Lack of Maternal Social Capital Increases the Likelihood of Harsh Parenting

Does low maternal social capital increase the likelihood of parents using harsh parenting behaviors? We analyzed random digit dial telephone survey data from 661 female primary caregivers across Colorado. Positive reports of the use of either physically or psychologically harsh parenting methods were classified as harsh parenting. Absence of social capital was assessed within the family and the community; lack of social capital within the family was measured in terms of an absence of support from a partner and an additional caregiver. Absence of social capital within the community was measured as lack of interpersonal resources from neighbors and religious activities. Nearly 30% admitted to one or more physically harsh parenting behaviors in the prior year, and 85.8% reported at least one psychologically harsh parenting behavior. Lower levels of neighborhood connectedness were associated with physically harsh parenting (odds ratio = 1.50). Conflict between partners (odd ratio = 2.50) and the absence of an additional caregiver (odds ratio = 1.88) increased psychologically harsh parenting. One practical implication is that mental health and medical providers should help new parents value, access, or develop social networks within the community to prevent children from experiencing harsh parenting.

Dusty trades and associated rheumatoid arthritis in a population-based study in the coal mining counties of Appalachia

ObjectivesWe previously showed increased coal mining-associated risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Using additional survey data, we sought to delineate this risk further.MethodsWe used data from two cross-sectional, random-digit-dial, population-based surveys (males;≥50 years) in selected counties in the Appalachian region of the inland, mid-Atlantic USA with elevated pneumoconiosis mortality. Surveys ascertained age, smoking, coal mining and non-coal silica exposure jobs. In a subset, we surveyed ergonomic exposures, scored by intensity. We queried diagnosis of RA, corticosteroid use, and, in a subset, use of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Multivariable logistic regression modelled RA risk (defined by glucocorticoid or DMARDs use) associated with coal mining employment, other silica exposure, smoking status, and age and ergonomic exposures.ResultsWe analysed data for 2981 survey respondents (mean age 66.6 years; 15% current, 44% ex-smokers). The prevalence of glucocorticoid-treated and DMARD-treated RA was 11% and 4%, respectively. Glucocorticoid-treated RA was associated with coal mining (OR 3.5; 95% CI 2.5 to 4.9) and non-coal mining silica exposure (OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.4 to 4.4). For DMARD-treated RA, the odds associated with coal mining and other silica remained elevated: OR 2.3 (95% CI 1.18, 4.5) and OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.51, 5.0), respectively. In the same model, the highest intensity ergonomic exposure also was associated with increased odds of RA (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.96 to 9.6).ConclusionsWe observed a strong association between coal mining and other silica-exposing dusty trades and RA. Clinicians and insurers should consider occupational histories in the aetiology of RA.

Response trends in a national random digit dial survey

This paper reviews response trends over 24 consecutive quarters of a National Random Digit Dial telephone survey. Trends for response rates and refusal rates are studied as well as the components of response rate, namely, contact, cooperation and completion rates. In addition other rates, including answering machine, busy and no answer are studied. While refusal rates declined over the six year period, contact and cooperation rates significantly declined causing response rates to decline. Answering machine rates and busy rates also showed a significant increase over time. Finally, correlation’s among the variables of interest are presented. The response rate is negatively correlated with the busy rate, the answering machine rate and the no answer rate. Implications of the above trends are discussed.

The Ohio COVID-19 Survey: Preliminary Findings and Their Use During the Pandemic

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created exceptional health and economic uncertainty for Ohioans in 2020. In the spring of 2020, the state commissioned the Ohio COVID-19 Survey (OCS) to ask residential Ohio adults about how the pandemic was affecting them. The purpose of this research is to provide state leadership with real-time information about the effects of the pandemic and concurrent recession on Ohio households.Methods: The OCS is a special supplement to the Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey (OMAS), a stratified random digit dial, cell phone and landline telephone survey. This study includes data collected weekly between April 20, 2020, and August 24, 2020. We conducted descriptive time-series analysis of the survey data and provided updates to the state's COVID-19 Response Team throughout the survey period.Results: Preliminary findings from the OCS reflect 3 themes among respondents: 1) elevated levels of concern over health and household economics; 2) disproportionate effects that exacerbate existing inequities; and 3) majority adjustment to "new normal" and acceptance of public health guidelines .Conclusion: Preliminary findings indicate that groups that were struggling before the pandemic have faced the biggest challenges with regard to health and household economics since it began. Data from the OCS enabled us to provide real-time analysis to state leadership regarding Ohioans' experience during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further analysis and integration of additional data will allow us to provide deeper insights as Ohio seeks to move into recovery.

Are any samples representative or unbiased? Reply to Pickering and Blaszczynski

Pickering and Blaszczynski (2021) purport to show that the problem gambling rate is inflated in paid online convenience and crowdsourced samples. Unfortunately there is a critical methodological flaw that undermines their findings: they combined problem gambling rates from samples that are specific by design (e.g., at-least monthly sports bettors), and compared them to a problem gambling prevalence estimate from the general population. Pickering and Blaszczynski conflate three constructs: representativeness, bias and data quality. Data quality can be optimised through protections and checks, but these do not necessarily make samples more representative, or less biased. Many of the biases present in paid online convenience samples (e.g., self-selection biases) also apply to the gold standard of random digit dial telephone surveys, manifestly evident in very low response rates. These biases are also present in industry-recruited and venue-recruited samples, as well as samples of university students and treatment-seeking clients. Paid online convenience samples have clear benefits. For example, it is possible to obtain large samples of very specific subgroups. Online surveys may reduce bias associated with self-reporting potentially stigmatising conditions, like problem gambling. It is important not to discount research simply because it used a paid online convenience or crowdsourced sample.

Educational Disparities in COVID-19 Prevention in China: The Role of Contextual Danger, Perceived Risk, and Interventional Context

Despite the social disparities in COVID-19 infection, little is known about factors influencing social disparities in preventive behaviors during the pandemic. This study examined how educational disparities in mask-wearing, handwashing, and limiting public outings might be contingent upon three factors: contextual cue of danger, perceived risk of local outbreak, and interventional context with different levels of intensity (i.e, Wuhan vs. other areas). Data were obtained from a telephone survey of 3327 adults, who were recruited through a random-digit-dial method to be representative of all cell phone users in China. Interviews were conducted from 28 April to 26 May 2020. Stratified multiple regression models showed that educational disparities in all three behaviors were only consistently observed among people exposed to context cues of danger, with an enhanced sense of risk of a local outbreak, or in areas other than Wuhan. College education seems to make a difference in handwashing regardless of contextual cues of danger or perception of risk. The findings suggested that, in the process of an epidemic, emerging threats in one’s immediate environment or raised awareness of risks are important conditions triggering educational disparities in prevention. However, effective public health interventions could potentially reduce such disparities.

Measuring Preferences and Behaviours in the 2019 Canadian Election Study

The 2019 Canadian Election Study (CES) consists of two separate surveys with campaign-period rolling cross-sections and post-election follow-ups. The parallel studies were conducted online and through a random-digit-dial (RDD) telephone survey. Both continue the long tradition of gathering information about the attitudes, opinions, preferences and behaviours of the Canadian public. The online survey, in particular, introduces some important innovations that open up the potential for exciting new research on subgroups in the electorate.