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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
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- COVID-19 (10)
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Articles 1 - 30 of 33
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mothers Of Disabled Children Faced Numerous Challenges During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amy Lutz, Sujung (Crystal) Lee, Baurzhan Bokayev
Mothers Of Disabled Children Faced Numerous Challenges During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amy Lutz, Sujung (Crystal) Lee, Baurzhan Bokayev
Population Health Research Brief Series
The COVID-19 pandemic changed life dramatically for most families, but particularly for families with a disabled child. Mothers of disabled children faced increased difficulties during the early months of COVID-19 compared to other families. Reduction in services, school closures, and managing paid work drastically impacted caregivers’ mental health. This brief summarizes results from a recent study on the challenges mothers of disabled children faced during the COVID-19 pandemic during the Spring of 2020 in Central New York.
How Has Grandparenthood Changed In Rural China?, Merril D. Silverstein
How Has Grandparenthood Changed In Rural China?, Merril D. Silverstein
Population Health Research Brief Series
China’s rapid modernization and development have led to changes across Chinese society, including within the family. China is experiencing declining birth rates, meaning that fewer older adults are becoming grandparents. At the same time, there has been growing demand for grandparents to serve as caregivers for their grandchildren. This data slice examines the changes in grandparenting in rural China and calls for policies that decrease caregiver burnout, stress, and associated poor health outcomes.
Older Adults On Snap Experience Gaps In Benefits, Colleen Heflin, Leslie Hodges, Irma A. Arteaga, Chinedum O. Ojinnaka, Gabriella Alphonso
Older Adults On Snap Experience Gaps In Benefits, Colleen Heflin, Leslie Hodges, Irma A. Arteaga, Chinedum O. Ojinnaka, Gabriella Alphonso
Population Health Research Brief Series
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest food and nutrition assistance program in the United States. Burdens associated with SNAP recertification often lead to administrative churn, when a household experiences a gap in SNAP benefit receipt. Older adults are at risk of experiencing benefit gaps, which may negatively impact their health and nutrition. This brief summarizes results of a recent study that examined administrative churn among Missouri SNAP participants aged 60 years and older. The authors call for program changes that reduce the frequency and duration of churn among older adults.
The Unequal Burden Of Long Covid, Marc A. Garcia, Catherine Garcia, Erin Bisesti
The Unequal Burden Of Long Covid, Marc A. Garcia, Catherine Garcia, Erin Bisesti
Population Health Research Brief Series
Racial/ethnic disparities in U.S. COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have been well documented. However, less research has focused on racial/ethnic disparities in long COVID. This data slice summarizes data from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey and reports that although there are no significant racial/ethnic differences in overall activity limitations from long COVID, a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic/Latino adults report experiencing “significant” activity limitations compared to Whites.
State Policy & Politics Database (Sppd), Jennifer Karas Montez
State Policy & Politics Database (Sppd), Jennifer Karas Montez
Center For Aging and Policy Studies
The State Policy & Politics Database (SPPD) is a compilation of annual data on state policies and politics that are particularly relevant for population health. The SPPD includes several categories of policies, including labor and economic policies (e.g., minimum wage levels, right to work laws), social safety net policies (e.g., earned income tax credits, SNAP), behavior-related policies (e.g., tobacco taxes, opioid prescribing), as well as the political ideology of the states’ government and citizens. Most measures are available annually from 1980 to 2021.
State Policy & Politics Database (Sppd), Jennifer Karas Montez
State Policy & Politics Database (Sppd), Jennifer Karas Montez
Center For Aging and Policy Studies
The State Policy & Politics Database (SPPD) is a compilation of annual data on state policies and politics that are particularly relevant for population health. The SPPD includes several categories of policies, including labor and economic policies (e.g., minimum wage levels, right to work laws), social safety net policies (e.g., earned income tax credits, SNAP), behavior-related policies (e.g., tobacco taxes, opioid prescribing), as well as the political ideology of the states’ government and citizens. Most measures are available annually from 1980 to 2021.
