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Attending live sport improves wellbeing – study

New research by Anglia Ruskin University found that attending live sporting events boosts life satisfaction and sense of life being worthwhile, while reducing loneliness. The study used data from over 7,200 adults living in England and suggests that watching live sport can be an effective public health tool.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateMar 17, 2023

Ethnic minority parents want customized advice, research shows

A recent study by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University found that ethnic minority parents in Inner Mongolia prefer evidence-based knowledge on family education tailored to their local environment and culture. They sought information on how geographical features like the geomagnetic field influence children's growth and well-being.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateMar 6, 2023

Think you're good at math? PSU study shows it may be because you had equitable math teachers

A PSU study found that high school students who perceive their math teacher as equitable are more likely to develop a positive math identity. This effect is strongest in racially diverse schools, where students may be more aware of racial biases and stereotypes about math. Equitable teaching can help counteract these biases and promote...

SourcePortland State University·JournalSociology of Education·TypeSurvey·DateMar 2, 2023

Targeting wealth managers would cripple Russia's oligarchs

A new study by Dartmouth College researchers finds that sanctions on wealth managers would be more effective than asset seizure in crippling Russia's oligarchs. The research uses network science to map the connections between wealthy individuals and their financial experts, revealing a vulnerable network that can be disrupted with targ...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 28, 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

A seventeen-year landmark study finds that group meditation decreases US national stress

A seventeen-year study by Maharishi International University found that group meditation decreased multiple stress indicators in the US, resulting in reduced murder rates and improved overall well-being. The study suggests that collective consciousness can create coherence through the unified field level of natural law.

SourceMaharishi International University·JournalWorld Journal of Social Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 23, 2022

"I'll pay later!" – People promise the stars and moon to charities, but donations remain unsent

A new study from the University of Copenhagen found that at least 60 percent of Danes who promised to donate never followed through on their commitments. Digital payment solutions made it easier for people to delay donations, but also led to larger average cash contributions. Social pressure was identified as a key driver of charity gi...

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·DateNov 8, 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

Majority of posts on extremist online forums made by “hyper” poster cliques, study shows

A new study published in the Journal of Policing, Intelligence & Counter-Terrorism found that most posts in extremist online forums are made by a clique of highly committed members. The research, led by Professor Stephane Baele and Dr Lewys Brace, analyzed over 12 million unique posts across eight far-right, seven Salafi-jihadist, and ...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Policing Intelligence and Counter Terrorism·TypeObservational study·DateAug 30, 2022

Machine learning to predict if you'll leave your partner

A Bocconi University study used machine learning to analyze data on 2038 couples in Germany, finding that life satisfaction and housework are key predictors of union dissolution. The analysis also revealed complex interactions between variables, including the impact of personal traits like openness and extraversion.

SourceBocconi University·JournalDemography·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 10, 2022

Businesses run by minorities, women and vets disproportionately affected by pandemic, NIST, NOAA study finds

A new study found that businesses run by minorities, women, and veterans were more likely to experience negative effects from the pandemic than non-HUGO businesses. The researchers analyzed responses from over 1,350 businesses and found that demographic factors played a significant role in determining a business's resilience during the...

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction·DateFeb 14, 2022

PSU study challenges idea that college degree is still the great equalizer

A Portland State University study suggests that rising tuition and debt burdens limit higher education's power to reduce socioeconomic disparities. College graduates from lower-income families are more likely to hold large educational debt, which can negatively impact their financial investment and savings.

SourcePortland State University·JournalSocius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 7, 2022

Physicists unify sociological theories that explain social stability

Researchers from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna propose that homophily, or interacting with like-minded individuals, automatically leads to social balance and stability. They demonstrate this using data from the Massive Multiplayer Online Game Pardus, where players tend to form friendships with those who share similar characteristics.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2022

Women, older adults with college degrees more likely to feel socially isolated during COVID-19

A new study suggests that women and older adults with college degrees are more likely to report feeling socially isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research highlights the need for culturally sensitive initiatives to mitigate social isolation in vulnerable populations, including Hispanic and African American communities.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·TypeSurvey·DateDec 10, 2021

Uncovering racial disparities in nonfatal police shootings

A study of four US states finds that Black people are more likely to be nonfatally shot and injured by police, with disparities greater than seen for fatal shootings. The research highlights the need for comprehensive data on police shootings to draw reliable conclusions about racial disparities.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateNov 10, 2021

More sleep boosts teens’ ability to cope with pandemic

A new study from McGill University reveals that delaying school start times can help reduce stress and improve coping skills in teenagers during times of crisis. The research found that allowing teens to follow their natural sleep-wake cycle led to improved mental health outcomes.

