The importance of timing of socioeconomic disadvantage throughout development for depressive symptoms and brain structure.

Prior studies have reported associations between socioeconomic disadvantage, brain structure and mental health outcomes, but the timing of these relations is not well understood. Using prospective longitudinal data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), this preregistered study examined whether socioeconomic disadvantage related differentially to depressive symptoms (n=3012-3530) and cortical and subcortical structures (n=460-733) in emerging adults, depending on the timing of exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage. Family income in early childhood and own income measured concurrently were both significantly related to depressive symptoms in emerging adulthood. Similar results were observed for perceived financial strain. In contrast, only family income in early childhood was associated with brain structure in emerging adulthood, with positive associations with intracranial volume and total and regional cortical surface area. The findings suggest that both objective and subjective aspects of one's financial standing throughout development relate to depressive symptoms in adulthood, but that specifically early life family income is related to brain structural features in emerging adulthood. This suggests that associations between socioeconomic disadvantage and brain structure originate early in neurodevelopment, highlighting the role of timing of socioeconomic disadvantage.

Effects of Income on Subjective Well-Being in the Elderly: Complete Mediation Roles of Self-Rated Health and Psychological Capital.

Although income and living conditions of residents have greatly improved in recent years, people's subjective well-being does not seem to increase daily. This study aimed to explore income, self-rated health, and psychological capital on subjective well-being, using data from the China General Social Survey conducted in 2017. A total of 1136 elderly as subsamples data were selected from 12 582 participants, involving general sociodemographic characteristics, income, self-rated health, psychological capital, and subjective well-being. SPSS v26.0 macro was used for descriptive statistics, ANOVA and correlation analysis. PROCESS v3.4 macro was performed to examine multiple mediating effects of self-rated health and psychological capital. The elderly residing in urban (P = .016) and having completed 9-year compulsory education (P = .016) reported higher subjective well-being scores. The findings revealed that subjective well-being was positively associated with income, health, and psychological capital among the aged adults (all P < .001). Self-rated health and psychological capital played complete mediation roles between income and subjective well-being (Effect indirect = 0.040, 95% bootstrap CI [0.022, 0.060]; Effect indirect = 0.027, 95% bootstrap CI [0.013, 0.044], respectively). Collectively, our findings indicate that residing in rural and having lower education levels serve as negative predictors of subjective well-being among the elderly. Although income still affects the elderly's subjective well-being, self-rated health and psychological capital may be the crucial mediating factors. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to improve health conditions and positive psychological capital for subjective well-being of the older people.

Hearing Aid Use Trends Among Older Adults by Income and Metropolitan vs Nonmetropolitan Residence.

This cross-sectional study assesses the prevalence of hearing aid use among older US adults with hearing loss and stratifies the findings by income and metropolitan vs nonmetropolitan residence.

The impact of Individual Placement and Support on employment, health and social outcomes: quasi-experimental evidence from Aotearoa New Zealand.

AIM: To examine the impact of integrated employment support and mental health treatment (Individual Placement and Support, or "IPS") on Aotearoa New Zealand participants' employment, income, health, education and justice outcomes. METHOD: De-identified linked data from the Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure and propensity score matching were used to estimate effects. RESULTS: In total, 1,659 IPS participants were matched to 1,503 non-participants. Compared with matched non-participants, matched participants were 1.6 times more likely to be in employment at 12 months. Over 3 years, matched IPS participants had more earnings, more time in employment, greater total income and were more likely to gain qualifications. They also had more face-to-face contacts with mental health teams, mental health-related inpatient stays and mental health service crisis contacts than matched non-participants. Effects for Maori were similar in direction and scale to the overall results. CONCLUSION: Our results show that people with mental health conditions or problematic substance use who receive employment support made available together with mental health and addiction treatment have more employment, gains in qualifications and more independent income when compared to similar people who do not receive this support. More research is needed to understand differences in engagement with mental health services and effects on participants' health and wellbeing.

Dataset: a social accounting matrix for Germany.

OBJECTIVES: The Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) is an extension of Input-Output tables that records macro and meso-economic accounts of a socio-economic system. Its main objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interrelationships among different economic sectors and agents. The SAM can be used for various purposes, including economic analysis, policy evaluation, and economic modelling. It allows policymakers to make more informed decisions, understand potential consequences of different policy options and serve as the foundation for constructing Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models. DATA DESCRIPTION: The SAM for Germany is a comprehensive source of data that reveals the incomes and expenditures of 163 different production sectors, along with data on factors of production, households, corporations, government, and external accounts with the rest of the world. Additionally, it provides information on gross fixed capital formation, changes in inventories, and natural capital accounts. This SAM was compiled by extending the EXIOBASE Input-Output (IO) accounts with data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany. Balancing items were also used to ensure that the Total Income and Total Expenditure of the main transactors are in balance.

