Gender Differences Research Articles

Radiological study of carrying angle among male and female and its clinical importance

: The long axes of the ulna and humerus form an acute angle when the upper limb is in its anatomical position and the elbow is fully extended is known as the carrying angle. It is typically larger in females than in males Anthropologists use the carrying angle to predict a person's sex; orthopaedic surgeons use it to surgically treat a variety of elbow disorders; and total elbow prosthetics. The study aimed to assess the carrying angle in an attempt to determine its value in both sexes, proposing a simple and reliable method for measuring it.The elbow radiographs taken in the normal anteroposterior and lateral views were assessed independently and uniformly by anatomists. A total of 70 adult radiographs between the ages of 18 to 76 years, 35 males and 35 females were gathered. To measure the angle, two lines were drawn: one along the mid-axis of the upper limb of the forearm, passing between the radius and ulna through the superior radioulnar joint, and the other along the mid-axis of the lower third of the humerus, where the angle is measured.The carrying angle is statistically more significant in females than in males among 70 radiographs. The p-value was 0.000 and the mean and SD for males were 14.3±2.740, while the mean and SD for females were 21.92±3.170.The current study concludes that there is a significant gender difference between females and males; carrying angle influences secondary sexual characteristics.

Relationships among self-esteem, depression and self-injury in adolescents: a longitudinal study

ObjectiveNon-suicidal self-injury is a widespread mental health concern among adolescents. This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-esteem, depression, and self-injury among adolescents using a longitudinal research design.MethodsThe Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Child Depression Inventory (CDI), and Adolescent Self-Injury Scale (ASIS) were used to follow up 1,265 junior middle school students on three occasions with six-month intervals.ResultsAt all three time points, there were significant gender differences in self-esteem, depression, and self-injury. Self-esteem was negatively correlated with depression and self-injury at all three time points, while depression and self-injury were significantly positively correlated. Cross-lagged analysis revealed that self-esteem at Time 1 (T1) did not significantly predict self-injury at Time 2 (T2), but self-esteem (T2) significantly predicted self-injury at Time 3 (T3; β = −0.079, p < 0.05). Similarly, self-injury (T1) significantly predicted self-esteem (T2; β = −0.140, p < 0.001), and self-injury (T2) significantly predicted self-esteem (T3; β = −0.071, p < 0.01). Horizontal and longitudinal mediating analysis showed that depression served as a complete mediator in both the pathway from self-esteem to self-injury and from self-injury to self-esteem. Cross-lagged analysis showed that self-esteem (T1) significantly predicts depression (T2; β = −0.070, p < 0.05), which in turn predict self-injury (T3; β = 0.126, p < 0.001). Similarly, self-injury (T1) predicted depression (T2; β = 0.055, p < 0.05), which further predicted self-esteem (T3; β = −0.218, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe self-esteem, depression, and self-injury of adolescents are closely related; self-esteem and self-injury predict each other; self-esteem indirectly affects self-injury through depression; and self-injury indirectly affects self-esteem through depression. Based on the relationship of bi-directional prediction of self-esteem and self-injury mediated by depression, this study proposes a theoretical model of depression-mediated self-esteem and self-injury cycle.

How are social context factors related to epistemological beliefs, motivations, and achievement in science? A serial mediation model

How are social context factors related to epistemological beliefs, motivations, and achievement in science? A serial mediation model

Income Inequality, Gender Disparities, and Ethnic Differences: Investigating Allostatic Load in American Adults.

To estimate the association between income inequality and allostatic load score (AL) in adults ages 20 years and older, with a particular focus on the differential impacts across racial and gender groups. By examining this association, the study seeks to inform targeted policy interventions to mitigate health disparities exacerbated by economic inequality. Utilizing data from the 1999-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we assessed AL through eight biomarkers: systolic blood pressure (mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg), pulse rate (beats/min), body mass index (kg/m2), glycohemoglobin (%), direct HDL cholesterol (mg/dL), total cholesterol (mg/dL), and serum albumin (g/dL). Employing negative binomial regression (NBRG), we estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) for a sample comprising 7367 men and 7814 women, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, health insurance, comorbidity, and mental health professional utilization. Gini coefficients (GC) were calculated to assess income inequality among men and women. Findings revealed that men exhibited a higher poverty-to-income ratio (PIR) compared to women (3.12 vs. 2.86, p < 0.01). Yet, women experienced higher rates of elevated AL (AL > 4) (31.8% vs. 29.0%) and were more adversely affected by income inequality (GC: 0.280 vs. 0.333). NBRG results indicated that high PIR individuals had a lower IRR (0.96; CI:0.92-0.95) compared to their low PIR counterparts, a trend observed in women but not men. High PIR was notably protective among White non-Hispanic (WNH) men and women. Additionally, vigorous and moderate physical activity engagement was associated with lower AL (IRR: 0.89, CI: 0.85-0.93). The study emphasizes the importance of implementing policies that target AL in low-income populations across all racial groups, with a specific focus on Black non-Hispanic (BNH) and Hispanic communities. By prioritizing these groups, policies can more effectively target the nexus of income inequality, health disparities, and allostatic load, contributing to the reduction of health inequities.

