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Understanding the full picture of child poverty

A study by Duke University researchers reveals that net worth poverty has a significant impact on child development, affecting cognitive scores and behavior. The research highlights the importance of considering both income and wealth when designing programs to address child wellbeing.

SourceDuke University·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 6, 2022

PLOS Global Public Health editors call for embedding Indigenous self-determination, with respect to researchers, knowledge, ethics, and processes, into all stages of research, to decolonize global health

The article emphasizes the need to incorporate Indigenous self-determination into research, respecting knowledge, ethics, and processes. This move aims to address historical injustices and promote more equitable health research practices.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·DateSep 1, 2022

Ambitious career aspirations: A balancing act between success and disappointment

A new study co-authored by economist Dr. Reto Odermatt found that educational and occupational aspirations are important predictors of career success, with ambitious goals motivating people to invest more in their future career success. However, unrealistically high aspirations as a teenager can have negative effects on well-being as a...

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalEuropean Economic Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 26, 2022

Special report outlines actionable steps to address racial/ethnic, linguistic and socioeconomic disparities in telehealth models of care

The report proposes a health equity framework to address disparities in telehealth services, focusing on strategic priority, patient input, social determinants, and institutional racism. It calls for integrating equity and innovation efforts to ensure access to telemedicine and digitally enabled health tools.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 26, 2022

Top-tier research institutions form alliance to explore equitable career advancement in higher education

Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, and New York University team up with a $3 million NSF grant to develop Project ELEVATE, promoting equitable STEM career advancement for underrepresented faculty. The alliance aims to create a collaborative community for institutional change at private research institutions.

Rich people from humble origins are less sensitive to the challenges of poverty than those born rich, research finds

New research suggests that people who become wealthy from humble origins are less likely to support social welfare and have reduced sympathy for the poor compared to those who were born into wealth. The study of 736 participants found a positive view of upwardly mobile individuals, but also discovered that they perceived improving thei...

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2022

Nature journal publishes UTEP-led pollution study

A nationwide study by UTEP researchers found that public housing residents experience higher levels of fine particulate matter, disproportionately affecting Black, Hispanic, disabled, and low-income populations. The study highlights the need for environmental, public health, and housing policies to address air pollution disparities.

SourceUniversity of Texas at El Paso·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 21, 2022

Study chronicles presence of chronic frames of race, gender, and wealth inequality

New research finds that journalists and laypersons describe racial and gender inequalities in terms of disadvantage, while wealth inequality is described in terms of advantage. The framing of inequalities is linked to their perceived legitimacy, with illegitimate inequalities being framed more strongly as disadvantages.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 18, 2022

Remote teaching during the pandemic disadvantages students in New Jersey’s lower-income school districts

A Rutgers study finds that remote teaching during the pandemic contributed to teacher and student stress, particularly in lower-income school districts where students faced inequities in online learning opportunities. The study highlights the need for targeted e-learning solutions and retrospective audits to address digital inequality.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of the Association for Information Science and Technology·DateMay 18, 2022

Adopting low-carbon energy can reduce racial disparities in air pollution

Research published in Science of the Total Environment found that adopting low-carbon fuels could reduce racial disparities in exposure to fine and ultrafine particle pollution by 20-40% in California by 2050. This would lead to improved air quality, reduced deaths, and estimated annual public health benefits of $20 billion.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 12, 2022

Health equity-informed public policies can help reduce existing inequities and ensure high quality primary care

A new article applies a health equity lens to the National Academies' recommendations for high-quality primary care. The authors propose strategies to operationalize these recommendations, aiming to eliminate existing health inequities and ensure equitable access to quality primary care.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateMar 23, 2022

Grandparents’ support for grandchildren may decrease when family with children faces challenges – except for maternal grandmothers

A study by University of Turku found that grandparents' support decreases with adverse experiences in children's families. However, maternal grandmothers' support remains consistent. The study suggests that future prospects for successful reproduction may impact grandparents' willingness to offer support.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeSurvey·DateMar 3, 2022

UH sociologist finds disparities in initial COVID-19 vaccine distribution

A new study by University of Houston sociologist Kathryn Freeman Anderson reveals significant disparities in the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout in five urban Texas counties. The research found that Black and Latino neighborhoods were less likely to receive vaccines due to existing healthcare resource shortages.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalJournal of Health and Social Behavior·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 15, 2022

Structural sexism and anti-LGB stigma linked to poor birth outcomes in the US

New research links structural sexism and anti-LGB stigma with increased risk of preterm birth and decreased birth weight, regardless of the mother's sexual orientation. The study found that these systemic issues can limit access to reproductive health care and socioeconomic opportunities, contributing to adverse birth outcomes.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalDemography·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 14, 2022

Open for single workers only? Point-based immigration increases poverty risks for migrant families

