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Higher adult child educational attainment may benefit older parents psychosocial well-being in later life. This may be particularly important in low- and middle-income countries, where recent generations have experienced comparatively large increases in educational attainment. We used data from the 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study, a nationally representative study of adults aged ≥50 years and leveraged the exogenous variation in adult child education induced by Mexicos compulsory schooling law passed in 1993. We employed two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression to estimate the effects of increased schooling among adult children on parents (respondents) depressive symptoms and life satisfaction scores, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. We considered heterogeneity by parent and child gender and other sociodemographic characteristics. Our study included 7186 participants with an average age of 60.1 years; 54.9% were female. In the 2SLS analyses, increased schooling among oldest adult children was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (β = -0.25; 95% CI: -0.51, 0.00) but no difference in life satisfaction (β = 0.01; 95% CI: -0.22, 0.25). Stratified models indicated differences in the magnitude of association with depressive symptoms for mothers (β = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.56, 0.01) and fathers (β = -0.18, 95% CI: -0.63, 0.26) and when considering increased schooling of oldest sons (β = -0.37; 95% CI: -0.73, -0.02) and daughters (β = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.23, 0.13). No parent and child gender differences were found for life satisfaction. Power was limited to detect heterogeneity across other sociodemographic characteristics in the second stage although first-stage estimates were larger for urban (vs. rural) dwelling and more (vs. less) highly educated respondents. Results were similar when considering the highest educated child as well as increased schooling across all children. Our findings suggest that longer schooling among current generations of adult children, particularly sons, may benefit their older parents psychosocial well-being.

Applying qualitative methods and evidence from the field, this paper explores the situation of women with disabilities within Bangladesh’s overall sociocultural, political, and economic contexts. The research found that participating women with disabilities were living in poverty and were disenfranchised. They reported being treated with disregard, and at times with contempt, both within their families and the wider society. In Bangladesh, disability is often regarded as a divine curse. In a patriarchal society where women are often seen as a liability, women with disabilities are particularly resented, and are often abandoned by their family members or are victims of domestic violence and abuse. In a society where sensitivity to the needs of people with disability is yet to take root, provisions for accessing basic services, such as education, are limited or non-existent for women with disabilities. Direct and representational participation of women with disabilities in the policy process is rare and changes relevant to their needs and empowerment are few. This research indicates that the situation of women with disabilities in Bangladesh is different from that of men with disabilities. More focused and gender-sensitive interventions are required at multiple levels – social, cultural and institutional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological anthropologists frequently explore skeletal asymmetry, together with population health and disease. Given the conflicting findings in existing literature, this study aimed to clarify whether an association exists in a South African sample. Dry bone and cranial micro-focus X-ray Computed Tomography (micro-XCT) scans of 115 South African individuals were assessed. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) indices were calculated from interlandmark distances, and the frequency of four types of non-specific signs of physiological stress were documented to explore the relationship between FA and disease. Black South Africans did not exhibit a high FA index; however, they had the highest prevalence of non-specific signs of physiological stress. However, no significant correlations were detected between FA indices and pathological lesions. No correlation was observed between FA and populations from different socio-economic backgrounds. However, individuals of lower socio-economic status (SES) demonstrated a greater prevalence of non-specific signs of physiological stress. This research suggests that skeletal indicators of stress may be a suitable biological marker for assessing differences in SES among population groups, while indicating that levels of cranial FA is an inadequate biological marker. Possible limitations may include measurement error, and the lack of information on the life history and medical records of individuals in this sample. Future research should include a larger sample with more South African groups, and should evaluate the potential association among age, FA, and expression of skeletal markers of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is not uniformly distributed within the population, even if it is governed by established guidelines. This disparity seems to be associated, among other factors, with the economic profile of people receiving this surgery. Objectives: We investigated the disparities in the use of MBS with respect to the socio-economic level in France based on socio-economic status (SES). Materials and Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted to compare the population of individuals with obesity who underwent MBS (MBS group) with individuals with obesity with no history of MBS (obese group). Data were extracted from the French National Hospital discharge database ("Programme De Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information," PMSI). Socio-economic status (SES) was assessed through the French Deprivation Index (FDep). Results: The use of MBS was significantly lower in patients having a higher SES compared to those having a lower one. There was no statistically significant difference in the use of MBS between individuals within the 4th and 5th SES quintiles compared to those in the 2nd and 3rd quintiles. No difference was found in the specific MBS procedures used depending on the SES. The obesity level was significantly lower in patients from the 1st and 3rd SES quintiles compared to the patients having a lower SES. Conclusion: Our study provides valuable insights into the complex interrelationships between the use of MBS, patients' SES, and obesity levels according to the FDep. These findings underscore the importance of developing targeted interventions to address disparities in the use of bariatric care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic growth may not improve society if people compare their achievements to others in relative ways that detract from well‐being. But who are these others and what economic dimensions matter? This research applied a p‐value ranking approach from genetics research to tackle the issue of reference group selection. Data from over 30,000 British and American adults were analyzed in nearly 800 multi‐level models. Over 300 measures of reference group socio‐economic status and eight measures of well‐being were used. The results showed that reference groups based on geography and age, perceptions of those in "society," and rank wealth were most consistently associated with well‐being. Measures less consistently associated with well‐being used averages, medians, and proportions in states and local authorities without demographic sub‐groups. Future researchers should consider the consistently associated dimensions of reference groups when constructing relative measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In England, motivation for language learning is low, especially for learning German at high school, with potentially negative educational and societal implications. Previous research has tended to overlook the relevance for low motivation of social factors such as negative messages in public discourse (Krüsemann, H. 2018. Language learning motivation and the discursive representations of German, the Germans, and Germany in UK school settings and the press. PhD diss., University of Reading.). This study therefore aimed to provide deeper insights through an investigation of 391 adolescent learners. They completed a questionnaire