April 22, 2026 · BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2025-087844

Home environment conditions during childhood and psychosocial outcomes across three generations in Sweden: population based adoption-discordant sibling comparison study

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The authors aimed to investigate whether early adoption into families with favorable home environments can reduce long-term psychosocial risks and provide intergenerational benefits for individuals born to parents with psychiatric or behavioral issues. Their findings indicate that adopted individuals exhibited lower rates of psychiatric disorders, criminal convictions, and social welfare dependency, along with higher educational attainment and cognitive skills, with some positive effects also observed in their offspring. This study underscores the potential of improving childhood environments to alleviate intergenerational disadvantages.

Zhenxin Liao, Mengping Zhou, Isabell Brikell, Zheng Chang, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Brian M D'Onofrio, Henrik Larsson, Paul Lichtenstein, Erik Pettersson

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