Limited Cognitive Ability May Reduce Snap Participation Among Older Adults, Colleen Heflin, Dongmei Zuo, Gabriella Alphonso
Limited Cognitive Ability May Reduce Snap Participation Among Older Adults, Colleen Heflin, Dongmei Zuo, Gabriella Alphonso
Population Health Research Brief Series
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest food and nutrition assistance program in the U.S. For older adults currently on SNAP, meeting administrative requirements to remain on SNAP is difficult due to short recertification time frames, a lack of social support, and cognitive impairment. This brief summarizes results of a recent study examining the impact of cognitive decline on SNAP participation among adults aged 60 yrs. and older. Findings demonstrate that cognitive decline and living alone are associated with reduced SNAP participation, with older females being the most affected.
Conservative State Policies Contribute To Higher Mortality Rates Among Working-Age Americans, Jennifer Karas Montez, Nader Mehri, Shannon M. Monnat
Conservative State Policies Contribute To Higher Mortality Rates Among Working-Age Americans, Jennifer Karas Montez, Nader Mehri, Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
The risk of dying during working ages (25 to 64) is high, rising, and unequal in the United States. Working-age mortality rates are much higher in some states than others. Part of the explanation may relate to differing policies across states that affect health. While some states enact policies that invest in people’s economic, social, and behavioral wellbeing, others enact policies that are potentially harmful to health. Using mortality data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this study examined how state policies on criminal justice, taxes, environment, firearms, marijuana, health care, labor, and tobacco were associated with …
The Cost Of Being A Woman: How Race And Education Affect The Gender Pay Gap, Erin Bisesti, Marc A. Garcia
The Cost Of Being A Woman: How Race And Education Affect The Gender Pay Gap, Erin Bisesti, Marc A. Garcia
Population Health Research Brief Series
The gender pay gap in the United States workforce has remained relatively stable over the past few decades despite women having more access to advanced education and higher-pay jobs than in the past. Inequities in earnings have lifetime impacts on women's mental and physical health. This brief explores pay inequities in 2020 by race/ethnicity, gender, and educational attainment. The authors find that Black and White women would need at least one additional education degree to earn as much as less educated men, and Latinx women would need two additional degrees to earn as much as less educated Latinx men. The …
Older Immigrants Are More Likely Than Older Nonimmigrants To Experience Loneliness, Stephanie Zemba, Janet Wilmoth
Older Immigrants Are More Likely Than Older Nonimmigrants To Experience Loneliness, Stephanie Zemba, Janet Wilmoth
Population Health Research Brief Series
Loneliness in older adults is a growing U.S. population health problem, especially among immigrants This research brief explores the impact of age at immigration on loneliness and considers factors such as health, socio-demographic characteristics, and engagement in volunteering on loneliness. Findings demonstrate the need for programs that promote social connection among older adult immigrants to combat feelings of loneliness.
Sociocultural And Demographic Drivers Of Latino Population Health In New York State, Marc A. Garcia, Mara G. Sheftel, Adriana M. Reyes, Catherine Garcia
Sociocultural And Demographic Drivers Of Latino Population Health In New York State, Marc A. Garcia, Mara G. Sheftel, Adriana M. Reyes, Catherine Garcia
Population Health Research Brief Series
Latinos are the largest racial/ethnic minority group in the United States and are among the fastest-growing populations in New York State. However, there is variation across Latino sub-groups in educational attainment, income, and access to health insurance. This research brief explores the diversity within the Latino population living in New York State and describes inequities in key sociocultural and demographic drivers of Latino population health.