Evaluating food security and nutritional pathways of rural farm families: Empirical evidence from northeast India.

The study aimed to ascertain a relationship between agricultural status, socioeconomic factors, and nutrition of farm families. The study was conducted in selected villages in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, using Stratified Random Sampling (St. RS). Using pretested interview schedules, we collected primary data from respondents in 2020 and 2021, focusing on socioeconomic variables, body mass index, and income from agriculture and related sectors. The data was analysed using correlation analyses and separate combined regression estimates for each year and month were obtained. Results from the study indicate that agricultural income significantly influenced nutritional status (p < 0.05) and household income growth was also found significant. The region's agricultural production of cereals, pulses, and vegetables was insufficient, as was the production of meat and meat products, milk, and milk products. Hence, expenditure towards purchasing the above food groups from the market was found to be significant (p < 0.05). Therefore, the markets near the mainland especially in the hilly region play a crucial role in the nutritional pathway of rural farm families.

How enabling factors determine unmet healthcare needs? A panel data approach for countries.

Health service need refers to the essential care required to achieve optimal health outcomes within resource constraints. When necessary services to address identified health issues are not received, unmet needs arise. This research focuses on the determinants of unmet healthcare needs across the 34 countries within the European region from 2011 to 2019, focusing on Andersen's Behavioral Model's enabling factors. We employed a static and robust panel regression model using Stata 14.0 software. Key determinants analyzed include GDP per capita, urbanization rate, and physicians per capita. Findings reveal that lower GDP per capita and lower urbanization rates are significantly correlated with higher levels of unmet healthcare needs, highlighting income level and geographical accessibility as critical factors. Additionally, a higher number of physicians per capita is associated with reduced unmet healthcare needs, indicating the importance of healthcare resources in addressing healthcare access gaps. These findings underscore the importance of targeted healthcare policies that address income level, improve healthcare accessibility, and enhance healthcare resource allocation to reduce unmet healthcare needs effectively. These findings equip policymakers and administrators with empirically grounded insights to comprehend the factors contributing to unmet healthcare needs and to develop policies aimed at addressing this challenge.

Childhood PM2.5 exposure and upward mobility in the United States.

Although it is well documented that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increases the risk of several adverse health outcomes, less is known about its relationship with economic opportunity. Previous studies have relied on regression modeling, which implied strict assumptions regarding confounding adjustments and did not explore geographical heterogeneity. We obtained data for 63,165 US census tracts (86% of all census tracts in the United States) on absolute upward mobility (AUM) defined as the mean income rank in adulthood of children born to families in the 25th percentile of the national income distribution. We applied and compared several state-of-the-art confounding adjustment methods to estimate the overall and county-specific associations of childhood exposure to PM2.5 and AUM controlling for many census tract-level confounders. We estimate that census tracts with a 1 µg/m3 higher PM2.5 concentrations in 1982 are associated with a statistically significant 1.146% (95% CI: 0.834, 1.458) lower AUM in 2015, on average. We also showed evidence that this relationship varies spatially between counties, exhibiting a more pronounced negative relationship in the Midwest and the South.

Income insecurity and social protection: Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across income groups.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought unprecedented disruption on global economies, leading to widespread income insecurity among individuals and households. This study investigates the impact of the pandemic on income insecurity across different income groups and assesses the role of social protection measures in mitigating these effects. Using cross-country data, we analyze the prevalence of income reduction and the effectiveness of social assistance programs in high-income, upper middle-income, lower middle-income, and low-income countries. Our findings reveal significant variations in income insecurity and social protection responses across these groups. the pandemic had a significant impact on household incomes globally, with lower-middle-income countries experiencing the most significant income reductions. The average per capita transfer amounts show a general decrease over time, which could be due to the economic strain on governments and the need for more sustainable social protection programs. The correlation between transfer amounts and the proportion of households with reduced income indicates that countries with higher income reduction rates tended to have lower average per capita transfer amounts, suggesting a potential lack of adequate support for those in need. The study highlights the importance of robust social safety nets in cushioning the economic blow of the pandemic, particularly for vulnerable populations in lower-income countries.

