Health, Morbidity and Mortality


How are social inequalities related to healthy lifespans?

What are the trends in life expectancy and lifespan variation these days?

This Working Group studies trends and differentials in health, morbidity and mortality across Europe. Firmly based in population studies and demography, the group has a strong interdisciplinary character.

From its inception in 1991, the group has organized many seminars and workshops in close collaboration with scholars and institutions across Europe. All members may join the Working Group and participate in its events.

If you are interested in being part of this group, please send an email to Jon Anson at anson@bgu.ac.il.

Upcoming event

“Living Longer, Living Better? Inequality in Health and Longevity”

We are pleased to announce the forthcoming annual meeting of the EAPS Health, Morbidity, and Mortality Working Group, which will take place at the University of Luxembourg, Belval Campus, from 10–12 September 2025. Please save the date!

The 2025 meeting will explore how health and longevity are shaped by social inequalities across time, between countries, and among different population groups. These disparities may arise from differences in age, ethnicity, migration background, gender, and socioeconomic factors, among others.

We invite contributions examining inequalities in health outcomes and how they evolve across the life course, drawing attention to diverse contexts and population groups.

Submissions may address a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

We welcome contributions using diverse approaches and perspectives—whether grounded in empirical data, novel methods, or theoretical insights.

Presentations:

All accepted abstracts will be presented either as a poster or an oral presentation (20-minute presentation + 10-minute discussion). All presentations will be held on-site.

Submissions:

We invite structured abstracts (e.g., background, objectives, data, methods, (expected) results, etc.) with a maximum length of 300 words.

Submissions are now open via this online form.

For any questions or additional information, please contact us at hmmwg.eaps@gmail.com.

We look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you in Luxembourg for an engaging and inspiring meeting!

Organized by:
The Institute for Research on Socio-Economic Inequality, Department of Social Sciences, and the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Luxembourg, in collaboration with EAPS, Prague University of Economics and Business, Charles University, and Ben-Gurion University.

Call for papers

Previous event

Work, Love, and Death - Health, Morbidity, and Mortality Working Group meeting in Bilbao

The workshop titled "Work, Love, and Death" was organized by the Health, Morbidity, and Mortality Working Group of EAPS and hosted by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain, in collaboration with EAPS, Prague University of Economics and Business, Czech Republic; Charles University, Czech Republic, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Extra sponsors included the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), la Caixa Foundation Social Observatory, and the OPIK research group.

Held in Bilbao, Spain, at Bizkaia Aretoa from September 25 to 27, 2024, this three-day event brought together three keynotes, 19 long talks, 27 flash talks (that also included a poster), and 75 participants in total for vibrant discussions on population mortality and health issues, data study opportunities, and methodological challenges.

Keynote speakers highlighted their significant ERC projects ore their broad research agenda, including Anna Oksuzyan's study on intermarriage and health among immigrant and native-born persons in Sweden and Denmark ("Is it better to intermarry? Immigration background of married couples and health among immigrant and native-born persons in Sweden and Denmark"), Silvia Loi's exploration of migration and health inequalities ("Migration and health inequalities over the life-course: an intersectional perspective"), and Zachary van Winkle’s research on the economic and mental health costs of widowhood for older adults ("The cost of widowhood for older adults' economic wellbeing and mental health: Matching studies of process and event"). For Working Group members and those interested in its activities, a dedicated Facebook page, and a new LinkedIn group are available. All are encouraged to use these platforms to share research insights, publications, job and study opportunities, interest in lecture exchanges, and collaboration opportunities in planned and ongoing research.

The Steering Committee would like to express their heartfelt thanks not only to Tim Riffe, the local lead organizer, but also to his entire local team for their outstanding work. The workshop was exceptionally well-organized, creating a warm and informal atmosphere that encouraged engagement, enthusiasm, and deep appreciation for the fascinating topics and outstanding contributions shared by all. 

Link to shared album.

Steering committee

JON ANSON

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

KLÁRA HULÍKOVÁ TESÁRKOVÁ

Charles University, Czech Republic

PETR MAZOUCH

Prague University of Economics and Business, Czech Republic

Previous events