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Risk of long COVID higher for people living in most deprived areas

Research analysis over 200,000 working-age adults reveals a strong association between area-level deprivation and long COVID risk. Females from least deprived areas had comparable long COVID risk to males from most deprived areas. The study highlights the need for targeted public health interventions to address health inequalities.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateMay 10, 2023

Substantial racial inequalities despite frequent health care contact found in treatment for opioid use disorder

A new study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found significant racial inequalities in treatment for opioid use disorder, with White patients receiving medication up to 80% more frequently than Black and Hispanic patients. Despite similar numbers of healthcare visits, disparities persist.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMay 10, 2023

“Concerning” anxiety levels among women in farming linked with isolation, financial worries and workload

A recent study found concerning levels of anxiety among female farmers in England and Wales, with factors including financial pressures, workload, and isolation contributing to moderate to severe anxiety. The research also highlights the need for greater support and social connections to improve mental health in this group.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Agromedicine·DateMay 3, 2023

The inequalities of low-carbon electricity

A UNIGE team analyzed the socio-economic impacts of 248 electricity transition scenarios on 296 European regions, finding that southern and south-eastern regions may be more vulnerable to negative effects. The benefits of a low-carbon electricity sector tend to concentrate in richer northern Europe.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateMay 1, 2023

A study analyzes racial discrimination in job recruitment in Europe

A new study analyzing European job applications found that having a non-white phenotype reduces the likelihood of employment by approximately 20%, while dark-skinned Caucasians face a 10% decrease compared to white applicants. The combined effect of ethnicity and phenotype leads to significant discrimination levels across Europe.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalSocio-Economic Review·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 17, 2023

Poorest children have worse health and educational outcomes in adolescence

A new report reveals that children born into the poorest fifth of families in the UK are 12 times more likely to experience poor health and educational outcomes by age 17. This clustering of adverse outcomes is linked to early childhood disadvantage, with modest reductions seen when lifting families out of poverty.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateMar 23, 2023

Fighting intolerance with physics

A complex system economic model shows that inequality boosts intolerance, but redistribution of wealth can prevent its spread. Economically disfavored individuals from minority groups may prioritize helping wealthy individuals over their own group when discriminated against.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalChaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science·DateMar 14, 2023

For educational attainment, it's more helpful to grow up in an affluent neighborhood than it is harmful to grow up in a poor one, per 23-year large Netherlands cohort study

A recent large-scale Netherlands cohort study found that growing up in an affluent neighborhood has a more significant positive impact on educational attainment than growing up in a poor one. Exposure to affluence was found to have a greater effect, surpassing the negative effects of poverty.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 8, 2023

Extreme earners are not extremely smart

A new study from Linköping University found that cognitive ability levels do not differentiate wages among top earners, contrary to common defenses of their extraordinary earnings. Average ability plates at a modest level of +1 standard deviation above average cognitive ability for those earning above €60,000 annual wage.

SourceLinköping University·JournalEuropean Sociological Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2023

Black South Africans report higher life satisfaction and are at less risk for depression post-migration, MU study finds

A new study found Black South Africans who migrated to find work reported better emotional well-being and were at lower risk for depression after the move. The research may help policymakers tailor mental health resources to underprivileged migrants and those seeking economic mobility.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalSSM - Mental Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2023

People with arthritis 20% less likely to be in work

A new study published by the University of Leeds reveals that people with arthritis are 20% less likely to be in work compared to their peers without the condition. The most striking finding is that non-university educated women aged 60-plus are at least 37% less likely to be in work if they have arthritis.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalSocial Science & Medicine Part C Medical Economics·DateJan 30, 2023

Gambling advertising restrictions could reduce harm

A systematic review of 70 research papers found that exposure to gambling advertising increases intentions to gamble and gambling activity, leading to greater risk of harm. The study also showed that restrictions could particularly benefit children and young people, as well as adults already vulnerable to gambling-related harms.

SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalPublic Health·TypeSystematic review·DateJan 25, 2023

Covid-19 conspiracy theories led to lower uptake of vaccine and testing among Black community, research by Kingston University, London finds

A study by Kingston University found that Covid-19 conspiracy theories led to a lower engagement with health prevention methods among the UK Black community. The research revealed that perceived racial injustice and mistrust of institutions contributed to this phenomenon.

SourceKingston University·JournalBritish Journal of Health Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateJan 11, 2023

Should we tax robots?

A study by MIT economists suggests that a modest tax on robots and foreign trade could help address income inequality in the US. The optimal policy includes taxes ranging from 1% to 3.7% of robot value, with smaller trade taxes, aiming to reduce wage gaps without stifling economic growth.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Review of Economic Studies·DateDec 20, 2022

Conflicting motives govern sense of fairness

A study by researchers at the University of Zurich found that people are reluctant to harm others and upend existing social hierarchies when considering distributive justice. The participants were more willing to reduce inequality but maintained the existing hierarchy, suggesting a complex interplay between conflicting motives.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 5, 2022

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima and Deputy Executive Director Matthew Kavanagh highlight inequalities in sex and gender, access to drugs and access to funding, as barriers to tackling AIDS and other pandemics

Inequalities in sex and gender, access to antiretroviral drugs, and inadequate funding hinder global efforts to combat AIDS and other pandemics. UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima and Deputy Director Matthew Kavanagh emphasize these disparities as critical obstacles to effective pandemic response

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·DateDec 1, 2022

Ticking boxes? Football industry continues to marginalise ethnically diverse coaches

A new study found that the use of the BAME acronym in the football industry can cause discomfort and reinforce feelings of marginalization. Researchers recommend a more inclusive approach, allowing individuals to describe their heritage and background rather than relying on tick boxes for ethnicity classification.

SourceBournemouth University·JournalInternational Review for the Sociology of Sport·TypeSurvey·DateNov 14, 2022

Global distributive justice and systemic transformations key to planetary stability, study finds

A new study finds that achieving access to minimum resources and services for all while safeguarding the Earth system requires redistribution and societal transformations. The research shows that the wealthiest individuals and societies must undergo transformative change to mitigate climate impacts, while the poor are not the primary c...

SourceFuture Earth·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 10, 2022

Inequality linked to differences in kids’ brain connections

A large study of over 5,800 tween children found that growing up in a socioeconomically disadvantaged household can have lasting effects on brain development, with different patterns of connections between brain regions observed. Parental education emerged as the most significant factor associated with variations in brain connections.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalDevelopmental Cognitive Neuroscience·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 1, 2022

Study finds school choice not offered equitably to low-income, less-educated families, who are forced to compromise more

A new study from the University of Kansas finds that parents from marginalized backgrounds and lower educational attainment make more compromises on school features, resulting in lower satisfaction. The research suggests that these parents are not lacking in understanding what would be best for their children, but rather face constrain...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·TypeSurvey·DateOct 20, 2022

Millions of people are missing out on their fair share of the $424 billion aquatic food industry

A new study found that social, economic and political barriers hinder the global distribution of the $424 billion aquatic food industry's benefits. The study calls for policies to ensure equitable access to this sector, which supports both welfare-based benefits like jobs and affordable nutrition, as well as wealth-based benefits.

SourceLancaster University·JournalNature Food·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 18, 2022

CityAccessMap: Addressing urban inequalities with open-source data

The CityAccessMap tool assesses urban infrastructure distribution and identifies areas for improvement, helping policymakers address socio-economic disparities. Disadvantaged communities face lower access to urban services, which can hinder social mobility and exacerbate inequalities.

SourceDelft University of Technology·JournalEnvironment and Planning B Urban Analytics and City Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 13, 2022

Americans harmed by COVID-19 more likely to advocate for equality

A new study from Washington University in St. Louis found that individuals who experienced personal harm during the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to support and advocate for equality, particularly those who contracted COVID-19 or lost their jobs. This shift in attitudes was attributed to a greater understanding of structural facto...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 12, 2022