Baltimore community resident and collaborator perspectives on the influence of guaranteed income on health: a formative qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Given increased interest and investment in guaranteed income initiatives across North America, it is critical to understand the impact of guaranteed income on health, an understudied outcome. As part of Baltimore, Maryland's guaranteed income pilot, we conducted formative research to understand the influence of increased income on health and develop concrete recommendations for implementation and evaluation of the pilot. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with Baltimore community residents (n = 8) and community collaborators (n = 8), probing on familiarity with guaranteed income; effect of guaranteed income on overall health and specific health outcomes (e.g., mental health, nutrition); and recommendations for program structure (e.g., eligibility, target population). Data were analyzed thematically using a framework analysis approach. RESULTS: Respondents agreed that guaranteed income could have beneficial effects on health though some were unsure of specific mechanisms. Respondents emphasized pathways through which guaranteed income could improve health: (1) reduced financial-related stress; (2) improved nutrition through purchase of healthier foods; (3) improved family well-being including child health and parent-child relationships; (4) increased utilization of health services; (5) improved community health through increased community cohesion and decreased violence. Respondents described decreased feelings of time scarcity as a social determinant of health. Most respondents reported that Baltimore's guaranteed income program should prioritize young, low-income families with $1,000/month or more for at least one year. CONCLUSIONS: This formative research on the potential health impacts of guaranteed income in Baltimore highlights important health outcomes and pathways, such as social cohesion and decreased feelings of time scarcity, to prioritize for evaluation.

"I probably shouldn't go in today": Inequitable access to paid sick leave and its impacts on health behaviors during the emergence of COVID-19 in the Seattle area.

This study examines inequities in access to paid sick leave (PSL) by race/ethnicity, income, and sex and the role of PSL access on leave-taking and care-seeking behaviors among Seattle-area workers in the months leading up to and during the emergence of COVID-19 in the region. Survey responses were collected online and in-person from individuals experiencing acute respiratory illness symptoms between November 2019 and March 2020 as part of a community-based respiratory viral surveillance study. Chi-square tests and log-binomial models were used to assess the association between PSL access and various socioeconomic indicators. A total of 66.6% (n = 2,276) respondents reported access to PSL. Proportionally, access to PSL was highest in respondents identifying as Asian (70.5%), followed by White (68.7%), Latine (58.4%), Multiracial (57.1%), Black (47.1%), and Other (43.1%). Access to PSL increased with household income. Eighty three percent of high-income respondents reported access compared to 52.9% of low-income households. Only 23.3% of the lowest-income households reported access to PSL. Fewer females (65.2%) than males (70.7%) reported access to PSL. Access to PSL is inequitably distributed across income, race/ethnicity, and sex. This study reinforces the vast body of knowledge on how socioeconomic inequalities increase individual and community-level vulnerability to the impacts of infectious disease outbreaks. It also supports the role of labor and economic policy in mitigating (or exacerbating) these impacts. Exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, universal access to PSL, especially for marginalized populations, benefits all.

Economic interventions for the prevention of mental health problems: The role of cash transfers.

There is a strong, bidirectional association between social disadvantage and poor mental health. The risk of experiencing mental health problems is particularly enhanced by factors associated with living in poverty. Thus, economic interventions may be effective in reducing the burden of mental health issues in these populations. This article explores the evidence based on one specific type of economic intervention on mental health, that is, supplementing household income through cash transfers. This narrative evidence is supplemented by an in-depth analysis of one of the world's largest national cash transfer programs, the Bolsa Família program, in Brazil. We report that evidence from multiple contexts clearly demonstrates that cash transfers are highly effective in reducing the burden of mental health issues and reducing mental health disparities. We then consider the specific mechanisms through which cash transfers influence mental health. Finally, we discuss the need for these interventions and, referring to the Brazilian case study, explore potential strategies for their implementation at scale and the implications for research and policy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Food expenditure, income, and mental health: Outcomes from the UK Household Longitudinal Survey.

The incidence of mental health problems is increasing in the United Kingdom and may be associated with lower dietary quality. Food expenditure is a marker of food insecurity with potential implications for mental health. This analysis considers data collected as part of the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Survey (UKHLS), also known as 'Understanding Society' (2009-2021) (N = 388,944) to determine the extent to which food expenditure within and outside the household, is associated with mental health, whilst controlling for demographic factors. Mental health was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) for which responses were on a 4-point scale and reverse-scored so that a higher score represented more favourable mental health. Household food expenditure and food expenditure outside the home were the outcomes. Controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors, fixed-effects models indicated that better mental health was associated with greater household food expenditure and with greater food expenditure outside the home and that this association persisted post-lockdown. Among those on lower incomes better mental health was associated with lower food expenditure. When people who identified as white and non-white were modelled separately, better mental health was associated with lower food expenditure within and beyond the household only in those who identified as white. These findings imply that the mental health of people residing in the UK, particularly those on lower incomes and those who identify as white, may benefit from spending less of the household budget on food. In achieving United Nations General Assembly (2012) Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty, hunger and in promoting mental health, policies are needed to render food more affordable and to reduce other aspects of expenditure that impact upon food budgeting.

