazard models use sibling fixed effects eliminate confounding by factors shared siblings. separate full-sibling groups origin, which Finland means mother’s father’s or ethnolinguistic affiliation. For Sweden, we distinguish native-born according to whether one both parents were Sweden Finland. find a positive correlation mortality, but only Finns primarily men. Within these groups, second-borns risk 9% higher than first-borns, third-borns 19 % higher, fourth-borns 22 fifth- higher-borns 47 higher. No such associations can be any other analysed Sweden. Our findings suggest cultural-related behaviours typical context they are studied, relevant observed. Differences social interplay family may factor.