A new study by the University of Southampton finds that skilled overseas workers with families face a higher risk of poverty than UK workers and their net incomes are lower under the UK's points-based immigration system. The researchers warn that this could make the UK less attractive for overseas workers who could fill skills gaps.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalJournal of Poverty and Social Justice·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 10, 2022

Boundaries between work and family life disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic – Increased childcare responsibilities often shouldered by mothers

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted work-life boundaries, particularly for mothers, who took on more childcare responsibilities. Research in Finland found that mothers' flexibility was key to managing multiple roles, while the absence of support services highlighted gendered practices.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalGender Work and Organization·TypeSurvey·DateDec 20, 2021

Violence increased most in marginalized neighborhoods early in the COVID-19 pandemic

A new UC Davis study tracks firearm violence, assault, and homicide in 13 major US cities by zip code, revealing stark disparities. Firearm violence increased 29.3%, homicides by 27.7%, while robberies decreased 23.3% and rapes by 31.4% during the first five months of the pandemic.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 9, 2021

Racial bias among doctors may exacerbate disparities in HIV prevention, Rutgers-led study finds

A Rutgers-led study found that racial biases among health care providers may limit the number of Black women taking a daily pill to prevent HIV infection. The study also highlights how providers' racist beliefs can disadvantage Black women's access to PrEP, a medication up to 92% effective when taken correctly.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes & Human Retrovirology·DateDec 8, 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

Machine learning can be fair and accurate

A recent study published in Nature Machine Intelligence challenges the long-held assumption that accuracy and fairness are mutually exclusive in machine learning. Researchers found that optimizing models for accuracy does not necessarily compromise fairness, particularly when adjustments are made to data, labels, and scoring systems.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateOct 20, 2021

Penn researchers to study the impact of environmental and economic interventions on reducing health disparities in Black Philadelphia neighborhoods with nearly $10 million grant

The study will assess the impact of environmental and economic interventions on health and well-being in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Researchers will enroll 720 adults, half receiving the proposed interventions, and evaluate their overall health and wellbeing, as well as violent crime rates.

Study links COVID-19 rates with nature equity, shows double burden for communities of color

A study by the San Francisco Estuary Institute, the Nature Conservancy, and the University of Illinois suggests that access to nature may contribute to lower COVID-19 rates, regardless of racial or socioeconomic identity. The research team found a strong correlation between green spaces and decreased COVID-19 incidence rates.

Public opposes repressive policing of protesters, but fear, racial beliefs, protests’ goals can boost support for police control

A new study found that the public generally opposes repressive policing of protesters, but certain tactics by protesters increase fear and support for police repression. The goals of protests also impact support for police repression, with racially resentful individuals more supportive of repression.

SourceAmerican Society of Criminology·JournalCriminology·DateAug 17, 2021

Study shows privilege, politics influence vaccine’s racial disparity

Researchers found that socioeconomic privilege and political ideology play a significant role in racial disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates. Counties with higher median incomes displayed lower disparities, while county-level educational disparities had a greater impact on unequal vaccination rates.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 11, 2021

Study links economic mobility to racial mortality gaps

A recent study by the American Cancer Society found a strong association between economic mobility and racial disparities in mortality in the US. The study suggests that structural racism has persisted with similar magnitude across generations, leading to increased death rates among Black individuals compared to their White counterparts.

SourceAmerican Cancer Society·JournalCancer Epidemiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 4, 2021

Don't worry, the kids are cool if you cash in on their inheritance

A study by the University of South Australia suggests that public resistance to inheritance and estate taxes has declined in Australia. Researchers found that two-thirds of young adults and senior Australians are in favor of taxing estates worth more than $3m, which could help address social inequalities and increase government revenue.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalAustralian Journal of Political Science·DateJul 1, 2021

Data from 45 million mobile users further shows poorer people less able to stay at home COVID rules

A study of 45 million mobile users in the US found that poorer communities spent less time indoors during lockdowns, with lower earners often unable to afford stay-at-home orders or working from home. This disparity worsens social inequality and puts vulnerable groups at greater risk from COVID-19.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalAnnals of the American Association of Geographers·DateMay 28, 2021

Effects of contact between minority and majority groups more complex than once believed

A recent study found that positive effects of intergroup contact tend to be weaker among members of historically advantaged groups, such as white people and heterosexuals. However, when members of these groups engage in contact with disadvantaged groups, they are more likely to support social change promoting equality.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateJan 27, 2020

Social inequalities in salt consumption remain

A study published in BMJ Open found that social inequalities in salt intake have hardly changed in Britain over the last decade, despite a national average salt reduction. The research suggests that poorer households still consume more salt than higher socio-economic groups, highlighting the need to address these disparities to achieve...

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalBMJ Open·DateAug 26, 2014