Income and education level trajectories and changes in the daily consumption of vegetables after thirteen years of follow-up: the Pró-Saúde Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether education level and income trajectories influence vegetable consumption changes over 13 years among civil servants at different campuses of a university in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: Vegetable intake frequency (daily and non-daily consumption), income (per capita), and education level (maintenance of low schooling/ upward mobility/maintenance of high schooling) were assessed at baseline (1999) and in the fourth wave (2011-12) of the Pró-Saúde (Pro-Health) cohort study. A total of 2,381 participants were analyzed. The association between educational and income trajectories and variation in vegetable consumption was assessed via crude and age-adjusted generalized linear models, stratified by sex. RESULTS: Men in upward educational mobility showed a 0.5% increase in vegetable consumption (p=0.01), while women in this group demonstrated a 2.5% increase (p=0.05). Adjusted models showed that women who reduced their income had a lower likelihood of consuming vegetables (odds ratio [OR] 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the influence of social inequalities on vegetable consumption in adults.

The Percentage of Patients Experiencing Financial Strain Depends on the Screening Measure: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Survey of Adult Members of an Integrated Healthcare Delivery System.

OBJECTIVES: Financial strain has important consequences for patients, providers, and health care systems. However, there is currently no gold standard measure to screen for financial strain. This study compared the performance of 3 single-item screeners using a composite measure of financial strain as a "gold standard." METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of unweighted data from a 2021 survey of Kaiser Permanente Northern California health plan members comparing the percentages of adults who experienced financial strain based on 3 general single-item screeners, a screener specific to medical and dental health care use, and a composite financial strain measure. The study sample was comprised of 2734 non-Medicaid insured adults who answered all financial strain questions. Kappa statistics evaluating agreement of the 3 general screeners with the composite measure were calculated for the sample overall, by age group, and within age group, by 4 levels of income and 4 racial/ethnic subgroups. RESULTS: Among 947 adults aged 35 to 65, 30.7% had just enough money or not enough money to make ends meet, 23.3% had a somewhat hard or hard time paying for basics, 18.8% had trouble paying for ≥1 type of expense, 20.5% had delayed/used less medical/dental care, and 41.5% had experienced financial strain based on the composite measure. Among 1787 adults aged 66 to 85, the percentages who screened positive on these measures were 22.7%, 19.4%, 12.9%, 19.8%, and 34.4%, respectively. Across the sample, by income categories and racial/ethnic groups, the making ends meet screener identified higher percentages of adults experiencing financial strain and performed better when compared with the composite measure than the hard to pay for the very basics and trouble paying for expenses screeners. Overall, substantial decreases in the percentages of adults who screened positive on the financial strain measures were seen as level of income increased. Within income categories, middle-aged adults were more likely than older adults to have experienced financial strain based on the composite and general single-item screeners. CONCLUSIONS: As social risk screening becomes part of the standard of care, it will be important to assess how well different brief screeners for financial strain perform with diverse patient populations.

"But some were more equal than others:" Exploring inequality at Neolithic Çatalhöyük.

We explore the ways in which residents of Neolithic Çatalhöyük in Anatolia differentiated themselves as well as the ways in which they did not. We integrate numerous data sets in order to assess patterns of inequality (A) across buildings with contemporaneous occupations, (B) between buildings that did or did not burn at abandonment, and (C) through time. We use Gini coefficients so as to maximize comparability with other studies of inequality in the ancient and modern worlds, discussing the underlying data and our results to clarify and enhance the value of the quantitative analyses. We evaluate whether or not trajectories of inequality align across data sets in order to determine how far success in one realm correlated with success in another. Our results indicate no unified trajectory of inequality through time. We perceive broadly similar access to staple foods, but not to goods less directly related to survival; relatively elevated income inequality during the middle portion of the site's occupation, plausibly deliberately tamped down; and no evidence for institutionalized or lasting economic or social inequality. These findings shed light on Neolithic social dynamics and also contribute to broader discussions of inequality and the social ramifications of early agropastoralism.

