scholarly journals The Dynamics of Neighborhood Structural Conditions: The Effects of Concentrated Disadvantage on Homicide over Time and Space

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob H. Becker

Several recent spatial analyses conclude the strong positive association typically found between neighborhood concentrated disadvantage and crime in cross–sectional studies significantly differs across neighborhoods. It is possible this spatial variation is due to within–neighborhood dynamics of continuity and change, as suggested by ecological theories of neighborhood crime. Using ordinary least–squares and geographically weighted regression models, I explore the role of within–neighborhood change on the disadvantage–homicide relationship across Chicago neighborhoods and find that controlling for historical changes in disadvantage within neighborhoods reduces—but does not eliminate—spatial variation in the cross–sectional relationship. Within–neighborhood changes in concentrated disadvantage from 1970 to 2000 are positively related to homicide rates, net of the level of disadvantage in 2000. This suggests the relationship is influenced to some degree by temporal continuity or change in the neighborhood ecological structure, consistent with the dynamic conceptualization of neighborhoods inherent to ecological theories of crime like social disorganization.

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob H Becker

Abstract Research on neighborhood structural conditions like concentrated disadvantage and crime largely focuses on between-neighborhood differences; for example, places with more disadvantage are expected to experience higher homicide rates. However, empirical research often does not consider within-neighborhood dynamics of structural stability and change. Furthermore, several recent studies have found cross-sectional associations between structural variables and crime outcomes can vary significantly across units, violating a key assumption of global modeling strategies. The current work explores if and how historical changes in disadvantage influence neighborhood collective efficacy and homicide rates, net of the level of disadvantage at a given time point. Collective efficacy theoretically mediates the relationship between conditions and crime, and is hypothesized to be the mechanism through which structural change influences homicide rates. It is also hypothesized that spatial variation in cross-sectional associations between disadvantage and social outcomes can be explained by accounting for within-neighborhood changes in disadvantage. Using a sample of Chicago neighborhoods and ordinary least squares and geographically weighted regression models, I find that within-neighborhood changes in disadvantage significantly predict neighborhood collective efficacy, though the effects of this change on homicide rates are not completely mediated by collective efficacy. Within-neighborhood change completely accounts for spatial variation in cross-sectional associations, offering one explanation of prior research findings. Within-neighborhood structural changes appear to disrupt collective efficacy and contribute to higher homicide rates than predicted by the level of disadvantage alone.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
AlKhairi ◽  
Cherian ◽  
Abu-Farha ◽  
Madhoun ◽  
Nizam ◽  
...  

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing pandemic associated with metabolic dysregulation and chronic inflammation. Meteorin-like hormone (METRNL) is an adipomyokine that is linked to T2D. Our objective was to evaluate the changes in METRNL levels in T2D and obesity and assess the association of METRNL levels with irisin. Overall, 228 Arab individuals were enrolled. Plasma levels of METRNL and irisin were assessed using immunoassay. Plasma levels of METRNL and irisin were significantly higher in T2D patients than in non-diabetic patients (p < 0.05). When the population was stratified based on obesity, METRNL and irisin levels were significantly higher in obese than in non-obese individuals (p < 0.05). We found a significant positive correlation between METRNL and irisin (r = 0.233 and p = 0.001). Additionally, METRNL and irisin showed significant correlation with various metabolic biomarkers associated with T2D and Obesity. Our data shows elevated METRNL plasma levels in individuals with T2D, further exacerbated with obesity. Additionally, a strong positive association was observed between METRNL and irisin. Further studies are necessary to examine the role of these proteins in T2D and obesity, against their ethnic background and to understand the mechanistic significance of their possible interplay.


