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U.K. food insecurity is associated with mental health conditions

A recent study published in PLOS One found that 7.8% of U.K. households experience food insecurity, with Black/African/Caribbean/Black British households facing higher rates. Food insecurity is also associated with longstanding mental health conditions, particularly among Asian/Asian British respondents.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeSurvey·DateOct 15, 2025

Trump is the primary source of US disinformation in POC media, finds ICFJ study

A new study by the International Center for Journalists and US universities found that Trump was the main source and distributor of disinformation in ethnic and Indigenous press in the US. The research also linked the prevalence of political disinformation to a decline in trust in the news and an increase in violence against journalists.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·TypeContent analysis·DateOct 1, 2025

How climate policy can be made socially just and enforceable worldwide

A model study explores how carbon pricing paired with redistribution can help the energy transition and climate globally, increasing welfare and reducing economic inequality. The research team developed an integrated assessment model to map relationships between economy, income distribution, and climate policy in 179 countries.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 23, 2025

Large social and economic inequalities persist among UK doctors

A study of 10 years of UK Labour Force Survey data shows that those from professional backgrounds are 6 times more likely to become doctors than those from working class backgrounds. The researchers call for greater efforts to boost social mobility and understand the impact on patient care.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Open·TypeObservational study·DateSep 9, 2025

Pathways to decarbonization

A comprehensive study assesses decarbonization's ramifications on global poverty and inequality, revealing the potential for redistributing domestic carbon revenues to alleviate poverty. However, careful policy design and international cooperation are crucial to address social development issues in developing countries.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCell Reports Sustainability·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 8, 2025

Black youth, especially Black girls, use mental health services less than their White peers

New research published in CMAJ found that Black adolescents with mental distress are less likely to access mental health care, with Black girls being the least likely. The study highlights the need for culturally responsive and sex-specific adaptations to care, as well as policy changes to equalize mental health service use.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateSep 8, 2025

Women earn 25% less than men in wealthy households, finds study

A new analysis of the gender pay gap in the UK reveals that women in wealthier households earn 25% less than men, while those in poorer households experience a smaller 4% gap. The study highlights the importance of addressing societal penalties for being female and improving job quality to reduce the pay gap.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalCambridge Journal of Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 2, 2025

New study highlights how perceived economic inequality undermines individual well-being across 71 countries

A comprehensive new study examining data from 71 countries suggests that perceiving high levels of economic inequality significantly undermines individual well-being. The research demonstrates that awareness of economic disparity negatively affects overall well-being and widens the gap between current and desired feelings.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2025

New research says framing protests as fights for civil rights ‘backfires.’ So what might work?

A new study published in the American Sociological Review finds that framing modern social issues as attacks on civil rights decreases public support for government action. The researchers surveyed 7,500 California voters and found that civil rights framing was counterproductive across issues and beneficiaries, including Black people.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·TypeSurvey·DateJun 20, 2025

Majority of riders and drivers in UK 'gig economy' suffer anxiety over ratings and pay, study suggests

A study by the University of Cambridge found that two-thirds of UK gig economy riders and drivers experience anxiety over ratings and pay, with over half risking health and safety while working. The study also revealed that local workers spend an average of ten hours a week waiting for jobs to come through on the app.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalWork Employment and Society·TypeSurvey·DateJun 2, 2025

New research in JNCCN finds stark disparities in treatment and survival time for people with pancreatic cancer

Researchers found significant disparities in quality of care and outcomes for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Patients with higher social vulnerability indices were less likely to receive guideline-concordant systemic therapy, palliative care, or survive over 12 months.

SourceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network·JournalJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network·DateApr 9, 2025

How could artificial intelligence be used globally to increase fairness in the distribution of public social services?

The AI FORA project analyzed how AI-based social assessment varies across nine countries and four continents, highlighting the need for flexible, dynamic, and adaptive systems that reflect social stakeholders' perspectives. The research aims to improve AI in addressing fairness and discrimination issues in public social services.

Despite high employment rates, Black immigrants in the United States more likely to be uninsured, USC study shows

A recent USC study found that Black immigrants in the United States have a 9% higher likelihood of being uninsured compared to U.S.-born white adults, despite having a 70.2% employment rate. The disparity is attributed to wage penalties and systemic barriers related to race and immigration status.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalHealth Affairs·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 3, 2025

One of the world’s largest social programs greatly reduced tuberculosis among the most vulnerable

A landmark study by Barcelona Institute for Global Health found that Brazil's Bolsa Família Program reduced TB cases and deaths among extreme poverty, indigenous groups, and improved healthcare access. The program's effects were stronger among the poorest and indigenous populations, with a 50-60% decrease in TB cases.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalNature Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 3, 2025

Black Britons from top backgrounds up to three times more likely to be downwardly mobile

A new study by the University of Kent reveals that Black Britons, even from affluent families, are substantially more likely to end up in working-class jobs than their White peers. The research found that Black men from privileged backgrounds are four times more likely to be downwardly mobile after education is taken into account.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalSociological Research Online·TypeSurvey·DateNov 19, 2024

Women, Black people, and disadvantaged less likely to get heart surgery in England

Research published in the journal Heart found that women, Black people, and those from low-income households are less likely to be offered heart surgery than men, White people, and affluent individuals. When they do receive surgery, they are more likely to die within a year. The study highlights the need for prompt action to tackle the...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalHeart·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 3, 2024

Study: Direct incentives may boost hiring managers’ willingness to employ individuals with criminal convictions

A study found that direct incentives, such as tax credits and insurance, can increase hiring managers' willingness to hire applicants with prior records. The most effective incentives were a $2,400 tax credit and $25,000 insurance against losses, which worked regardless of conviction type or perceptions about performance.

SourceAmerican Society of Criminology·JournalCriminology & Public Policy·DateAug 26, 2024

Pollution drives families to relocate – but only the rich can afford to live in healthier areas

A new study finds that pollution levels significantly impact households' decision to relocate within the US, with poorer families being priced out of healthier areas. Richer households, on the other hand, opt for cleaner environments, earning more than average in their new communities.

SourceLancaster University·JournalEnvironmental and Resource Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 22, 2024

Women at risk of ‘digital overload’ – new research reveals

A new study by Lancaster University highlights that women are more likely than men to experience 'digital overload' and burnout due to their greater use of digital technologies in both work and family lives. The research emphasizes the need for gender-egalitarian work-from-home arrangements and policies to address this issue.

SourceLancaster University·JournalCommunity Work & Family·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 8, 2024

New ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner emphasises importance of restoring and reinforcing public trust in science after pandemic, in editorial for Eurosurveillance

Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, new ECDC Director, stresses the need to restore and reinforce public trust in science after the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlights challenges such as war, climate change, and social inequalities, which can lead to misinformation and reversed medical advances. ECDC is taking steps to implement its expanded mandat...

SourceEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)·JournalEurosurveillance·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 18, 2024

Racial disparities in dementia determined by social factors

A new study by researchers at WashU Medicine found that people of predominantly Native American or African ancestry have a higher prevalence of dementia due to social determinants of health. These factors include lower education levels, rural residency, and high blood pressure, which raised their risk of cognitive decline.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalAlzheimer’s & Dementia·TypeObservational study·DateJul 11, 2024

New "disembodied disconnect hypothesis" offers fresh perspective on digital technology's impact on social interaction

A new study introduces a novel hypothesis that digital technologies affect human sociality and mental health, particularly among youth. The Disembodied Disconnect Hypothesis suggests cultivating rich personal relationships in face-to-face communities to counterbalance disembodied digital interactions.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalCyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 10, 2024