The impact of rural collective property rights reform on income and poverty reduction: Evidence from China's rural regions.

The reform of rural collective property rights is pivotal in advancing agricultural modernization and comprehensive rural revitalization. This study aims to explore the impact of this reform on income growth and poverty reduction in rural areas, as well as its underlying mechanisms. Utilizing data from the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), the propensity score matching (PSM) method was employed to empirically analyze the effects of rural collective property rights reform on income growth and poverty reduction. The findings reveal that the reform has a significant positive impact on rural income levels, indirectly enhancing income through two channels: increasing village collective assets and promoting land transfer. Additionally, the reform has a significant negative impact on rural poverty levels, effectively alleviating poverty in rural areas. Heterogeneity analysis further reveals the differential effects of property rights reform, indicating that non-poor villages, villages with higher educational levels among village leaders, and rural areas in the western regions benefit more from the reform. This study provides precise evidence for policymakers, offering a scientific basis for deepening rural collective property rights reform, promoting income growth, and fostering sustainable rural development.

[Factors Influencing Oncofertility in Gynecological Cancer Patients: Application of Mixed Methods Study].

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify factors influencing oncofertility and to explore the oncofertility experiences of patients with gynecological cancer using quantitative and qualitative methods, respectively. METHODS: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted. The quantitative study involved 222 patients with gynecological cancer recruited from online cafes and hospitals. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28. For qualitative research, eight patients with gynecological cancer were interviewed. Data were analyzed using theme analysis method. RESULTS: Oncofertility performance was quantitatively assessed in 40 patients (18.0%). Factors that significantly affected oncofertility were fertility preservation awareness (odds ratio [OR] = 14.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.22~53.08), number of children planned before cancer diagnosis (OR = 6.08, 95% CI: 1.89~19.62; OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 1.56~16.29), monthly income (OR= 3.29, 95% CI: 1.23~8.86), social support (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01~1.17), and anxiety (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66~0.95). Qualitative results showed three theme clusters and eight themes: (1) themes for determinant factors affecting oncofertility selection: 'desire to have children' and 'special meaning of the uterus and ovaries;' (2) themes for obstructive factors affecting oncofertility selection: 'fertility preservation fall behind priorities,' 'confusion caused by inaccurate information,' and 'my choice was not supported;' (3) themes for support factors affecting oncofertility selection: 'provide accurate and reasonable information about oncofertility,' 'addressing the healthcare gap,' and 'need financial support for oncofertility.' CONCLUSION: Financial support, sufficient information, social support, and anxiety-relief interventions are required for oncofertility in patients with gynecological cancer.

Impact of education and income inequalities on life expectancy: insights from the new EU members.

Life expectancy is one of the primary population health indicators and in turn increases in life expectancy indicate improvements in population health and human welfare. Therefore, one of the ultimate goals of the countries is to increase the life expectancy. This article studies the effect of education and income inequalities, ICT indicators, CO2 emissions, and real GDP per capita on life expectancy in the new EU members for the period of 2010-2022 by employing fixed effects regression. The coefficients of panel regression uncover that education and income inequalities and CO2 emissions negatively impact life expectancy, but ICT indicators of internet usage and mobile cellular subscriptions and real GDP per capita positively affects the life expectancy. The findings of the panel regression analysis indicate that public policies to decrease the inequalities in education and income will make a contribution to life expectancy.

The effect of air pollution quality on lung cancer rates in middle-income and high-income countries: a panel data analysis approach.

Background: Air pollution is one of the biggest problems in societies today. The intensity of indoor and outdoor air pollutants and the urbanization rate can cause or trigger many different diseases, especially lung cancer. In this context, this study's aim is to reveal the effects of the indoor and outdoor air pollutants, and urbanization rate on the lung cancer cases. Methods: Panel data analysis method is applied in this study. The research includes the period between 1990 and 2019 as a time series and the data type of the variables is annual. The dependent variable in the research model is lung cancer cases per 100,000 people. The independent variables are the level of outdoor air pollution, air pollution level indoor environment and urbanization rate of countries. Results: In the modeling developed for the developed country group, it is seen that the variable with the highest level of effect on lung cancer is the outdoor air pollution level. Conclusions: In parallel with the development of countries, it has been determined that the increase in industrial production wastes, in other words, worsening the air quality, may potentially cause an increase in lung cancer cases. Indoor air quality is also essential for human health; negative changes in this variable may negatively impact individuals' health, especially lung cancer.