Bridging the Divide: Does Social Capital Moderate the Impact of Polarization on Health?

2021 ◽  
pp. 106591292110345
Author(s):  
Costas Panagopoulos ◽  
Timothy Fraser ◽  
Daniel P. Aldrich ◽  
Daniel Kim ◽  
David Hummel
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Political Polarization ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health Experts

Rising partisan polarization in the American public over the last decade has been linked to stress and anxiety, raising questions about how communities and public health experts should respond. As the strength of an individual’s social network correlates with better health outcomes, could building a diverse set of connections moderate the effect of political polarization on an individual’s health? This study examines the role of social capital as a key intervening variable in the relationship between polarization and health. Drawing on a nationally representative survey of 2,752 U.S. residents conducted in December 2019 compared with county-level data, we use negative binomial, logit, and gamma models to examine the interaction between indicators of political polarization and bonding, bridging, and linking social capital on physical and mental health outcomes. We find consistent evidence that bonding social ties intervene to improve the physical and mental health of individuals in polarized communities, while bridging ties are related to worse health for politically isolated residents. By highlighting the relationship between polarization, social networks, and health, our findings shed light on how public health experts, and policymakers can improve health outcomes in polarized communities.

scholarly journals Did people really drink bleach to prevent COVID-19? A tale of problematic respondents and a guide for measuring rare events in survey data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leib Litman ◽  
Zohn Rosen ◽  
Cheskie Rosenzweig ◽  
Sarah L. Weinberger-Litman ◽  
Aaron J. Moss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Iron Content ◽  
Heart Attack ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Similar Rate ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractSociety is becoming increasingly dependent on survey research. However, surveys can be impacted by participants who are non-attentive, respond randomly to survey questions, and misrepresent who they are and their true attitudes. The impact that such respondents can have on public health research has rarely been systematically examined. In this study we examine whether Americans began to engage in dangerous cleaning practices to avoid Covid-19 infection. Prior findings reported by the CDC have suggested that people began to engage in highly dangerous cleaning practices during the Covid-19 pandemic, including ingesting household cleansers such as bleach. In a series of studies totaling close to 1400 respondents, we show that 80-90% of reports of household cleanser ingestion are made by problematic respondents. These respondents report impossible claims such as ‘recently having had a fatal heart attack’ and ‘eating concrete for its iron content’ at a similar rate to ingesting household cleaners. Additionally, respondents’ frequent misreading or misinterpreting the intent of questions accounted for the rest of such claims. Once inattentive, mischievous, and careless respondents are taken out of the analytic sample we find no evidence that people ingest cleansers to prevent Covid-19 infection. The relationship between dangerous cleaning practices and health outcomes also becomes non-significant once problematic respondents are taken out of the analytic sample. These results show that reported ingestion of household cleaners and other similar dangerous practices are an artifact of problematic respondent bias. The implications of these findings for public health and medical survey research, as well as best practices for avoiding problematic respondents in surveys are discussed.

A Proposed Ban on the Sale to and Possession of Caloric Sweetened Beverages by Minors in Public

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G. Hodge ◽  
Leila Barraza ◽  
Susan Russo ◽  
Kellie Nelson ◽  
Greg Measer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Modern Era ◽  
Health Experts

Obesity is the definitive epidemic of the modern era in the United States. Its well-documented public health impacts, especially related to children and adolescents, are horrific. Nearly one-third of American minors are overweight; over 50% of them are obese. Already, these kids suffer from multiple adverse physical and mental health conditions. Sadly, absent serious communal and individual interventions, their lives may be cut short compared to their own parents’ life expectancy. While recent surveillance suggests childhood obesity may be trending down slightly in some populations, public health experts remain concerned about the threat obesity poses to the health of America's youth.The concurrent travesty underlying childhood obesity is the relative societal failure to slow and reverse its spread.

scholarly journals ABC framework of fear of COVID-19 for psychotherapeutic intervention in Nepal: a review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhirendra Paudel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Stress Disorders ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Attending Physician ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health Care Centers ◽  
Different Levels

The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on physical and mental health. Most studies report the impact on mental health and mental distress during the pandemic. As a result of various stressors (such as lockdown, quarantines, and misinformation) there is heightened fear of a pandemic. The sufferer may experience a variety of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even psychosis. In predisposed vulnerable individuals, fear of COVID-19 is perpetuating pain and dysfunction. This study discussed the ABC framework of fear and influencer to better understand the different levels of symptoms and interventions. There is an urgent need to integrate mental health into primary health-care centers. The attending physician should be aware of the stress disorders associated with the pandemic. This article introduces a handy and practical portrayal of the ABC framework that can be taught to individuals in distress during clinical visits to primary care centers providing awareness of the relationship between thinking, emotional and behavioral responses.

scholarly journals The impact of menopause on sleep disorders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luiza Franco de Oliveira ◽  
Maria Clara Lopes Rezende ◽  
Júlia Campos Fabri ◽  
Maria Julia Filgueiras Granato ◽  
Leandro Vespoli Campos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Longitudinal Data ◽  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Hot Flashes ◽  
Vasomotor Symptoms ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Health Objective