exploring not only their representations of German and the Germans (German*), their motivational beliefs about learning German, and whether they intended to continue studying it, but also how they perceived public views about German*. Whether all these factors, together with gender and socio-economic status (SES), predicted future German study intentions was also investigated. Findings showed that the negative public views highlighted by previous research were only partly mirrored in learner representations. Learners were more likely to continue German study if they believed others viewed German positively, if they had higher expectations for success, saw German as personally meaningful, and were female and of higher SES. The study thus presents new insights into motivation for learning German, providing empirical evidence for previously unsubstantiated claims of links between public discourse messages and learner motivation for German study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In educational sociology, it is of greatest interest to explain why some students are more successful than others and obtain higher educational qualifications or receive better grades, which can have long-lasting consequences. The present study compares the influence of early academic performance, which can be regarded as a proxy of overall intelligence, to the socio-economic status (SES) of the family, which measures how much a family can invest in the education of their offspring. Using large-scale German NEPS panel data (N = 5,208), the analyses test statistically how much variance of two outcome variables (acquisition of higher education eligibility and final grade) are explained by academic performance and SES; both measured approximately 9 years earlier at the beginning of secondary education. Dominance analyses reveal that performance has a larger influence (ca. 14% for both outcomes) than SES (ca. 8% for eligibility and ca. 4% for grades). Regression analyses show that high performance can better compensate for low SES than vice versa. These results indicate that performance is probably more relevant for academic success than the SES of one's own family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high level of inequality in South Africa has widened the gap between rural and urban schools, and the performance of rural schools has been continuously declining compared to urban schools. Poor performance in rural schools is perpetuated by parents being absent from their children's education because the socio-economic conditions and their educational background do not allow them to commit their time and energy towards education. Learners are left on their own to decide their future. The disparity between rural and urban schooling was further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools were closed during lockdown, teaching and learning was suspended in rural schools, however, in urban schools teaching and learning continued through online platforms. The lockdowns gave parents an opportunity to teach, advocate, and create conducive spaces to help their children focus on learning. During lockdowns, parents were expected to act as teachers in their homes to educate their children, and therefore, school closure presented opportunities for parents to actively participate in their children's education. However, their socio-economic conditions and poor educational backgrounds continue to threaten effective parental engagement, posing a threat to the academic success of rural learners. Despite attempts by the government to introduce school governing bodies in schools as a structure to integrate schools and parents, the problem of little parental engagement remains unresolved. The purpose with this study was to empower parents in rural areas to effectively participate in their children's education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined changes in physical and mental health quality-of-life and health services access before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals of lower and higher socio-economic status (SES) in Australia. Difference-in-differences and logistic regression models were undertaken using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey and government data on COVID-19 lockdowns between January 2020 and February 2021. Individuals from higher SES reported larger decreases in mental health quality-of-life scores than those from lower SES after the onset of the pandemic. Those from lower SES reported less disruption with any health services (24.2% vs 30.4%; OR = 0.68; p  < 0.001), specifically dental services (8.2% vs 15.4%; OR = 0.51; p  < 0.001) and allied health services (5.9% vs 8.5%; OR = 0.60; p  < 0.001), compared with those from higher SES. Additional days under lockdown were associated with reduced access to all health services (OR = 1.19). Furthermore, long-term health conditions (higher SES: OR = 1.54) and scores indicative of poorer physical (lower SES: OR = 1.17; higher SES: OR = 1.07) and mental health (lower SES: OR = 1.16; higher SES: OR = 1.12) were associated with increased health services disruption. While individuals from higher SES were more likely than those from lower SES to experience greater relative declines in mental health and increased disruption with health services access, individuals with a greater apparent need for health services, regardless of SES, may have faced inequalities in accessing these services during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The impact of societal factors on the occurrence of head and neck cancers (HNCs) remains understudied, especially in the Nordic countries. Methods To quantify the association between socio-economic status (SES) and the occurrence of HNCs, this cohort study uses data from the Nordic Occupational Cancer project that combine occupational and cancer registry data from 1961 to 2005 of 14.9 million individuals aged between 30 and 64 years. Occupational categories were combined into seven socio-economic categories. Standardized incidence ratio (SIR) analyses were conducted with the cancer incidence rates for the entire national study populations used as reference rates. Results Altogether, 83 997 HNCs—72% in men and 28% in women—were recorded. Among men, a gradient of risk associated with SES was observed for cancers of the tongue, other oral cavity subsites, pharynx, oropharynx and larynx in groups with lower SES. Managers showed decreased SIRs of 0.50 to –0.90 also for cancers of the lip, tongue, other oral cavity subsites, oropharynx, nasopharynx, nose and larynx. In contrast, excess risks of tongue, other oral cavity subsites, pharyngeal, oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancers were observed among clerical (SIRs 1.05–1.16), skilled workers (1.04–1.14), unskilled workers (1.16–1.26) and economically inactive men (1.38–1.87). Among women, no risk gradient similar to that in men was revealed. Conclusions The current study underscores the influence of SES on the incidence of HNCs and highlights the need for targeted interventions, including tobacco and alcohol control policies, and improved access to healthcare services, particularly for socio-economically disadvantaged populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprecedented large-scale childcare facility closure during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a dramatic increase in the childcare burden at home, which is shouldered disproportionately by women more than men. Leveraging anonymized mobile tracking data and nationally representative time-use survey data from the USA, this study adopts a quasi-experimental approach to examine the impact of childcare facility closure on the gendered division of household childcare time. It further investigates whether this impact varies according to respondent education, family income, and employment status. Results show an expanding gender gap in parenting time on child education with young children during the pandemic. The gender gap expanded even more in places and months with more childcare facility closures, but this gendered effect is only evident among parents with lower education and family income. Our findings call for institutional support during similar public crises to mitigate the potentially negative impact on gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-economic status (SES) disparities exist in the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination; however, most studies were conducted during the initial pandemic wave when vaccination was less discretionary, limiting generalizability. We aimed to determine whether differences in vaccination uptake across SES strata widened after the removal of vaccination-differentiated measures prior to the rollout of the second boosters, in a nationwide cohort of older Singaporeans at higher risk of severe-COVID-19. Retrospective population-based cohort study. Retrospective population-based cohort study of all Singaporeans aged ≥60 years from 22nd February 2021–14th February 2023. Cox regression models controlling for demographics and comorbidities were used to estimate hazard-ratios (HRs) for the uptake of primary vaccination as well as first/second boosters, as recorded in the national vaccination registry, according to SES (housing type). 