Work and Disability at the Age of 30 Years: A Sociomedical Study of a Birth-cohort frorm Bergen: III. Disability as related to medical, psychological and educational background

Abstract

This article deals with occupational disability at the age of 30 years, seen in the light of medical, psychological and educational background. The study is based on a cohort of 1570 persons, all live births in 1940 of mothers then residing in Bergen. This birth-cohort was followed-up in the compulsory school system at age 14 years, and again at age 30 years, concluding at 1st June 1971. Only those of the cohort residing in Norway on 1st June 1971, a total of 1331 persons, are included in the present analysis. The diagnoses discussed are based on data obtained from disability pension case records, from the National Insurance Institution files and from the Public Welfare office files. Results of medical and psychological examinations made on a stratified random sample of the cohort are also used. Thirty-seven persons (2.8%) of the total of 1331 were found to be disabled according to the criteria set for this study. The prevailing primary diagnosis was mental disorder, as 25 of the disabled had this diagnosis, oligophrenia being dominant. The former pupils in the different types of compulsory school attended at age 14 years show a frequency of disability at age 30 years as follows: junior high school 0.8%, continuation school 1.3%, elementary school classes for slow learners 10.7%. special schools for the educable mentally retarded 32.7%, and receiving services for the mentally retarded, 97.0%