Allowing Cities To Mandate Employer Paid Sick Leave Could Reduce Deaths Among Working-Age Adults, Douglas A. Wolf, Jennifer Karas Montez, Shannon M. Monnat
Allowing Cities To Mandate Employer Paid Sick Leave Could Reduce Deaths Among Working-Age Adults, Douglas A. Wolf, Jennifer Karas Montez, Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
Paid sick leave is good for health, yet there is no federal paid sick leave mandate, and U.S. states are increasingly preempting their city and county governments from mandating employer paid sick leave. This brief describes how working-age (ages 25-64) mortality rates from several external causes of premature death (suicide, homicide, drug overdose, alcohol poisoning, and transport accidents) from 1999 to 2019 may have been lower if states had not preempted cities and counties from mandating paid sick leave. The authors find that working-age mortality rates could have been over 7.5% lower in 2019 in cities and counties that were …
In Rural America, Older Adult Vaccination Rates Were Higher In Counties With More Aging And Disability Services, Yue Sun, Danielle Rhubart
In Rural America, Older Adult Vaccination Rates Were Higher In Counties With More Aging And Disability Services, Yue Sun, Danielle Rhubart
Population Health Research Brief Series
Aging and disability services (ADS) played an important role for older adults in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, including sharing information, providing transportation, and serving as vaccination sites. Using data from the National Neighborhood Data Archive and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this data slice describes the relationship between county ADS availability and older adult (ages 65+) vaccination rates. It finds that rural counties with higher ADS density have higher older adult vaccination rates. Because of the high risk of COVID-19 mortality and hospitalization for older adults and the large shares of older adults in rural areas, rural county …
Native American Mental Health: Adding Culture To The Conversation, Margaret Rose
Native American Mental Health: Adding Culture To The Conversation, Margaret Rose
Population Health Research Brief Series
American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience higher rates of depression, suicide, and psychological distress compared to other communities in the United States. Despite this, they are less likely to receive mental health services due to barriers such as lack of resources, limited mental health service access, stigma, and mistrust of providers. This issue brief describes the influence of colonialism on AI/AN mental health and discusses how barriers to mental health treatment can be addressed by integrating AI/AN culture into traditional mental health services and increasing AI/AN presence in mental health occupations.
Social Support Protected Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Danielle C. Rhubart
Social Support Protected Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jennifer Kowalkowski, Danielle C. Rhubart
Population Health Research Brief Series
Social support can protect mental health from the stressors of life during times of widespread crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Using nationally representative data on U.S. working-age adults (18-64), this brief shows that those who reported having emotional support from family and friends were less likely to report negative mental health effects from the COVID-19 pandemic (32.9%) compared to those without emotional support (50.2%). Adults with higher levels of instrumental support – being able to count on someone for a $200 loan or for a place to live - were also less likely than those without those types of support …
Expansions In The U.S. Child Care And Development Block Grant Improved Program Stability, Hyojeong Kim, Colleen Heflin, Taryn Morrissey
Expansions In The U.S. Child Care And Development Block Grant Improved Program Stability, Hyojeong Kim, Colleen Heflin, Taryn Morrissey
Population Health Research Brief Series
Child care is necessary for most parents to work and serves as an important developmental context for children. Yet many low-income families struggle with the high cost of child care. The child care subsidy program is designed to help low-income working families pay for child care. In 2018, Congress substantially increased funding for child care through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to states, enabling them to make improvements to their child care subsidy programs. This brief summarizes the policy changes made in Virginia and describes how those changes improved child care subsidy stability and participation in that …
The Chances Of Dying Young Differ Dramatically Across U.S. States, Nader Mehri, Jennifer Karas Montez
The Chances Of Dying Young Differ Dramatically Across U.S. States, Nader Mehri, Jennifer Karas Montez
Population Health Research Brief Series
The chances of dying young differ dramatically across U.S. states. This data slice shows state-level differences in rates of death by ages 30, 50, and 65. Individuals living in Minnesota, California, New York, and Massachusetts have the lowest rates of death by age 65, whereas those living in Southern states, including West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have the highest rates of premature death. If current conditions remain constant in these states, more than 1 in 5 people born in them will not survive to age 65.
Resilience Is Low Among Both Military And Non-Military Populations With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kelsey Roberts, Janet Wilmoth, Shannon M. Monnat
Resilience Is Low Among Both Military And Non-Military Populations With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kelsey Roberts, Janet Wilmoth, Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects the lives of 12 million people in the United States. While commonly thought of in relation to military personnel and veterans, PTSD is also common among the general public. Resilience - the ability to cope with stressful events - is essential for recovering from PTSD. This data slice uses data from the National Wellbeing Survey to examine resilience among U.S. working-age adults with and without PTSD by their relationship to the military. Results show that those with PTSD have less resilience than those who have not experienced PTSD. In addition, those with military experience are …
Covid-19 Negatively Impacted Health And Social Relationships Among Working-Age Adults With Disabilities, Claire Pendergrast, Shannon M. Monnat
Covid-19 Negatively Impacted Health And Social Relationships Among Working-Age Adults With Disabilities, Claire Pendergrast, Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are related to personal care and mobility. COVID-19 disrupted access to care for many working-age adults with ADL difficulties, potentially creating negative health and social impacts. This research brief shows that working-age adults (18-64) with ADL difficulty faced worse health and social impacts than their peers without ADL difficulty during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The needs of people with disabilities must be prioritized in policy decisions to increase equity and reduce health disparities during the ongoing COVID-19 response and in future public health emergencies.