2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 936-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charumathi Sabanayagam ◽  
Anoop Shankar ◽  
Su Chi Lim ◽  
E. Shyong Tai ◽  
Tien Yin Wong

Studies conducted in Western populations demonstrate that blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The authors examined the cross-sectional association between BP and CKD in 3280 adults of Malay ethnicity aged 40 to 80 years living in Singapore. CKD was defined as (1) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and (2) presence of microalbuminuria/macroalbuminuria. They observed a dose-dependent positive association between BP and CKD ( P trend < .0001). In multivariable-adjusted analysis, compared with participants with normal BP, the odds ratio (OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was 1.85 (0.95-3.62), 2.95 (1.55-5.64), and 4.96 (2.63-9.37) for prehypertension, and stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension, respectively. Similar results were obtained for microalbuminuria/macroalbuminuria. Stage 2 hypertension had the greatest population-attributable risk of CKD (23%). The strong positive association of hypertension with CKD emphasizes the need to control BP in Asian populations to reduce the burden of kidney disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-155
Author(s):  
Farah Saleem ◽  
Kehkashan Arouj ◽  
Sabir Zaman ◽  
Azmat Shaheen

The current study intended to find out the role of resilience on perceived public stigma and burden among primary caregivers of the psychiatric patients. The current study highlighted the psychological health of caregivers. A cross sectional study was conducted in region of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A total of 250 caregivers participated in the study, whom 125 were male and 125 were female caregivers, age range was 25-60 years (M=31.61, SD=5.93). The data was collected from public and private hospitals.  Three scales were used for data collection. The resilience was measured through Urdu translated resilience scale, public stigma was assessed by using Urdu version of perceived public stigma, and Burden was measured through interview.  The result showed that resilience was negatively associated with burden and perceived public stigma (p< 0.01). Further, the multiple regression showed that resilience acted as moderator between public stigma and burden (? = -1.02, p< .001). The result supported a positive association between public stigma, burden and resilience among caregivers of psychiatric patients.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e2867
Author(s):  
Mihály Sulyok ◽  
Tamás Ferenci ◽  
Mihály Makara ◽  
Gábor Horváth ◽  
János Szlávik ◽  
...  

BackgroundLiver disease has become an important cause of morbidity and mortality even in those HIV-infected individuals who are devoid of hepatitis virus co-infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of hepatic fibrosis and the role of associated factors using liver stiffness measurement in HIV mono-infected patients without significant alcohol intake.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study of 101 HIV mono-infected patients recruited prospectively from March 1, 2014 to October 30, 2014 at the Center for HIV, St István and St László Hospital, Budapest, Hungary. To determine hepatic fibrosis, liver stiffness was measured with transient elastography. Demographic, immunologic and other clinical parameters were collected to establish a multivariate model. Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) was performed to identify predictors of liver stiffness.ResultsLiver stiffness ranged from 3.0–34.3 kPa, with a median value of 5.1 kPa (IQR 1.7). BMA provided a very high support for age (Posterior Effect Probability-PEP: 84.5%), moderate for BMI (PEP: 49.3%), CD4/8 ratio (PEP: 44.2%) and lipodystrophy (PEP: 44.0%). For all remaining variables, the model rather provides evidence against their effect. These results overall suggest that age and BMI have a positive association with LS, while CD4/8 ratio and lipodystrophy are negatively associated.DiscussionOur findings shed light on the possible importance of ageing, overweight and HIV-induced immune dysregulation in the development of liver fibrosis in the HIV-infected population. Nonetheless, further controlled studies are warranted to clarify causal relations.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaya Li ◽  
Mai Kabayama ◽  
Kei Kamide

Abstract Background The association of social support with mental health for the older adults has been well documented; however, object-specific support was rarely discussed. This study examined the relationships of multiple aspects of social support, especially focusing on objects of social support, across different aging stages. Methods We conducted a self-reported cross-sectional survey in Osaka, Japan in 2013. We analyzed 659 pre-old and 888 old age participants. SF-36v2 was used to measure mental health. Objects of social support was divided into 3 categories (kin, friends, community) with integrating sub-dimensions of social support such as instrumental / emotional social support (function) and provided / received social support (role). Ordinary least squares, controlled for covariates, was carried out to analyze the variation among three objects of social support on mental health in two age groups. Results The results showed a positive association within the pre-old age group but not within the old age group. For the pre-old age group, either emotional or instrumental social support either provided to or received from a community neighbor had a positive association, while emotional social support provided to kin or friends and instrumental support received from friends didn’t show any relation to mental health.Conclusions The relationship between social support and mental health varied by objects and age groups.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-20
Author(s):  
Kamran Khan ◽  
Mahvia Gul

