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Gender gap in surgical residencies

A decade-long study finds that certain surgical specialties have significantly lower percentages of female resident physicians. The researchers identified these specialties and tracked changes in the number of women in each over time.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateJul 29, 2020

Men 'less supportive' in more egalitarian nations

A new 42-country study reveals that men in more gender-equal societies are less likely to support women's causes and are more likely to hold hostile sexist attitudes. The research suggests that 'zero-sum' thinking, where gains for women equate to losses for men, is a significant barrier to achieving gender harmony.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalEuropean Journal of Social Psychology·DateJul 23, 2020

Gender differences in prosecution of police assault in Sweden

A study published in PLOS ONE found that female prosecutors in Sweden are 16 percentage points more likely to investigate police assault claims than their male counterparts. This difference was observed despite the prosecutors being randomly assigned to cases and having similar characteristics.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 22, 2020

Gender gaps in STEM college majors emerge in high school

Research by Cornell University's Kim Weeden suggests that early high school occupational plans are a key factor in determining future STEM college majors, with significant gender differences emerging at this stage. Women are less likely than men to plan for STEM careers, despite similar math abilities and academic achievements.

SourceCornell University·JournalSociology of Education·DateJul 2, 2020

Men more likely than women to be seen as brilliant

A new global study found that an unconscious stereotype links men to brilliance, hindering women's career advancement in prestigious fields. The research used the Implicit Association Test to measure implicit biases, revealing a strong association between brilliance and masculinity.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateJul 2, 2020

Sexist views on education within families affect future academic choices

A study by UOC researchers found that sexist views within families can impact academic decisions, with girls more likely to confront sexism and seek help, while boys tend to avoid it. The study also highlights the importance of educating both boys and girls on equality and dealing with sexism.

SourceUniversitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)·JournalInternational Journal of Social Psychology Revista de Psicología Social·DateJun 26, 2020

The world is much more alike than different

A new study from UC Riverside asserts the world population may have much more in common than it has differences. The research, which included data from 15,318 members of university and college communities, found that people within countries are more similar than expected, while those across different countries exhibit smaller differences.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Personality·DateJun 9, 2020

Study demonstrates association between exposure to air pollution and vascular damage

A study published in Environment International found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon increases the risk of vascular damage in people living in India. The research, which analyzed data from over 3,000 individuals, showed a non-linear association between PM2.5 exposure and vascular injury.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironment International·DateJun 3, 2020

Behaviors and traits that influence social status, according to evolutionary psychologists

A study by evolutionary psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin identified universal qualities like intelligence, honesty, and bravery that increase a person's social value. The findings also revealed cultural differences in what influences social status, with certain traits being more valuable in some societies than others.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJun 2, 2020

Age, gender and culture 'predict loneliness'

A global study involving over 46,000 participants found that younger people report greater feelings of loneliness than older adults. The study also revealed cultural differences in loneliness levels, with individuals in collectivist societies experiencing lower levels of loneliness.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateMay 27, 2020

Women quotas in politics have unintended consequences

A study by University of Rochester researchers found that women quotas in India's local government elections led to a reduction in the representation of lower caste groups, while increasing the representation of Hindu upper castes. The quota policy aimed to increase female representation but ultimately had unintended consequences.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalAmerican Journal of Political Science·DateMay 21, 2020

Women told more white lies in evaluations than men: Study

New research by Cornell University reveals that women are more likely to be given inaccurate performance feedback, with underperforming women receiving less truthful but kinder feedback compared to equally underperforming men. This finding highlights a potential obstacle to equality in the workplace.

SourceCornell University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateMay 19, 2020

Examining health insurance nondiscrimination policies with mental health among gender minority individuals

Researchers analyzed a large private health insurance database to investigate the association between health insurance nondiscrimination policies and mental health outcomes in gender minority individuals. The study found significant disparities in access to mental health care and treatment, highlighting the need for policy changes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateMay 6, 2020

Dance with your grandma (not during COVID-19 of course)

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) improved mood and physical activity in grandmothers, while also allowing their female dance/movement therapists to process their grandparents' eventual death. The therapy promoted a strong intergenerational bond between the two groups.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateApr 17, 2020

Gender gap in test scores

A study analyzing 2,646,550 college entrance tests in Chile found that removing a penalty for incorrect answers narrowed the gender gap in test scores, particularly among high-performing students in some STEM fields. This policy change also reduced the gender gap in the number of questions skipped.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2020

Evaluating grip strength to identify early diabetes

A new study identifies consistent grip strength cut points relative to body weight, gender, and age group in a large nationally representative sample of participants. Researchers found that assessing normalized grip strength can routinely screen for type 2 diabetes in apparently healthy adults.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateApr 6, 2020

Study finds irregular sleep patterns double the risk of cardiovascular disease in older adults

A new study finds that irregular sleep patterns, such as no regular bedtime and wake-up schedule or varying amounts of sleep each night, may represent a novel and independent heart disease risk factor. Older adults with these patterns are nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMar 2, 2020

'Low' socioeconomic status is the biggest barrier to STEM participation

A new study finds that socioeconomic status has the strongest impact on STEM science enrollment in Australian secondary schools. Lower SES schools lack resources and diversity in syllabi, making it difficult for underrepresented students to engage with science. Initiatives promoting inclusivity and cultural capital can help increase pa...

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalInternational Journal of Science Education·DateFeb 26, 2020

Do girls read better than boys? If so, gender stereotypes may be to blame

A longitudinal study in Germany found that classmates' gender stereotypes have a negative effect on boys' reading outcomes, including lower motivation and achievement. In contrast, girls experienced positive effects from their classmates' stereotypes. The study suggests that reducing stereotypical behaviors in classrooms can help creat...

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateFeb 26, 2020

Increases in minimum wage may not have anticipated positive health effects, study shows

A new study by researchers at the University of Washington found that increases in minimum wages had no overall effect on the health of working-age people. However, they did find a mix of negative and positive effects associated with the health of certain subgroups, including increased obesity rates among working-age people of color.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateFeb 10, 2020