A Review of the AGE Barometer 2023: EU Good Practices and Barriers in the Empowerment of Elderly in the Labour Market - The Case of Hungary

The 2023 edition of the AGE Barometer was released by the Age Platform Europe, aimed at consolidating data from European statistics and national-level sources and enriched by feedback from 19 European countries, including Hungary. The publication aimed at empowering older people in the labour market and promoting sustainable and high-quality working lives for them. The Barometer revealed that the European Union (EU) is far from reaching its 78% employment target for adults aged 20 to 64 with its current state of just 62.3%. This could be due to various barriers to the integration of older people in the labour market, which include inadequate supportive policies, ageism, and unfavourable workplace conditions. Conversely, these are broadly stated in the context of the EU; hence, a deeper analysis of these results, with a special focus on the case of a single country, such as Hungary, is relevant to establish a clearer understanding of the national and local framework of these findings and in determining facilitating policies and programmes as well as gaps in promoting elderly inclusion in the labour sector. Using various methods such as critical analysis, desk and literature review, and thematic analysis, this article examined the Barometer report and other relevant publications. The Barometer 2023 effectively provided general issues and actionable areas in supporting older people in the labour market, combating ageism, and ensuring an age-friendly work environment in the EU landscape. Moreover, it revealed that Hungary performed better in employing older persons compared to the EU average, likely associated with a favourable environment for older workers through its legal protection systems, financial incentives, equal treatment policy, and initiatives such as pensioner cooperatives and information technology education. However, this still falls below the target, and based on the analysis and review of existing relevant publications, this could be associated with some unfavourable policies, gender disparities, a continuous rise in the ageing population, an increased number of migrant workers, technology challenges, ageism, political mayhems, cultural and traditional constraints, and other challenges that continue to threaten the marketability of older people, thereby resulting in consequences for their financial, physical, social, psychological, and environmental wellbeing. Moreover, the report also stated few good practices in promoting elderly employment in the county, contrary to numerous efforts implemented by both the Hungarian government, non-government organisations, and other institutions, which remained unrecognised, perhaps due to limited data availability and gaps in the reporting schemes. Finally, the Barometer 2023 report was realized to be included and used as a part of the technical working papers of the European Economic and Social Committee, being the EU advisory body that deals on the issues and opinions regarding this matter. The latest edition of the Barometer has the potential to spark positive changes among policymakers and decision-makers in acknowledging the economic potential of the elderly and in eliminating barriers that hinder elderly integration in the labour market. In the case of Hungary, substantial policies, programmes, and welfare services exist that facilitate elderly employment; however, challenges were also identified, hence the precise recommendations provided in the Barometer report must transform into reality, taking into consideration the unique national, local, and cultural peculiarities of Hungary and its local communities. It is also suggested that systematic data collection and good practice documentation must be facilitated in Hungary, and feedback from the other 18 countries in the Barometer report must be thoroughly reviewed or benchmarked for possible inspiration and replication. Lastly, the potentials of the Barometer 2023 to be used at all levels of decision-making must be maximized.

Sexual Dimorphism of Elastic Fibers in Prenatal Lung Mice

Scientific data has revealed the existence of lung gender differences and therefore sparked a renewed interest in understanding the underlying mechanisms and their effect in the healthy lung development and/or in pathological conditions. Elastic fibers have an important role in lung development during pre and post-natal stages, because a well-developed pulmonary elastic fibers favour pre-natal lung maturation and enhance alveolarization. Sexual differences studies on lung elastic fibers content are focused essentially on the post-natal stage, with scarce data on pre-natal lung development. Using an experimental mice model, we developed this research work to study gender differences in the lungs elastic fibers during gestational days E15-E19, using image analysis and elastin HPLC methodologies. Our results show significant sexual dimorphism in lung elastin and elastic fibers content pre-natal stage, which is more evident in the last two gestational days (E18 and E19). Female’s mice have more elastin and elastic fibers which could mean that the elastogenesis process begins earlier than males. These results are an important contributes to understand the underlying factors involved in physiology and lung development sexual difference.