SourceMcGill University·JournalChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health·TypeObservational study·DateSep 17, 2021

Researchers explore how people respond to wildfire smoke

Researchers studied Northern California residents' responses to wildfire smoke, finding that social norms and social support significantly influence protective health actions. The study aims to promote safer behavior by understanding how people interact with information and make decisions during smoke events.

SourceStanford University·JournalClimate Risk Management·TypeCase study·DateAug 30, 2021

New study shows rundown neighborhoods not slated to go into a steep decline

A new study from the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center shows that physical disorder in Detroit doesn't lead to a steep increase in violent crime. The study's findings suggest that community-driven efforts to rebuild and remake rundown neighborhoods can be effective in reducing disorder and fear.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalThe British Journal of Criminology·DateAug 27, 2021

Residential mobility is key social determinant of health in people with spinal cord injury

Researchers found that one in four people with spinal cord injury relocated over a five-year period, often to high-poverty areas, increasing health risks. The study highlights the importance of considering residential mobility as a key social determinant of health for this population.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 9, 2021

I know the name, but cannot read it right: difficulties in reading recent Japanese names

A Tokyo University of Science researcher analyzed 8,000 infant names and found that common boys' name "大翔" has at least 18 readings, while girls' name "結愛" has at least 14. The study shows that parents use various readings, including non-existent ones, and abbreviate common readings.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalHumanities and Social Sciences Communications·TypeContent analysis·DateJul 29, 2021

It's not about East and West, it's about top and bottom

A German study finds that social appreciation and disrespect in daily life significantly vary based on socio-economic factors. Individuals with higher incomes and education levels tend to feel more recognized and respected, whereas the unemployed are at a greater risk of experiencing less recognition and respect.

SourceOtto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg·JournalKZfSS Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie·DateJan 10, 2020

Initially threatened by change, people adapt to societal diversity over time

A recent study published in PNAS found that people can adapt to societal diversity and actually benefit from it. Researchers analyzed data from multiple surveys across 100 countries and found that religious diversity was initially negatively associated with quality of life but later became neutral when measured over longer spans of time.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 23, 2019

AU professor develops web tool to speed data collection

A new web application developed by AU Professor Michael Bader and colleagues uses Google Street View technology to speed up researchers' data collection for sociological studies on aging in place. The app eliminates costly and time-consuming aspects of conducting research, providing a reliable tool for large-scale research.

SourceAmerican University·JournalHealth & Place·DateFeb 20, 2015

Better data needed to make good immigration policy

Researchers rely on imputation methods to estimate immigrant populations' legal status and insurance coverage, but these methods may deliver inaccurate results. Inaccurate estimates can lead to planning and implementation of policies with unintended consequences for local groups.

SourcePenn State·JournalDemography·DateJan 14, 2015

Study: Religious diversity increases in America, yet perceptions of Christian nation intensify

A study by Jeremy Brooke Straughn found that American religiosity is becoming more diverse, yet perceptions of Christianity as a dominant force are intensifying. This trend coincides with the decline of Protestantism and the rise of religious diversity, highlighting the need to consider the impact of religion on national identity.

SourcePurdue University·JournalSociology of Religion·DateOct 19, 2010

Divine intervention? New research looks at beliefs about God's influence in everyday life

A new study from the University of Toronto found that most Americans believe God is directly involved in their personal affairs, with 82% relying on God for help and guidance. Higher education and income levels are associated with lower beliefs in divine intervention, but surprisingly, more religiously active individuals in these group...

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalSociology of Religion·DateMar 9, 2010

The price of power at work?

New research from the University of Toronto finds that workers with higher job authority report significantly higher levels of interpersonal conflict. Younger workers with power face the highest level of conflict in the workplace, while men with authority report more conflict than similarly-positioned women.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalWork and Occupations·DateAug 19, 2008

When it comes to jealousy, men and women may come from the same planet after all

A recent study published in Personality and Social Psychology Review by Christine Harris questions the evolutionary theory of sex differences in jealousy. She finds that men and women view sexual and emotional jealousy in a similar light, with many studies failing to account for individual variability and cultural influences. Harris su...

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateMay 27, 2003

Patients Better Than Doctors At Predicting Their Health

A Purdue University study found that patients' reports of their own health were more valid than doctors' predictions, especially for African-American patients. The discrepancy may be due to varying levels of information provided by patients, with doctors relying heavily on patient input to make informed decisions.

SourcePurdue University·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateApr 8, 1999