The study investigates the relationship between psychological ownership with subjective happiness of the employees. The study also examines the mediating role of work engagement in order to explain the relationship between subjective happiness and psychological ownership at workplace.  The purposive sampling techniques have been used with cross sectional design in order to collection data. Mediation analysis was conducted on SPSS by using sample of 271 employees from leading telecommunication companies working in Pakistan. The results showed that psychological ownership has significant positive association with subjective happiness of the employees. Further, work engagement significantly positively mediates this relationship. The present research contributes on the literature of psychological ownerships and subjective happiness and provides possible solutions for maintaining positive atmosphere of psychological ownership that ultimately increase the subjective happiness of the employees.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Talat Islam ◽  
Muhammad Ali ◽  
Saqib Jamil ◽  
Hafiz Fawad Ali

Purpose This study aims to investigate individual-related consequences of workplace bullying among the health-care section. Specifically, this study examined the mediating role of burnout between workplace bullying and nurses’ well-being. Moreover, passive avoidant leadership is examined as a conditional variable between workplace bullying and burnout. Design/methodology/approach This study collected data from 314 nurses working in various hospitals through a questionnaire-based survey using Google Form in two waves. Findings Structural equation modeling confirmed the negative effect of workplace bullying on nurses’ well-being, whereas burnout mediates this relationship. In addition, passive avoidant leadership was identified as a conditional variable that strengthens the positive association between workplace bullying and burnout. Research limitations/implications Although data for the study were collected in two waves, still cross-sectional design limits causality. Practical implications This study suggests management to focus on developing and implementing counter-bullying rules to avoid the adverse consequences of workplace bullying (e.g. capital loss, recruitment costs, burnout, well-being, etc.). In addition, leaders/supervisors must be trained to fulfill their responsibilities to reduce negative consequences. Originality/value Studies on workplace bullying in high-power distance cultures are scant. Therefore, drawing upon conservation of resource theory, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that has investigated the moderating role of passive avoidant leadership on the association between workplace bullying and burnout.


Author(s):  
Sayyeda Taskeen Zahra ◽  
Sadia Saleem ◽  
Admin

Abstract Objective: To identify the mediating role of self-confidence in family cohesion and depression in adolescents. Methods: The cross-sectional research design was used and study was conducted in the mainstream government schools of Lahore. A sample of 394 adolescents (boys = 54%, girls = 46%), aged 12-19 years (M = 14.76; SD = 1.39) recruited through multistage sampling strategy. Family Cohesion Scale, Self-confidence Scale and Depression Scale for Adolescents were used to measure family cohesion, self-confidence and depression respectively. Results: A significant positive association between family cohesion and self-confidence (p < .001), and a significant negative association of family cohesion (p < .001) and self-confidence (p < .01) with depression was found. Moreover, mediation analysis revealed that self-confidence partially mediates the relationship between family cohesion and depression (p = .01). Conclusion: Early and timely identification of risk factors can prevent from serious consequences of depression in adolescents. Keywords: Family cohesion, self-confidence, depression, adolescents.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Woeckener ◽  
Danielle L. Boisvert ◽  
Eric M. Cooke ◽  
Nicholas Kavish ◽  
Richard H. Lewis ◽  
...  

Purpose Research reports a positive relationship between parental rejection and antisocial behavior in adolescents and young adults. Studies also report a positive association between testosterone and antisocial behavior. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether testosterone moderates the influence of parental rejection on antisocial behavior in a sample of young adults. Design/methodology/approach The current study analyzed a sample of undergraduate students (N=322) to examine the interaction between testosterone and parental rejection in the prediction of antisocial behavior. Multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to explore this association. Findings Results from OLS regression models revealed that parental rejection and testosterone were independently associated with antisocial behavior and that the effect of parental rejection on antisocial behavior was stronger at higher levels of testosterone. Originality/value This current study is the first to examine how testosterone conditions the influence of parental rejection on antisocial behavior in young adults. Findings from the study add to the growing body of literature examining the interplay between biological and environmental factors.


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