Introduction: Sleep disorders are one of the main complaints of women in transition from menopause, with a prevalence between 40% and 56%. However, regardless of the etiology, it is essential to assess the symptoms of insomnia in the context of menopause, as well as physical and mental health. Objective: To investigate the relationship between the transition from menopause to the causes of insomnia. Methodology: In April 2021, a literature review was carried out on MedLine using the descriptors “insomnia”, “menopause” and their respective synonyms, published in the last 5 years and available in full. Results: 157 articles were found, 4 of which were used in making this work. The precise mechanism of vasomotor symptoms is little known, but the hypothesis is that it results from a disturbance of the temperature regulating system in the hypothalamus, triggered by a decline in estrogen. Longitudinal data show that women with moderate to severe hot flashes are almost three times more likely to report frequent nighttime awakenings compared to women without hot flashes (HF). Conclusion: Therefore, HF is an important aspect of insomnia in the transition from menopause and is strongly associated with reports of interrupted sleep.

scholarly journals The Impact of Community Size, Community Climate, and Victimization on the Physical and Mental Health of SGM Youth

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-448
Author(s):  
Megan S. Paceley ◽  
Jessica N. Fish ◽  
Margaret M. C. Thomas ◽  
Jacob Goffnett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Community Size ◽  
Health Community ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Climate

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth experience high rates of victimization leading to health disparities. Community size and community climate are associated with health outcomes among SGM youth; however, we lack studies that include them as covariates alongside victimization to understand their collective impact on health. This study utilized minority stress theory to understand how community context shapes experiences of victimization and health among SGM youth. SGM youth in one Midwestern U.S. state completed an online survey ( n = 201) with measures of physical health, mental health, community context, and victimization. Data were analyzed via multiple regression using a path analysis framework. Results indicate that perceived climate was associated with mental, but not physical, health; Community size was unrelated to health outcomes. Victimization mediated the association between community climate and mental health. Findings are discussed in light of current literature and implications for research and practice are shared.

scholarly journals Housing and Health among Young First Nations Children Living Off Reserve: Results from the 2006 Aboriginal Children’s Survey

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Guevremont ◽  
Evelyne Bougie ◽  
Dafna Kohen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Parental Satisfaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Age And Sex

First Nations children in Canada often experience poorer housing conditions than other Canadian children. This study used the 2006 Aboriginal Children’s Survey to examine the relationship between housing and physical and mental health for First Nations preschool-aged children living off-reserve. This study provides evidence that the physical, spatial, and psychological aspects of housing in which young off-reserve First Nations children live are associated with their physical and mental health, even after controlling for family socioeconomic factors, area of residence, and child’s age and sex (analyzed with regression models). In particular, homeownership, parental satisfaction with housing, and number of moves per year were all associated with multiple physical and mental health outcomes. Future research is needed to further investigate the mechanisms at play.

scholarly journals Poverty, inequality and a political economy of mental health

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Burns
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Political Economy ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Impact

The relationship between poverty and mental health is indisputable. However, to have an influence on the next set of sustainable global development goals, we need to understand the causal relationships between social determinants such as poverty, inequality, lack of education and unemployment; thereby clarifying which aspects of poverty are the key drivers of mental illness. Some of the major challenges identified by Lund (2014) in understanding the poverty–mental health relationship are discussed including: the need for appropriate poverty indicators; extending this research agenda to a broader range of mental health outcomes; the need to engage with theoretical concepts such as Amartya Sen's capability framework; and the need to integrate the concept of income/economic inequality into studies of poverty and mental health. Although income inequality is a powerful driver of poor physical and mental health outcomes, it features rarely in research and discourse on social determinants of mental health. This paper interrogates in detail the relationships between poverty, income inequality and mental health, specifically: the role of income inequality as a mediator of the poverty–mental health relationship; the relative utility of commonly used income inequality metrics; and the likely mechanisms underlying the impact of inequality on mental health, including direct stress due to the setting up of social comparisons as well as the erosion of social capital leading to social fragmentation. Finally, we need to interrogate the upstream political, social and economic causes of inequality itself, since these should also become potential targets in efforts to promote sustainable development goals and improve population (mental) health. In particular, neoliberal (market-oriented) political doctrines lead to both increased income inequality and reduced social cohesion. In conclusion, understanding the relationships between politics, poverty, inequality and mental health outcomes requires us to develop a robust, evidence-based ‘political economy of mental health.’

scholarly journals School Parks as a Community Health Resource: Use of Joint-Use Parks by Children before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9237
Author(s):  
Kevin Lanza ◽  
Casey Durand ◽  
Melody Alcazar ◽  
Sierra Ehlers ◽  
Kai Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Health Resource ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Binomial Regression ◽  
The Impact

Parks are settings for physical activity that can support the physical and mental health of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We determined the impact of the pandemic on the use of joint-use parks outside of school hours by children in Austin, TX, United States. In autumn of 2019 and autumn of 2020 (i.e., before and during the COVID-19 pandemic), we used an adapted version of the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities to observe whether children aged 1–12 participated in physical activity (i.e., sedentary, light and moderate, vigorous) at three parks located at schools serving mostly economically disadvantaged Latinx families. In 2020, we also observed whether children maintained social distance and wore face coverings. Results of negative binomial regression modeling revealed the pandemic was associated with a 46% [95% CI: 20–63%] and 62% [95% CI: 39–76%] decrease in the number of girls and boys at parks, respectively, and a 42% [95% CI: 16–59%] and 60% [95% CI: 36–75%] decrease in the number of girls and boys engaging in physical activity, respectively (p < 0.01). In total, 60.6% of girls and 73.6% of boys were not social distancing, and 91.8% of the time no children wore masks. Interventions should be considered to safely reintroduce children to parks for health benefits during pandemics.

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