Nine Ways Grandparenting Is Changing With The Covid-19 Pandemic, Madonna Harrington Meyer
Nine Ways Grandparenting Is Changing With The Covid-19 Pandemic, Madonna Harrington Meyer
Population Health Research Brief Series
Grandparents play a vital role in providing care for their grandchildren in the United States. However, long-term sociodemographic changes, including lower fertility rates and changes in employment and technology, along with massive upheavals prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic are changing grandparenting in important ways. This research brief describes these long-term sociodemographic changes and uses in-depth interviews conducted before the pandemic to illustrate nine specific ways grandparenting is shifting in the U.S. It concludes by calling for more supportive social welfare programs to support working families and reduce the reliance on grandparents for meeting childcare and financial needs.
Covid-19 Has Reduced The Latino Mortality Advantage Among Older Adults, Marc A. Garcia, Rogelio Sáenz
Covid-19 Has Reduced The Latino Mortality Advantage Among Older Adults, Marc A. Garcia, Rogelio Sáenz
Population Health Research Brief Series
The COVID-19 pandemic is quickly reshaping U.S. mortality patterns, especially among those aged 65 and older. While U.S Latinos have historically had lower mortality rates than Whites, the pandemic and other structural inequities have reduced this advantage. This research brief examines Latino-White differences in COVID-19 mortality rates among older adults and describes how those disparities have reduced the Latino mortality advantage in this age group.
Civil Rights, Firearm Safety, And Environmental Protection Policies Predict Better Health Among U.S. Midlife Adults, Blakelee R. Kemp, Jacob M. Grumbach, Jennifer Karas Montez
Civil Rights, Firearm Safety, And Environmental Protection Policies Predict Better Health Among U.S. Midlife Adults, Blakelee R. Kemp, Jacob M. Grumbach, Jennifer Karas Montez
Population Health Research Brief Series
Americans suffer worse health and shorter lives than do people in most other high-income countries. The poor health and early death of many Americans are pronounced in certain states. One explanation may be the dramatic changes in the policy environment in recent decades, particularly the polarization in state policies. This research brief examines the association between several state policies and self-rated health among adults ages 45-64 from 1993 to 2016. Findings show that more liberal versions of certain state policies, namely civil rights, firearm safety, and environmental protection are associated with better health.
Social Infrastructure (“Third Places”) Is Not Distributed Equally Across The U.S., Danielle Rhubart, Yue Sun, Claire Pendergrast, Shannon M. Monnat
Social Infrastructure (“Third Places”) Is Not Distributed Equally Across The U.S., Danielle Rhubart, Yue Sun, Claire Pendergrast, Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
Third places are the physical spaces in a community where people can gather to connect and share resources, support, and information. They can help support health because they promote social interaction, community trust, and resource and information sharing. This data slice shows that third places are not evenly distributed across the U.S. Results show less availability of third places per capita in neighborhoods (Census tracts) with larger shares of non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics and larger shares of residents in poverty. The authors also found that third places are in shorter supply in rural neighborhoods than in urban neighborhoods, with the …
White Covid-19 Deaths Increased More In Red States Than In Blue States In 2021, Rogelio Sáenz, Marc A. Garcia
White Covid-19 Deaths Increased More In Red States Than In Blue States In 2021, Rogelio Sáenz, Marc A. Garcia
Population Health Research Brief Series
COVID-19 mortality rates increased 70% between 2020 and 2021. While the early months of the pandemic were marked by higher mortality rates among Whites in blue (Democratic governor) states, red states (Republican governor) experienced larger increases in 2021.