836,170 individuals were included for completion of a primary vaccine series; 784,938 individuals for completion of the first booster and 734,206 individuals for the completion of the second booster. Differences in vaccination uptake by SES strata were observed (e.g. vaccination uptake in lowest-SES [1–2 room public-housing] versus highest-SES [private housing]: second booster, 47.6% vs. 58.1%; first booster, 93.9% vs. 98.0%). However, relative differences did not markedly widen during second booster rollout when vaccination was more discretionary (e.g. amongst those aged 60–69 years: 0.75 [95% CI = 0.73–0.76] for the first booster; 0.81 [95% CI = 0.79–0.84] for the second booster). While differences in vaccination uptake across SES strata by housing type persisted during the rollout of primary vaccination and subsequent boosters in a nationwide cohort of older Singaporeans, differences did not widen substantially when vaccination was made more discretionary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates attitudes towards death and the social factors that influence them among a sample of residents in Tehran, Iran. Using grounded theory and anchoring our analysis in the meaning of death (what people think happens after death), we were able to conceptualise three broad worldviews on death, which were then further refined into nine attitudes. Our research highlights socio-economic status as a factor potentially shaping people's attitudes towards death. A large group of our respondents, mainly among less affluent groups, think about death daily, while many among the more affluent and the educated middle class prefer to avoid thoughts of death. Our study in a Muslim majority setting in the Middle East contributes to the existing literature on attitudes towards death by going beyond simple typologies, such as western versus eastern, traditional versus modern, religious versus secular, denial versus acceptance, to show that the diversity of attitudes towards death can both incorporate and transcend all of these dichotomies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of socio‐economic status (SES) on child temperament and psychological symptoms was examined using a nationally representative sample in Singapore. Data were available for 2169 children from 1987 families. Caregivers' reports were obtained on children aged 4–6. SES was operationalized as an aggregation of household income per capita, parental education level and housing type. Compared to their counterparts from higher SES families, children from low‐SES families tended to exhibit (a) higher negative affectivity but lower effortful control, and (b) higher internalizing and externalizing symptoms. In addition, children with a 'resilient' temperamental profile (i.e. low negative affectivity and high effortful control) were more likely to come from families with much higher SES, relative to children with other profiles. Children with high internalizing symptoms tended to come from low‐SES backgrounds, regardless of their externalizing symptoms. Among children with low internalizing symptoms, those with high externalizing symptoms came from lower SES backgrounds compared to those with low externalizing symptoms. Parental warmth and distress mediated the association between SES and child temperament and symptom profiles, with the exception of distress in the SES–temperament link. These findings supported the family stress model and highlighted the novel perspective of SES's influence on configurations of child temperament and symptom characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a market leader in international education however, research suggests that it predominantly serves elite populations (Bunnell, T., M. Donnelly, H. Lauder, and S. Whewall. 2020. "International Mindedness as a Platform for Class Solidarity." Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education. Published online: 24 August 2020. doi:). Drawing on data from the IB and the Australian government, we explore the growth of the IB in Australia for a period of 11 years (2008 to 2019). Data analysis highlights the narrow growth of the IB amongst relatively homogenous schools, suggesting a period of 'distinction and expansion' that represents a troubling contradiction of the IB's stated goal to increase diversity in IB schools and contributes to the reproduction of class disparity in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food media content has recently grown tremendously in quantity and types. To understand food media's popularity and the role they play for their audience members, this paper applies a uses and gratifications (U&G) approach to study the recipients' motives for using or encountering various food media. Where do they come across media messages about food? Do they consciously or unconsciously seek or use them, and why? How do they perceive the outcomes of using food media? Twelve focus group interviews were conducted combined with a photovoice task. Results indicate that many of the encounters with food media were accidental in nature. In total, seven gratifications for using food media were confirmed: education, entertainment, social utility, identity-building, passing the time, motivations for healthier eating, and making grocery choices. Affordance-driven gratifications were ease-of-use of a medium, accessibility of -, trust in -, and emotional connection to the medium. This study forms a basis for further audience-centered research on food content so that both scholars and content creators can better understand how food media content can meet recipients' needs and how it can be employed in communication strategies regarding, for example, conveying nutritional information or providing entertainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Early Childhood is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Older adults' psychosocial outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic have been inequitable by socio-economic status (SES). However, studies have focused solely on own SES, ignoring emerging evidence of the relationship between adult child SES and late-life health. We evaluated whether adult child educational attainment – a core marker of SES – is associated with older parents' psychosocial outcomes during the pandemic. Methods: We used data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) 2004–2018 and the SHARE Corona Surveys (SCS) 2020 and 2021. We included 40,392 respondents ≥ 65 years who had pre-pandemic information on adult child educational attainment and self-reported psychosocial outcomes during the pandemic, including self-assessments of worsened psychosocial outcomes compared to the pre-pandemic period. We used generalized estimating equations with a Poisson distribution and a log link, adjusted for respondent and family-level characteristics, including respondents' own educational attainment. Results: Older adults whose adult children averaged levels of educational attainment at or above (vs. below) their country-specific mean had a lower prevalence of feeling nervous (Prevalence Ratio [PR]: 0.94, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.90, 0.97), sad or depressed (PR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.98), and having sleep problems (PR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.97) during the pandemic. Additionally, higher adult child educational attainment was associated with a lower risk of perceiving worsened feelings of nervousness (PR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.01) and worsened sleep problems (PR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.01) as compared to the pre-pandemic. In stratified models, protective associations were observed only in countries experiencing "high" levels of COVID-19 intensity at the time of the survey. All of these results are derived from adjusted models. Conclusions: Adult child SES may have "upward" spillover effects on the psychosocial wellbeing of older parents during