Value of peripheral blood rare cell EGFR gene amplification detection in the evaluation of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules

Objective: To explore the value of detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene amplification in peripheral blood rare cells in the assessment of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Methods: A total of 262 patients with pulmonary nodules were selected as the retrospectively study subjects from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Military Medical University and Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2022 to August 2023. There were 98 males and 164 females, with the age range from 16 to 79 (52.1±12.1) years. The EGFR gene amplification testing was performed on the rare cells enriched from patients' peripheral blood, and the clinical manifestations, CT imaging features, histopathological and/or pathological cytological confirmed results of patients were collected. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of the method of detection of EGFR gene amplification in peripheral blood rare cells, and its diagnostic efficacy was evaluated. Results: Among the 262 patients, 143 were malignant pulmonary nodules and 119 were benign pulmonary nodules. The differences between malignant pulmonary nodules and benign pulmonary nodules in nodule diameter and nodule density were statistically significant (both P<0.001), while the differences in age, gender and nodule number were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). The number [M (Q1, Q3)] of EGFR gene amplification positive rare cells in patients with malignant pulmonary nodule was 8 (6, 11), which was higher than that in patients with benign pulmonary nodule [2 (1, 4), P<0.001]. The ROC curve results showed that when the optimal cut-off value was 5 (that was, the number of EGFR gene amplification positive rare cells was>5), the area under the curve (AUC) of the detection of EGFR gene amplification in peripheral blood rare cells for discrimination of benign and malignant pulmonary lesions was 0.816 (95%CI: 0.761-0.870), with a sensitivity of 83.2%, a specificity of 80.7%, and an accuracy of 82.1%. Based on the analysis of the diameter of the nodules, the AUC for distinguishing between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules with diameter 5-9 mm and 10-30 mm was 0.797 (95%CI: 0.707-0.887) and 0.809 (95%CI: 0.669-0.949), respectively, with sensitivity, specificity and accuracy reached 75% or above. Based on the analysis of nodule density, the AUC for distinguishing between benign and malignant solid nodule and subsolid nodule was 0.845 (95%CI: 0.751-0.939) and 0.790 (95%CI: 0.701-0.880), respectively, with sensitivity, specificity and accuracy reached 75% or above. Based on the analysis of nodule number, the AUC for distinguishing between benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodule and multiple pulmonary nodule was 0.830 (95%CI: 0.696-0.965) and 0.817 (95%CI: 0.758-0.877), respectively, with sensitivity, specificity and accuracy reached 80% or above. Conclusion: The detection of EGFR gene amplification in peripheral blood rare cells contributes to the evaluation of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, and can be used in the auxiliary diagnosis of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules.

The digital revolution in India: bridging the gap in rural technology adoption

This study investigates the factors that influence the adoption of digital technology in rural areas of India, with a focus on the Digital India Program (DIP). By analyzing the age distribution, education levels, technology adoption rates, and utilization patterns among rural populations, this research provides insights into the effectiveness of the DIP in targeting specific demographics and promoting digital inclusion. Quantitative data were collected from 400 respondents in Kalahandi District in the Odisha state of India. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. The findings reveal a predominantly young population in rural India, indicating a workforce with significant economic potential and a higher likelihood of embracing digital technologies. Moreover, the study highlights the high levels of education among respondents, indicating a population well-equipped to understand and benefit from digital initiatives. Unexpectedly, the research shows a higher rate of digital technology adoption among female respondents, challenging the perception of gender disparities in technology access. This finding suggests that the DIP has played a vital role in bridging the gender gap and empowering women in rural areas. Additionally, the study uncovers a trend towards mobile-based services over computer-based services, signaling a shift in technology utilization patterns. This emphasizes the need to prioritize mobile technology and improve connectivity in rural areas to ensure wider access to digital platforms.

Unveiling Gender Discrimination in the Workplace: A Qualitative Analysis of Vietnamese Women's Narratives

This study explores the dynamics of gender discrimination in the workplace through the qualitative narratives of 30 Vietnamese women across various professional sectors. Using a purposive sampling method, the research employs semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth insights into the participants' experiences, which were analyzed through thematic analysis. Key findings reveal prevalent workplace gender discrimination, characterized by subtle biases, traditional gender role enforcement, and challenges linked to maternity and career advancement. These issues manifest through both overt marginalization and covert devaluation of women's professional contributions, highlighting the resilience and coping strategies women employ to navigate such environments. While the study focuses on formal employment sectors and may not capture all employment types in Vietnam, it provides valuable perspectives for policymakers and organizational leaders aiming to mitigate gender disparities. Recommendations include enhanced diversity training, transparent career advancement policies, and improved work-life balance support. This research contributes original insights into the complexities of gender discrimination, emphasizing cultural specifics that influence workplace dynamics in Vietnam.