Unhealthy Workplace Conditions Contribute To Physician Suicide, Mariah Brennan Nanni, Alexandra Punch
Unhealthy Workplace Conditions Contribute To Physician Suicide, Mariah Brennan Nanni, Alexandra Punch
Population Health Research Brief Series
Physicians have the highest suicide rate of all professions. High-stress working environments, long hours, burnout, substance use, and financial stress all contribute to high physician suicide rates. Adding fuel to the fire, COVID-19 has intensified this long-term problem. This issue brief describes the unhealthy workplace conditions that contribute to poor mental health among physicians and calls for policies that encourage physicians to seek help and rest without the fear of punishment.
Rural Adults Report Worse Covid-19 Impacts Than Urban Adults, Shannon M. Monnat
Rural Adults Report Worse Covid-19 Impacts Than Urban Adults, Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
COVID-19 infection and mortality rates have been higher in rural than in urban America since late-2020. However, the consequences of COVID-19 extend far beyond the deaths that it has caused. This brief uses data from a national survey of working-age adults (ages 18-64) collected in February and March of 2021 to describe rural-urban differences in reported impacts of COVID-19 on physical and mental health, employment, financial wellbeing, and social relationships. Nearly 3 out of 5 respondents (58%) reported that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their lives. Across most outcomes, rural residents fared worse than their urban peers. Recovery …
Covid-19 Deaths Soared Among U.S. Whites In 2021, Rogelio Saenz, Marc A. Garcia, Claire Pendergrast
Covid-19 Deaths Soared Among U.S. Whites In 2021, Rogelio Saenz, Marc A. Garcia, Claire Pendergrast
Population Health Research Brief Series
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated health disparities in the United States. While people of color have borne the brunt of lives lost throughout the pandemic, the growth in White deaths from COVID-19 outpaced deaths among other racial/ethnic groups in 2021. This research brief shows that approximately 514,000 Americans died of COVID-19 in 2021, a 70 percent increase from 2020. Deaths rose 90 percent among non-Latino Whites between 2020 and 2021, two to three times faster than the rise among racial/ethnic minority groups.
Most Home-Delivered Meal Recipients With Dementia Receive Support From Friends And Family, But More Social Activity Is Needed, Claire Pendergrast
Most Home-Delivered Meal Recipients With Dementia Receive Support From Friends And Family, But More Social Activity Is Needed, Claire Pendergrast
Population Health Research Brief Series
Home-delivered meal programs reduce hunger and food insecurity, promote socialization, and improve health and wellbeing for older adults. Regular social support from home-delivered meal drivers, alongside social support from friends and family, may be key to preventing isolation and improving health for older adults with dementia. This research brief shows that home-delivered meal recipients with dementia receive significant support from friends and family, but 83% would like more social activity. To better support older adults with dementia and family caregivers, aging services providers should expand virtual and dementia-friendly social engagement programming.
Aging And Disability Services Are Unequally Distributed Across The United States, Claire Pendergrast, Danielle Rhubart
Aging And Disability Services Are Unequally Distributed Across The United States, Claire Pendergrast, Danielle Rhubart
Population Health Research Brief Series
As the U.S. population ages, demand for aging and disability services will increase, but 15% of U.S. counties have no aging and disability services organizations. This brief shows that rural counties and counties with the highest rates of poverty, highest shares of older adults, and highest shares of non-Hispanic Blacks are most likely to be aging and disability services deserts. To support healthy aging across the country, policymakers should invest in aging services infrastructure and should prioritize resources for places that are aging and disability services deserts.
Rural Working-Age Adults Report Worse Health Than Their Urban Peers, Shannon M. Monnat, Danielle Rhubart
Rural Working-Age Adults Report Worse Health Than Their Urban Peers, Shannon M. Monnat, Danielle Rhubart
Population Health Research Brief Series
Self-rated health is considered a strong predictor of chronic disease risk and premature mortality. This brief analyzes data from the National Wellbeing Survey (NWS), a sample of approximately 4,000 U.S. working-aged adults (ages 18-64) conducted in Feb-March 2021 to examine differences in self-rated physical health among residents of large urban counties (counties in a metro area of 1+ million people), medium/small urban counties, rural counties that neighbor a metro area (metro-adjacent), and rural counties that do not neighbor a metro area (remote rural). Results show higher shares of poor/fair self-rated health among residents of rural and small urban counties than …