periods of societal duress like the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of household relative poverty on the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of children with type 1 diabetes using an international standard measurement of relative poverty. Methods: A national population‐based retrospective study was conducted. The Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) was linked with data from Sweden's public statistical agency (Statistics Sweden). Children who were diagnosed with new‐onset type 1 diabetes in the period of 2014–2019 were common identifiers. The definition of diabetic ketoacidosis was venous pH <7.30 or a serum bicarbonate level <18 mmol/L. The exposure variable was defined according to the standard definition of the persistent at‐risk‐of‐poverty rate used by the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) and several other European public statistical agencies. Univariate and multi‐variable analyses were used to calculate the effect of relative poverty on the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Results: Children from households with relative poverty had a 41% higher risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (1.41, CI 1.12–1.77, p = 0.004) and more than double the risk of severe diabetic ketoacidosis (pH <7.10) (RR 2.10, CI 1.35–3.25, p = 0.001), as compared to children from households without relative poverty. Conclusions: Relative poverty significantly increases the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis at onset of type 1 diabetes in children, even in a high‐income country with publicly reimbursed health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two main avenues via which agricultural produce is gathered, distributed, and resold in rural India are the regulated markets set up by the State Governments and the sporadic marketplaces that have developed naturally and are unregulated. Under the auspices of extensive regulations that have been formulated and amended periodically by the corresponding state Agricultural Produce Marketing Regulation Act, agricultural produce market committees have been established to promote equitable trade. Since their inception, regulated markets have assisted in reducing market disadvantages; yet, the competitive market structure was not well-foreseen by their legal framework. In an environment of liberalized trade, this paves the way for the market committee to become more manageable and sustainable. Given the dependence of other sectors on agriculture, India has viewed it as a valuable tool for economic progress. The regulated markets are regarded as accountable establishments that carry out all the tasks associated with the selling of products while considering the interests of all final consumers as a whole. The current paper highlights Indian agriculture, with a particular emphasis on the regulated agricultural marketing system and its development, status, and prospects. The report also emphasizes the difficulties and impact of a regulated market on farmers' socioeconomic standing. At the study's conclusion, a number of restrictions that either directly or indirectly impacted the farmers' socioeconomic standing were mentioned. To comprehend the link between the dependent and independent variables, a variety of statistical methods were employed. To arrive at the ultimate outcome, an ex post facto research design was mostly employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lernen und Lernstörungen is the property of Hogrefe AG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity is a global concern and has increased in Spain over the last decades. Combinations of lifestyle behaviors (i.e., diet, sleep, and sedentarism) are highly related to weight status. Therefore, this study aimed to identify lifestyle patterns among children from Madrid City, and analyze associations with the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, considering socio-economic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 4545 children from the ENPIMAD study with data on diet, sleep, anthropometric, and socio-economic variables. K-means cluster analysis was used to identify lifestyle clusters, and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between socio-economic indicators and cluster membership, and between clusters and weight status. Results: Findings show three lifestyle clusters (healthy, mixed, and unhealthy), with boys and older children more represented in the unhealthy cluster. Food insecurity and low socio-economic status were associated with unhealthier clusters in boys and girls. Children in unhealthier clusters were more likely to have obesity and abdominal obesity. However, these associations disappeared in girls after controlling for food insecurity. Conclusion: These results provide insight into the combination of behaviors and socioeconomic factors associated with childhood obesity that may aid in the design of future interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of REICE. Ibero-American Journal on Quality, Effectiveness & Change in Education / REICE. Revista Iberoamericana Sobre Calidad, Eficacia y Cambio en Educación is the property of Red Iberoamericana de Investigacion sobre Cambio y Eficacia en Educacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Zinc deficiency is common in the Paediatric age group but the extent of this disorder is unknown in HIV infected children in Nigeria prompting this study. Objective: To determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency in HIV seropositive children, and compare this with age and sex matched controls. Methods: A case control study of 70 HIV sero-positive and age and sex matched HIV sero-negative children was carried out in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between 1st of June, 2009 and 31st of May, 2010. We collected demographic, clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters from cases and controls, and analysed these using SPSS 20. Results: Sixty percent of the subjects were zinc deficient as against 41.4% of the controls, p= 0.028. Subjects that were zinc deficient were more likely to be in higher HIV disease stages, p = 0.003, in lower socio-economic classes and aged less than 60 months. We conclude that there is a high prevalence of zinc deficiency in HIV sero-positive children and they should have zinc supplementation immediately they are diagnosed to reduce their morbidity and mortality.

Abstract Background Older adults’ psychosocial outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic have been inequitable by socio-economic status (SES). However, studies have focused solely on own SES, ignoring emerging evidence of the relationship between adult child SES and late-life health. We evaluated whether adult child educational attainment – a core marker of SES – is associated with older parents’ psychosocial outcomes during the pandemic. Methods We used data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) 2004–2018 and the SHARE Corona Surveys (SCS) 2020 and 2021. We included 40,392 respondents ≥ 65 years who had pre-pandemic information on adult child educational attainment and self-reported psychosocial outcomes during the pandemic, including self-assessments of worsened psychosocial outcomes compared to the pre-pandemic period. We used generalized estimating equations with a Poisson distribution and a log link, adjusted for respondent and family-level characteristics, including respondents’ own educational attainment. Results Older adults whose adult children averaged levels of educational attainment at or above (vs. below) their country-specific mean had a lower prevalence of feeling nervous (Prevalence Ratio [PR]: 0.94, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.90, 0.97), sad or depressed (PR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.98), and having sleep problems (PR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.97) during the pandemic. Additionally, higher adult child educational attainment was associated with a lower risk of perceiving worsened feelings of nervousness (PR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.01) and worsened sleep problems (PR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.01) as compared to the pre-pandemic. In stratified models, protective associations were observed only in countries experiencing “high” levels of COVID-19 intensity at the time of the survey. All of these results are derived from adjusted models. Conclusions Adult child SES may have “upward” spillover effects on the psychosocial wellbeing of older parents during periods of societal duress like the pandemic.

