Pop digests

PopDigests

PopDigests are short, comprehensive summaries of research results with a link to the original publication (if accessible online). This allows population experts and other interested audiences to be able to easily access information to the latest research results. 

Study Reveals Small-Country Bias in the Allocation of Development Assistance for Health

Study Reveals Small-Country Bias in the Allocation of Development Assistance for Health

A new study published in BMJ Global Health by Lene Martinsen and colleagues assessed the effects of population size on the amount of development assistance for health (DAH) that countries receive. Based on analyses of data for 143 countries spanning more than 20 years the study shows that larger population sizes is associated with significant decreases in per capita DAH.
Did Career-related Disadvantages of Italian and Spanish Immigrants in Switzerland Balance Out in the Course of Recent Immigration?

Did Career-related Disadvantages of Italian and Spanish Immigrants in Switzerland Balance Out in the Course of Recent Immigration?

Foreign workers are usually found on either the bottom or top end of the Swiss labour market, while Swiss natives hold the intermediate level positions. At the same time, the distribution of the foreign work force seems to be influenced by the origin of the workers.

Foreign workers are usually found on either the bottom or top end of the Swiss labour market, while Swiss natives hold the intermediate level positions. At the same time, the distribution of the foreign work force seems to be influenced by the origin of the workers. By means of the 1980 Census and the 2010-2011 Structural Survey, Elena Vidal-Coso and Enrique Ortega-Rivera compare the career-related disadvantages of Italian and Spanish immigrants between 1976 and 1980, and 2006 and 2011. Read more.

 

 

Moving Back to "Mamma"?

Moving Back to "Mamma"?

Re-thinking Sweden as having a "weak-family system"
Past research has claimed that countries like England, Sweden and the United States have weak family ties and they are more centred around the individual. This would mean that in times of need, families are not seen as a strong safety net and people try to cope with the situation on their own. In a recent study by Marco Albertini, Michael Gähler and Juho Härkönen, they chose to look specifically at Sweden to determine if family dissolution increased the likelihood of divorced/separated individuals moving back in to their parents’ home (intergenerational (re)co-residence).

Past research has claimed that countries like England, Sweden and the United States have weak family ties and they are more centred around the individual. This would mean that in times of need, families are not seen as a strong safety net and people try to cope with the situation on their own. In a recent study by Marco Albertini, Michael Gähler and Juho Härkönen, they chose to look specifically at Sweden to determine if family dissolution increased the likelihood of divorced/separated individuals moving back in to their parents’ home (intergenerational (re)co-residence). Read more.

 

 

Having a Second Child with a New Partner After Separation

Having a Second Child with a New Partner After Separation

There is a lot of research about the role of social policies in fertility behaviour in contemporary societies particularly with a focus on work and family reconciliation policies. Much less, however, is known about how social policies affect fertility behaviour after separation. In a new study, Kreyenfeld et al. (2017) explore how union dissolution influences when people have a second child and how the impact varies by education and national policy context.

There is a lot of research about the role of social policies in fertility behaviour in contemporary societies particularly with a focus on work and family reconciliation policies. Much less, however, is known about how social policies affect fertility behaviour after separation. In a new study, Kreyenfeld et al. (2017) explore how union dissolution influences when people have a second child and how the impact varies by education and national policy context. Read more.

 

 

Men’s Health and Co-residence with Older Generations in Russia

Men’s Health and Co-residence with Older Generations in Russia

Better or worse?
With the increasing housing prices and the need to take care of an ageing population, many young generations are living together with their parents, parents-in-law or grandparents (here forth, older generations). Previous research confirms the importance of intergenerational living arrangements (ILAs) for health, but it is still unclear whether ILA is beneficial or detrimental for one’s health.
Migrants’ Educational Choices

Migrants’ Educational Choices

From immigrant optimism to the optimism trap?
Ethnic minority students often choose more ambitious academic tracks than their native peers. However, the higher dropout rates among immigrant children at the higher secondary and university level suggest that low performing migrant students could have benefitted more from pursuing less ambitious tracks, especially in countries that offer viable vocational alternatives.
Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?

Why Do Women Live Longer Than Men?

Women live longer than men almost anywhere in the world. The question is whether this is due primarily to behavioural differences and social factors, or whether biological factors also play a role. To better understand the female survival advantage, Zarulli et al. (2018) investigated the survival of men and women in seven populations under extreme conditions due to famines, epidemics and slavery. They found that even when mortality was very high, women lived longer on average than men.
The Importance of Having a Person-Centred Approach

The Importance of Having a Person-Centred Approach

A study of disability services in Estonia
In Estonia, persons with disabilities are entitled to rehabilitation services, so in order to ensure that services are successful, the government has made efforts to modernize its system. To understand how clients feel about these services, Karin Hanga and colleagues conducted interviews with 12 individuals about their previous experiences with disability services and the newly-implemented initial rehabilitation needs assessment questionnaire to determine if the Estonian disability system is providing a person-centred approach.
Which Door Are Europeans Knocking on When They Need Help?

Which Door Are Europeans Knocking on When They Need Help?

In a new study, Conkova, Fokkema and Dykstra examined the extent to which Europeans opt for support from friends, neighbors and colleagues when looking for advice and help with finding a new job. The authors compared preferences for kin, non-kin (unpaid) and professional (paid) support with data from the European Quality of Life Survey for 27 countries. Their results suggest that Europeans vary greatly in their preferences for support, and that these variations are associated with the cultural context in which they are embedded.
The Prognostic Value of Handgrip Strength for Mortality in Moscow, Denmark and England

The Prognostic Value of Handgrip Strength for Mortality in Moscow, Denmark and England

Handgrip strength is seen as a powerful predictor of mortality across individuals. However, there is no research evidence about the levels and predictive ability of grip strength for mortality in Russian populations compared to the predictive ability of grip strength of other European populations, e.g. in England and Denmark. In England life expectancy levels are close to the EU average, while grip strength levels are slightly above EU average. Denmark has a below-average life expectancy level across EU countries, but it is one of the countries with the highest grip strength scores.