Alcohol and tobacco use are more prevalent among people with poor mental health. The aim of this study is to identify possible targets for interventions for preventing poor mental health and risky substance use by analysing longitudinal associations of alcohol and tobacco use with mental health from adolescence to midlife, and examining the nature of these associations, taking into account micro- (social relationships) and macrolevel environment (country) and cohort effects. The data comprise four longitudinal studies (three Finnish and one Swedish), which have followed participants from adolescence to midlife using questionnaires. The Finnish studies are the 'Stress, Development and Mental Health' study (TAM), the 'FinnTwin16', and the ‘Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966'. The Swedish study is the ‘IDA project/Individual Development and Adaptation'. The results provide valuable information to integrate preventive actions against mental ill-health and risky alcohol and tobacco use.

2021

2026