Teenage pregnancy has been identified as a social issue that requires attention. Given the negative impact on teenage mothers, the people who care for them, and the children they give birth to. This study examined the pattern of relationship between body image, self-esteem, socio-economic status, peer influence, and teenage pregnancy. This study employed a correlational design, and a multistage sampling procedure was utilized. Adolescents in Ibadan constitutes the population (N = 150; 12.0% below 14 years, 58.7% 14 – 16 years, while 29.3% were 17 – 19 years). Participants completed standardized instruments: (Body Image Acceptance Survey α = 0.85; Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale α = 0.78; Socio-economic Status Scale α = 0.79; Peer Influence Scale α = 0.81; and Teenage Pregnancy Scale α = 0.87). The results showed that body image (r = 0.327; p

Background: Sparse data are available regarding congenital heart disease (CHD) from southern India. This study was designed to document the sociodemographic factors, clinical profile and pattern of CHD at a referral centre. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was done by direct interview method and review of medical records of 414 participants using internally validated, pre-defined proforma. Results: More than half of the cases (54.6%) referred were within 1 year of age. Wasting was present in 45%. Most of the cases belonged to middle and lower socio-economic status group (79%) and were referred by paediatricians (70%); 48% had travelled more than 500 km to avail cardiac services. Predominant symptoms of referral were respiratory distress (61.8%), feeding difficulties (50%), cyanosis (43.7%) and palpitation (24.9%). Major abnormalities detected were ventricular septal defect (31.2%) and tetralogy of Fallot (21.7%). Conclusions: This study highlights the need of prioritising and planning for the implementation of affordable and accessible cardiac infrastructure to people from rural areas with low socio-economic background.

Background and aims Design and setting Participants Measurements Findings Conclusions In Finland, nicotine pouches entered the national market abruptly in 2023, following a change in April 2023 from medicinal product classification into less regulated tobacco surrogate status. This study aimed to measure adolescent nicotine pouch use and associated characteristics.A cross‐sectional, nationwide school‐based survey among students in comprehensive schools (COMP), general upper secondary schools (GEN) and vocational institutes (VOC) in 2023 in Finland.A total of 151 224 respondents aged 14–20 years (mean age 16.18 years, standard deviation 1.20 years).Nicotine pouch use was used as the outcome variable. Demographics included age, sex, school type and tobacco product use (smoking, snus use and e‐cigarette use). Covariates included parental education and parental smoking. All measures were self‐reported.Unadjusted results showed that current nicotine pouch use was more common among boys (11.3%) than among girls (3.3%), adolescents in VOC (15.4%) compared with COMP (6.8%) and GEN (4.3%), whereas daily use of other tobacco and nicotine products was associated with current nicotine pouch use compared with never using such products and the association was especially strong for snus use. The fully adjusted estimates of current nicotine pouch use remained strong for daily use of other tobacco and nicotine products (snus use: adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 74.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 65.65–84.25; smoking: aPR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.36–1.50; e‐cigarette use: aPR = 2.15, 95% CI = 2.04–2.27) and for sex (boys aPR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.48–1.57). There was no clear evidence of differences in current nicotine pouch use by school type, age or parental factors in the fully adjusted model.In Finland in 2023, during which the availability of nicotine pouches became less regulated, nicotine pouch use appeared to be more common among boys and adolescents who used other nicotine products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's early language development is under the influence of several positive and negative factors including television as an input source and family's socio-economic status. Considering that, this study investigated the effects of these variables on children's vocabulary development using a quasi-experimental design. To this end, 60 Iranian children, 30 from high and 30 from low socio-economic status, were selected using stratified random sampling. They were divided into four groups based on their background TV exposure and socio-economic status. TOLD-3 was given to the groups as a vocabulary development test before and after a 6-week observation. Results indicated that the high socio-economic-low background group scored higher than the other groups in the vocabulary development posttest while the low socio-economic-low background group scored lower that the other groups. Furthermore, while high background TV had a negative influence on the children's vocabulary development in families with a high socio-economic status, it had a positive influence on the children in families with a low socio-economic status. These results have some implications for families, first and second language studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the stress level in parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) using parental stress scale (PSS). Study Design: Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Medicine, National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi, Pakistan. Period: July 2023 to December 2023. Methods: Parents of CP children of both gender and aged 1-12 years vising outpatient department were analyzed. Demographic and clinical information of the CP children and their parents were noted. Parental stress level was evaluated using PSS. The scale's total possible scores range from 18 to 90, and a score of 51 or above was considered the cut-off value for parents experiencing psychological stress. Results: In a total of 149 children, 81 (54.4%) were female. The mean age and weight of the children were 3.92±1.70 years. The mean parental stress scale score was 57.14±9.97 (ranging between 30-80). There were 114 (76.5%) parents who were having high stress levels. Higher Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCH) grade (p=0.013), relation of parents as father (p=0.006), and relatively higher socio-economic status (p=0.005) were significantly associated with high levels of stress. Bivariate analysis revealed positive significant correlation of GMFCH grade with PSS scores (r=0.232, p=0.004). Conclusion: Very high prevalence of elevated stress levels (76.5%) was reported among parents of CP children. Factors such as GMFCS grade, parental role, and socioeconomic status contributed to high stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Socio‐economic status is one of the most important factors shaping students' motivation and achievement but has seldom been explored in relation to achievement goals. Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether mastery‐approach goals explain the link between SES and key learning‐related outcomes (mediation) and whether SES modifies the relationship between mastery‐approach goals and these outcomes (moderation). Sample: Data came from 595,444 students nested in 21,322 schools across 77 countries. Methods: Data were analysed using multilevel‐moderated mediation analyses. Results: We found significant mediation and moderation. In terms of mediation, mastery‐approach goals mediated the association between family SES and learning‐related outcomes. However, a different pattern emerged for school SES, as students in higher SES schools had lower mastery‐approach goals. In terms of moderation, we found that family SES strengthened the association between mastery‐approach goals and learning‐related outcomes. However, the association between mastery‐approach goals and learning‐related outcomes was weaker in higher SES schools. Conclusion: Theoretical and practical implications for the achievement goal approach to achievement motivation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Community‐based cohort studies of HIV seroconversion can identify important avenues for enhancing HIV prevention efforts in the era of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Within individuals, one can assess exposure and outcome variables repeatedly and with increased certainty regarding temporal ordering. This cohort study examined the association of several risk factors with subsequent HIV seroconversion. Methods: We report data from a 4‐year study (2017−2022) of 6059 HIV seronegative sexual and gender minority individuals who have sex with men who had indications for‐, but were not using‐, PrEP at enrolment. Participants completed repeat exposure assessments and self‐collection of biospecimens for HIV testing. We examined the roles of race and ethnicity, socio‐economic status, methamphetamine use and PrEP uptake over the course of follow‐up in relation to HIV seroconversion. Results: Over 4 years, 303 of the participants seroconverted across 18,421 person‐years (incidence rate = 1.64 [95% CI: 1.59−1.70] per 100 person‐years). In multivariable discrete‐time survival analysis, factors independently associated with elevated HIV seroconversion risk included being Black/African American (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 2.44, 1.79−3.28), Hispanic/Latinx (1.53, 1.19−1.96), housing instability (1.58, 1.22−2.05) and past year methamphetamine use (3.82, 2.74−5.33). Conversely, time since study enrolment (24 vs. 12 months, 0.67, 0.51−0.87; 36 months, 0.60, 0.45−0.80; 48 months, 0.48, 0.35−0.66) and higher education (master's degree or higher vs. less than or equal to high school, 0.36, 0.17−0.66) were associated with reduced seroconversion risk. Compared to non‐PrEP users in the past 2 years without a current clinical indication, those who started PrEP but then discontinued had higher seroconversion risk, irrespective of clinical indication (3.23, 1.74−6.46) or lack thereof (4.30, 1.85−9.88). However, those who initiated PrEP in the past year (0.14, 0.04−0.39) or persistently used PrEP in the past 2 years (0.33, 0.14−0.74) had a lower risk of seroconversion. Of all HIV seroconversions observed during follow‐up assessments (12, 24, 36 and 48 months), methamphetamine was reported in the 12 months prior 128 (42.2%) times (overall). Conclusions: Interventions that acknowledge race and ethnicity, economic variables such as education and housing instability, and methamphetamine use are critically needed. Not only are interventions to engage individuals in PrEP care needed, but those that retain them, and re‐engage those who may fall out of care are essential, given the exceptionally high risk of seroconversion in these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to explore the psycho-social impacts of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) screenings on families. This involved understanding the initial responses of parents to test results, identifying any resulting concerns, and acknowledging the coping mechanisms utilized to handle these unexpectedly encountered difficulties. This retrospective observational study was conducted from January 2021 to December 2022 at a tertiary care facility. An extensive assessment was carried out on 1100 newborns that had undergone the OAE screening. Parental emotional reactions, worries regarding their child's prospects, and employed coping mechanisms were determined using structured questionnaires and interviews. The study aimed to explore the link between socio-economic status and varying levels of post-test anxiety and to study the effect of immediate post-screening counselling. A notable emotional reaction was observed, with 85% of parents, whose neonates were advised for subsequent tests, showing signs of shock and denial. Apprehensions related to the child's growth and societal acceptance were dominant, with 70% parents concerned about potential hurdles. There was a marked correlation between a lower socio-economic status and elevated post-test anxiety. Prompt counselling post-screening resulted in a substantial reduction in parental stress and anxiety levels. While the relevance of OAE testing concerning neonatal health is unequivocal, the psycho-social repercussions it imposes on families are significant. The findings underscore the need for holistic healthcare approaches that not only focus on physiological outcomes but also prioritize the mental well-being of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family history (FH) of autism and ADHD is not often considered during the recruitment process of developmental studies, despite high recurrence rates. We looked at the rate of autism or ADHD amongst family members of young children (9 to 46 months) in three UK‐based samples (N = 1055) recruited using different methods. The rate of FH‐autism or FH‐ADHD was 3%–9% for diagnosed cases. The rate was highest in the sample recruited through an online participant pool, which also consisted of the most socio‐economically diverse families. Lower parental education and family income were associated with higher rates of FH‐ADHD and lower parental education with increased FH‐autism. Thus, recruitment strategies have a meaningful impact on neurodiversity and the conclusions and generalizations that can be drawn. Specifically, recruitment using crowdsourcing websites could create a sample that is more representative of the wider population, compared to those recruited through university‐related volunteer databases and social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marriage frauds have reached a critical juncture as contract marriage becomes a modus operandi to reach the destination country. Contract marriage is an unwritten agreement or contract between two young potential migrant marriageable couples, i.e., bride and groom for achieving a common goal of international mobility. It is like a situation of the Stackelberg model, where one acts as a leader and the second follows him. In this situation, the bride acts as a leader due to her better quality of education and groom becomes the follower. The study concluded that the degree of the bride’s control over her marital decisions and choice of mate is more based on socio-economic status of the groom’s families than individual traits of the grooms. In contrast, the groom’s marital decisions and his choice of mate are determined only by the spouse’s quality of human capital formation. The study also shows that the role of social and economic networks is of paramount importance in facilitating and speeding up the flow of the contract marriages for migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the backlash effect has long studied the social sanctions that individuals impose on those who do not conform to stereotypical expectations. Specifically, research has focused on reactions to gender stereotype violations. Studies have shown that adults, adolescents, and even children will sanction others when they fail to conform to gender stereotypes. The present pre-registered research (https://tinyurl.com/4epypv3a) studied this gender backlash among adolescents in French middle and high-schools. For this study, we were also interested in exploring the moderating role of participants' socioeconomic status in their expression of backlash. We created four profiles of adolescents presenting their candidacy for a school representative role. The profiles varied in the personality traits