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Purpose: Despite a rapid increase in older men living alone, relatively little is known about their life satisfaction and related factors. Based on Levine's conservation model, this study aimed to explore predictors of life satisfaction among older men living alone in South Korea. Methods: Using logistic regression, a cross-sectional secondary data analysis was conducted among aged men living alone (N=548) from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. Results: The factors associated with a risk of lower life satisfaction in older men living alone were income lower than the standard median income, unemployment, living in rural areas, moderate-high nutritional risk, declined sensory function, depression, and social isolation. Conclusion: To enhance the life satisfaction of older men living alone, customized interventions are required, including comprehensive health assessment with a holistic perspective. Addressing economic stability alongside prevention and multidimensional interventions is needed to mitigate nutritional risks, sensory function decline, depression, and social isolation. Healthcare providers and policymakers in local communities should understand the sociocultural characteristics of older Korean men living alone and provide well-suited formal and informal support programs to address these needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Young adults in Neither in Employment, Education nor Training (NEET) are at risk of adverse labour market outcomes. Earlier studies often measured NEET status at one time point or compared persistent NEETs with non-NEETs, neglecting other patterns of NEET status. Evidence on early life factors associated with NEET patterns is lacking. This study aims to (i) identify patterns of NEET status over time and (ii) examine whether factors in childhood and adolescence are associated with these patterns. Methods Data were used from 1499 participants of the TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS), a Dutch prospective cohort study with 15-year follow-up. NEET status was assessed at ages 19, 22 and 26. Socioeconomic status of parents (SES), intelligence and negative life events were measured at age 11, educational attainment at age 26 and mental health problems at ages 11, 13.5 and 16. Data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results Four NEET patterns were identified: (i) non-NEETs (85.2%), (ii) early NEETs (4.5%), (iii) late NEETs (5.7%) and (iv) persistent NEETs (4.5%). Reporting internalizing problems at age 11 was a risk factor for early and late NEETs [odds ratio (OR) 2.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–6.62; OR 5.00, 95% CI 2.22–11.3, respectively]. Low parental SES, lower intelligence scores and negative life events (≥3) were risk factors for persistent NEETs (OR 4.45, 95% CI 2.00–9.91; OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.98; OR 4.42, 95% CI 1.62–12.08, respectively). Conclusions The results highlight the importance of timing and duration of NEET status and emphasize the need for tailored interventions to prevent specific NEET patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health concern affecting mothers globally. However, research on PPD prevalence and risk factors in Najran City, Saudi Arabia, is limited. Study Aim: this cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with PPD among mothers in Najran City. Methodology: A questionnaire-based study was conducted from September 2023 to January 2024, involving 420 mothers aged 16–50 years with newborns (2–10 weeks after delivery). The questionnaire included demographic information and the Arabic version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Statistical analysis utilized SPSS software v. 26, including descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and logistic regression. Results: The majority of participants were aged 20–35 years (61.4%), Saudi nationals (87.6%), and had university education (51.4%). EPDS scores indicated that 66.7% of mothers screened positive for possible depression. Significant associations were found between higher EPDS scores and factors such as unemployment (p = 0.004), younger age (p = 0.003), caesarean delivery (p = 0.043), mental illness (p = 0.0001), lack of adequate family support (p = 0.0001), and higher stress levels (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of PPD among mothers in Najran City, with sociodemographic, obstetric, and psychosocial factors significantly influencing PPD risk. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and support systems to address maternal mental health needs effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the sexual behaviors among working children and the associated factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1937 working children in the 10–18 age range in 15 provincial capitals in 2019–20 (Feb–May); the Response rate was 94.9%. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the variable of sexual behaviors. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. The prevalence of sexual behaviors in working children was 4.2%. The results showed a significant difference between those who reported sexual behaviors and those who did not in terms of age, identity document (ID), running away from home, alcohol use, and substance use. There was a statistically significant relationship between fathers' unemployment and sexual behaviors among working children. Furthermore, we found that having divorced parents could increase the odds of sexual behaviors by 3.74 times. The findings showed that related welfare and support organizations should design and implement effective and continuous training and interventions to raise awareness and reduce the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors in working children. They should also provide family counseling and promote parental supervision of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To reveal the prevalence of frailty and factors that strongly affected the frailty condition among older adults in East Java, Indonesia. Method: We conducted a cross‐sectional study carried out among 400 older adults aged ≥60 years without any acute illness. Data were collected from rural area in two locations in Malang and Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia, in 2019–2020. For data collection, we used the sociodemographic profile assessment, Fried frailty phenotype, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini Mental State assessment, sun exposure, handgrip strength, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, walk score, and body mass index. We used logistic regression statistics for data analysis. Results: The result showed that 2.5% were robust, 83% were prefrail, and 14.5% were frail. A higher proportion of subjects were aged 60–74 years (83.3%), women (70.3%), with lower educational status (84.5%). Multivariate analysis showed that the intrinsic factors low cognitive status (odds ratio [OR], 3.052 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.691–5.508]) and older age (OR, 3.073 [95% CI, 1.637–5.767]) were associated with frailty among the older adults in a rural area. Depression was also associated with frailty (OR, 2.458 [95% CI, 0.465–12.985]). From extrinsic factors, we also found that low sun exposure (OR, 2.931 [95% CI, 1.650–5.204]) and unemployment (OR, 1.997 [95% CI, 1.112–3.588]) were associated with frailty. Conclusion: For the Indonesian elderly in this study, low cognitive status, older age, depression, low sun exposure, and unemployment were associated with frailty. Understanding the modifiable risk factors of frailty can provide a valuable reference for future prevention and intervention. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 170–175. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Structural racism (SR) is viewed as a root cause of racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. However, evidence linking SR to increased odds of severe adverse maternal outcomes (SAMO) is scant. This study assessed the association between state-level indicators of SR and SAMO during childbirth. Methods: Data for non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic white women came from the US Natality file, 2017–2018. The exposures were state-level Black-to-white inequity ratios for lower education level, unemployment, and prison incarceration. The outcome was patient-level SAMO, including eclampsia, blood transfusion, hysterectomy, or intensive care unit admission. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of SAMO associated with each ratio were estimated using multilevel models adjusting for patient, hospital, and state characteristics. Results: A total of 4,804,488 birth certificates were analyzed, with 22.5% for Black women. SAMO incidence was 106.4 per 10,000 (95% CI 104.5, 108.4) for Black women, and 72.7 per 10,000 (95% CI 71.8, 73.6) for white women. Odds of SAMO increased 35% per 1-unit increase in the unemployment ratio for Black women (aOR 1.35; 95% CI 1.04, 1.73), and 16% for white women (aOR 1.16; 95% CI 1.01, 1.33). Odds of SAMO increased 6% per 1-unit increase in the incarceration ratio for Black women (aOR 1.06; 95% CI 1.03, 1.10), and 4% for white women (aOR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02, 1.06). No significant association was observed between SAMO and the lower education level ratio. Conclusions for Practice: State-level Black-to-white inequity ratios for unemployment and incarceration are associated with significantly increased odds of SAMO. Significance: What is already known on this subject? Structural racism is viewed as a root cause of racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, independent of socioeconomic determinants of health. However, supporting evidence is scant. What this study adds? In this population-based study in 2017–2018, state-level Black-to-white inequities in unemployment and incarceration are associated with significantly increased odds of severe adverse maternal outcomes (i.e., blood transfusion, hysterectomy, and ICU admission) during childbirth for non-Hispanic Black women, and to a lesser extent, for non-Hispanic white women. Addressing structural racism in maternal care may contribute to improving maternal health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Divorce is often considered a major and stressful life transition. Given that divorcees are overrepresented in primary care and there is a association between individuals' physical health and psychological adjustment, potential post-divorce health problems are of concern. Yet, empirical evidence is lacking on the magnitude of the overall physical health risk after divorce, on possible differences across specific pathologies, and on factors that may increase or reduce this risk. The current meta-analysis addresses these issues. We identified 94 studies including u = 248 relevant effect sizes, based on N = 1,384,507 participants. Generally, compared to married individuals, divorcees showed significantly worse self-reported health (OR = 1.20, [1.08–1.33]), experienced more physical symptoms (OR = 1.34, [1.17–1.53]), and had a higher risk for diabetes (OR = 1.18 [1.05–1.33]), joint pathologies (OR = 1.24, [1.14–1.34]), cardiovascular (OR = 1.24, [1.09–1.41]) and cerebrovascular conditions (OR = 1.31, [1.14–1.51]), and sexually transmitted diseases (OR = 2.48, [1.32–4.64]). However, they had no increased risk of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cancer and cancer development, disabilities or limitations, or cognitive pathologies. Nor did divorcees significantly differ from married individuals when aggregating all pathologies to measure overall physical health problems (OR = 1.14, [0.85 to 1.54]). Yet, moderation analyses revealed that being female, unemployed, childless, or having a lower education constitutes a higher risk for overall physical health problems after divorce. The same applied to having a heavy alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and being overweight. Our meta-analysis shows that divorcees are at heightened risk of certain pathologies, with sexually transmitted diseases as a particular post-divorce hazard. These findings call for more awareness among counsellors and physicians on divorcees' health conditions and the characteristics that make divorcees even more vulnerable to health problems. • The overall health risk was not significantly higher in divorcees compared to married people. • Divorcees showed a higher risk for some health conditions, especially sexually transmitted diseases. • Being a female, unemployed, not having children, and having a lower education increased the risk for post-divorce health problems. • Heavy alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and being overweight also increased the risk for post-divorce health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear whether unemployment exposure, as well as working conditions, can have sustained effects on the health of retirees who are no longer exposed. The aim of the present study is to investigate this issue in 29,281 French retirees from the CONSTANCES cohort in whom the prevalence of suboptimal self-rated health, disability for routine tasks, cardiovascular diseases and cancers is assessed according to lifetime exposure to unemployment and prior working conditions. The analyses are performed retrospectively using multivariable logistic regression models with adjustment for potential confounders such as sex, birth year, parental histories of cardiovascular disease and cancer, social position, retirement age and duration. High lifetime exposure to unemployment is associated with an increased prevalence of suboptimal self-rated health (adjusted odds ratio (95% CI), 1.39 (1.23–1.57)), disability for routine tasks (1.41 (1.26–1.57)) and several cardiovascular diseases including stroke (1.66 (1.19–2.31)), myocardial infarction (1.65 (1.18–2.31)) and peripheral arterial disease (2.38 (1.46–3.90)). Bad prior working conditions are associated with an increased prevalence of disability for routine tasks (1.17 (1.04–1.33)) and cancers (1.27 (1.04–1.54)), notably prostate cancer (1.60 (1.01–2.64)). These findings suggest that unemployment and working conditions have long-term health effects that may cumulate over lifetime, emphasizing that risk evaluation and preventive strategies in retirees, as in workers, should take into account the life-course of individuals in addition to traditional risk factors. • Lifetime unemployment exposure and prior working conditions are associated with retirees' health. • Working conditions and unemployment have long-term health effects that may cumulate over lifetime. • Risk assessment in retirees should take into account life-course events in addition to traditional risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]