and behaviors they contained (stereotypically feminine vs. masculine) and the gender of the target (boy vs. girl). A sample of 840 participants between the ages of 13 and 18 rated the target adolescent on measures intended to capture backlash, as well as gender stereotypicality items. Using multilevel models to analyze our data, we did not find evidence of backlash as hypothesized. However, unexpectedly, on a measure of perception of arrogance, we found that participants judged a counter-stereotypical target more positively than a stereotypical target. Furthermore, we also found evidence that, compared to stereotypical targets, counter-stereotypical targets were judged more competent, mostly by high SES adolescents. Possible methodological and theoretical explanations for these results are discussed, as well as implications for future research on the backlash effect, particularly among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) is increasing, but little information exists about trends in Australia. This study aimed to describe incidence trends, along with clinical and socio-demographic associations, in the state of Tasmania over a recent 12-year period. The study cohort was obtained by linking clinical and administrative datasets encompassing the whole Tasmanian population between 2007 and 2018, inclusive. Pancreatitis case definition was based on relevant ICD-10 hospitalization codes, or elevated serum lipase or amylase in pathology data. Age-standardised incidence rates were estimated, overall and stratified by sex, aetiology, and Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD). In the study period, 4905 public hospital AP episodes were identified in 3503 people. The age-standardised person-based incidence rate across the entire period was 54 per 100,000 per year. Incidence was inversely related to IRSD score; 71 per 100,000 per year in the most disadvantaged quartile compared to 32 in the least disadvantaged. Biliary AP incidence was higher than that of alcohol-related AP, although the greatest incidence was in "unspecified" cases. There was an increase in incidence for the whole cohort (average annual percent change 3.23 %), largely driven by the two most disadvantaged IRSD quartiles; the least disadvantaged quartile saw a slight overall decrease. This is the first Australian study providing robust evidence that AP incidence is increasing and is at the upper limit of population-based studies worldwide. This increased incidence is greatest in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, meriting further research to develop targeted, holistic management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimorbidity is increasing globally as populations age. However, it is unclear how long individuals live with multimorbidity and how it varies by social and economic factors. We investigate this in South Africa, whose apartheid history further complicates race, socio-economic, and sex inequalities. We introduce the term ‘multimorbid life expectancy’ (MMLE) to describe the years lived with multimorbidity. Using data from the South African National Income Dynamics Study (2008–17) and incidence-based multistate Markov modelling, we find that females experience higher MMLE than males (17.3 vs 9.8 years), and this disparity is consistent across all race and education groups. MMLE is highest among Asian/Indian people and the post-secondary educated relative to other groups and lowest among African people. These findings suggest there are associations between structural inequalities and MMLE, highlighting the need for health-system and educational policies to be implemented in a way proportional to each group’s level of need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Socio-economic status, living environments, and race have been implicated in the development of different congenital abnormalities. As orofacial clefting is the most common anomaly affecting the face, an understanding of its prevalence in the United States and its relationship with different determinants of health is paramount. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the modern prevalence of oral–facial clefting in the United States and its association with different social determinants of health. Methods: Utilizing Epic Cosmos, data from approximately 180 US institutions were queried. Patients born between November 2012 and November 2022 were included. Eight orofacial clefting (OC) cohorts were identified. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was used to assess social determinants of health. Results: Of the 15,697,366 patients identified, 31,216 were diagnosed with OC, resulting in a prevalence of 19.9 (95% CI: 19.7–20.1) per 10,000 live births. OC prevalence was highest among Asian (27.5 CI: 26.2–28.8) and Native American (32.8 CI: 30.4–35.2) patients and lowest among Black patients (12.96 CI: 12.5–13.4). Male and Hispanic patients exhibited higher OC prevalence than female and non-Hispanic patients. No significant differences were found among metropolitan (20.23/10,000), micropolitan (20.18/10,000), and rural populations (20.02/10,000). SVI data demonstrated that OC prevalence was positively associated with the percentage of the population below the poverty line and negatively associated with the proportion of minority language speakers. Conclusions: This study examined the largest US cohort of OC patients to date to define contemporary US prevalence, reporting a marginally higher rate than previous estimates. Multiple social determinants of health were found to be associated with OC prevalence, underscoring the importance of holistic prenatal care. These data may inform clinicians about screening and counseling of expectant families based on socio-economic factors and direct future research as it identifies potential risk factors and provides prevalence data, both of which are useful in addressing common questions related to screening and counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being bilingual confers certain behavioral effects. Determining their precise origin is of utmost importance given the need to avoid unjust misattribution of labels such as "bilingual (dis)advantage" to people's bilingual experiences. To this end, this systematic PRISMA-based review aims to shed light on the social and sociolinguistic origins of bilingualism-related behavioral effects. Analyzing 368 studies, we find that 73.41% of the 267 studies that report such effects attribute them either to sociolinguistic factors alone or to the interaction of sociolinguistic and cognitive factors. Linking the two fronts, type of effect and origin of effect, we find a previously unreported correlation: Studies that find evidence for bilingual disadvantages are more likely to claim a sociolinguistic origin, while studies that report advantages are more likely to link their findings to a cognitive origin. We discuss these results and present the key components of a sociolinguistic theory of the origin of bilingual effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies suggest increased occurrence of cancer in persons who have experienced a burn injury with hospital admission. To determine the incidence of cancer among those hospitalised for burn injuries in Scotland compared with a similar group without a history of burn injury hospitalisation. A retrospective cohort design was used to compare cancer (ICD10 C00–97, excluding C44) incidence in two groups: 6805 burn injury patients discharged from Scottish hospitals between 2009 and 2019, and 25,946 subjects from the general population who were matched to burn patients by sex, year of birth, and degree of social deprivation. Cancer incidence was identified from the Scottish cancer registry. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to model time to cancer incidence adjusting for age, sex, degree of deprivation and presence of a comorbidity. Cancer risk was presented as standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) and hazard ratios (HR). We found a higher prevalence of pre-existing conditions, particularly alcohol abuse among patients with burns. Pre-existing cancers were more common in the burn cohort (3.5%) than the comparison group (1.7%) and were excluded from further analysis. Over a median follow-up of 4–5 years, a total of 236 (3.5%) burn patients and 969 (3.7%) persons in the comparison group were diagnosed with cancer. At 0–6 months the cancer SIR for burn patients was 1.88 95% CI (1.40–2.52). After excluding the first six months of follow-up, the overall incidence of cancer was marginally elevated in burn patients (SIR 1.04, 95% CI 0.90–1.19, p = 0.62) and not statistically different from the incidence in comparison subjects (adjusted HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.88–1.21, p = 0.71). Patients that suffer burn injury have a higher incidence of cancer than the general population and a group matched by age, sex and degree of deprivation. A higher incidence of adverse health-related behaviours such as smoking, alcohol use and pre-existing health conditions among many patients that suffer a burn most likely explain this observed increase. Any persisting inflammatory or immune dysfunction following burn injury is unlikely to account for the increase in cancers in this study. • Burn patients have a higher incidence of cancer compared to people without a burn injury. • Higher incidence shortly post-injury suggest diagnosis of pre-existing cancers. • A higher prevalence of smoking, alcohol and pre-existing health conditions are the likely explanation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, most studies that explore the differences in motivation between content and language‐integrated learning (CLIL) and non‐CLIL learners have been mainly quantitative or have not controlled for differences in socio‐economic status (SES). While many researchers agree that CLIL learners tend to have greater motivation than non‐CLIL learners, there has been little explanation of the reasons behind this difference, perhaps partly because the field lacks studies from the perspective of CLIL students themselves. Based on the L2 motivational self‐system and the construct of self‐concept, this study employed a mixed‐methods approach to explore CLIL and non‐CLIL learners' current and future self‐visions. Fifteen‐year‐old learners in the Madrid region (n = 348) completed a questionnaire that considered their SES levels as well as experiences related to the scales of English self‐concept, academic self‐concept, and teacher expectations. The same learners were then invited to take part in focus groups in which researchers delved into the reasoning behind their motivation. Despite no significant difference in SES levels between CLIL and non‐CLIL learner groups, CLIL participants are found to display a slightly more positive self‐concept and more robust ideal L2 self‐visions, which may explain the perceived greater motivation among CLIL learners to study (in) English. Furthermore, the L2 ought‐to self is found to be a secondary, yet potentially positive force toward higher motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal change related to individualisation has likely made individual resources more important for the maintenance of social ties. This raises the question whether lower-educated adults are more disadvantaged in later-born cohorts in personal network structure and function. Observations are from 4,886 individuals aged 55 and over from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), who are followed over a timespan of a maximum of 24 years between 1992 and 2016. Multi-level regression models are estimated to determine cohort differences. Network size is larger in later-born cohorts, and more so for the higher-educated than for the lower-educated adults. Network diversity increases across birth cohorts irrespective of educational level. Lower- and higher-educated women, and lower-educated men give more instrumental support in later-born cohorts, whereas higher-educated men do not show such a steep increase. More emotional and instrumental support is also received in later-born cohorts irrespective of educational level, but higher-educated adults receive more emotional support in all birth cohorts. Thus, lower-educated older adults are not necessarily worse off socially in later-born cohorts. Instead, they are even more likely to be active givers of support. Also, most of the gains in personal networks of older adults in later-born cohorts are independent of educational level, suggesting that the social landscape for older adults today is much richer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), run by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is the largest regular investigation of school students' attainment globally. It has been conducted usually every three years since 2006, measuring attainment of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science. It also records wide-ranging information about students' social characteristics and about their experience of school. The most recent round, in 2022, showed Scottish attainment to have fallen in all three domains. Although the decline since 2018 was partly due to the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic, this was not the whole explanation because Scottish scores have been falling since 2006. At the same time, social inequality has been widening. The paper summarises the evidence on this, and, by comparing the Scottish results with those in England, considers whether part of the explanation might be the different policies on the school curriculum in the two systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar disorders (BD) figures on top of the World Health Organization classification of disabling disorders. It is unclear if there are socioeconomic, functioning, and cognition differences in young patients newly diagnosed with BD and whether these are different for young and adult patients newly diagnosed with BD. Understanding these differences is important for tailored treatment and support. Participant groups included 401 patients newly diagnosed with BD, 145 of their unaffected first-degree relatives (UR) and 209 healthy control individuals (HC). First, we compared socio-economic status, functioning and cognition between young patients newly diagnosed with BD (150), UR (61) and HC (92) (15–25 years) and adult patients newly diagnosed with BD (251), UR (84) and HC (117) (>25 years), respectively. Second, within patients, we compared functioning and cognition between young and adult patients newly diagnosed with BD. In both participant groups, patients newly diagnosed with BD, and to a lesser degree UR, had lower socio-economic status and impaired functioning and cognition compared with HC. Further, young patients newly diagnosed with BD were less functionally impaired, than adults newly diagnosed with BD, whereas cognition did not differ between groups. Applied tools for assessments of functioning and cognition are not validated below age 18. Overall, lower socio-economic status and impaired functioning and cognition were found both in young and adult patients newly diagnosed with BD and their UR compared with young and adult HC, respectively. Young patients were less functionally impaired than adults, but cognition was similarly impaired. • Young patients newly diagnosed with bipolar had cognitive and functional impairments. • Young unaffected first-degree relatives had cognitive and functional impairments. • Young patients were less functionally impaired than adult patients. • Cognition was similarly impaired in young and adult patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]