A survey on students’ use of AI at a technical university

We report the results of a 4800-respondent survey among students at a technical university regarding their usage of artificial intelligence tools, as well as their expectations and attitudes about these tools. We find that many students have come to differentiated and thoughtful views and decisions regarding the use of artificial intelligence. The majority of students wishes AI to be integrated into their studies, and several wish that the university would provide tools that are based on reliable, university-level materials. We find that acceptance of and attitudes about artificial intelligence vary across academic disciplines. We also find gender differences in the responses, which however are smaller the closer the student’s major is to informatics (computer science).

Gender Differences in Procrastination and Subjective Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Students and Non-Students.

This study aims to examine gender differences in the relationship between procrastination and subjective well-being in a sample of 1052 individuals. Including both students and non-students. The participants, 56.7% were women (Mean = 24.83, Standard Deviation = 6.01, range = 18-56) and 43.3% were men (Mean = 25.01, Standard Deviation = 6.91, range = 18-59), completed assessments covering procrastination, positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and structural equation modeling. The current findings suggest that men, compared with women, reported higher levels of procrastination, positive affect, and subjective well-being and lower levels of negative affect. The results suggest that procrastination has a greater impact on the subjective well-being of men, especially among non-student males. These findings contribute to the understanding of gender differences in the relationship between procrastination and subjective well-being, emphasizing the need for further research.

Gender differences in dietary intake and physical activity among university students: a post-COVID-19 pandemic study

Purpose Malaysia transitions from a pandemic to an endemic state, beginning on April 1, 2022. The dietary intake and physical activity of university students were altered during the COVID-19 pandemic confinement period, but there is limited information on this topic in the post-COVID-19 period. This cross-sectional study aims to understand gender differences in dietary intake and physical activity among university students and investigate the factors influencing their body mass index (BMI) in the post-COVID-19 period. Design/methodology/approach The questionnaire used in this study comprised three main segments: sociodemographic information, a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Findings Results indicated that males exhibited significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) mean intakes of total dietary energy and macronutrients compared to females. Compared to the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intakes 2017, 76.4% of males and 68.8% of females had a sufficient daily energy intake. The majority of males (52.7%) and females (46.4%) were moderately physically active. Regression analysis revealed that male university students with lower fiber intake (ß = −0.309, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with higher BMI reading after confounding adjustment. However, a similar trend was not observed in female university students. Practical implications Understanding the gender differences in dietary intake and physical activity can provide insights into the development of effective gender-specific health promotion strategies and the formulation of policies aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles among university students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Originality/value This study provides insights into the gender differences in the dietary and physical activity habits of university students, as well as the factors influencing their BMI in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.

Associations between blood manganese levels and sarcopenia in adults: insights from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BackgroundWhile increasing concerns arise about the health effects of environmental pollutants, the relationship between blood manganese (Mn) and sarcopenia has yet to be fully explored in the general population.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the association between blood manganese (Mn) levels and sarcopenia in adults.MethodsIn our study, we evaluated 8,135 individuals aged 18–59 years, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2011 to 2018. We employed generalized additive model (GAM) to discern potential non-linear relationships and utilized the two-piecewise linear regression model to probe the association between blood Mn levels and sarcopenia.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, we identified non-linear association between blood Mn levels and sarcopenia, with an inflection point at 13.45 μg/L. The effect sizes and the confidence intervals on the left and right sides of the inflection point were 1.006 (0.996 to 1.048) and 1.082 (1.043 to 1.122), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the effect sizes of blood Mn on sarcopenia have significant differences in gender and different BMI groups.ConclusionOur results showed that a reverse U-shaped curve between blood Mn levels and sarcopenia, with an identified the inflection point at blood Mn level of 13.45 μg/L.

Educational Inequality in the Context of China's Educational Expansion

Since the conclusion of World War II, the topic of educational growth has garnered global interest, including in China. While the education expansion program has given several benefits and advantages to China, there are still many faults in the strategy. This paper examines the issue of educational inequality within the framework of educational growth in China. The paper examines educational inequity in China within the framework of educational growth, focusing on four key areas: educational inequity stemming from socio-economic factors, urban-rural disparities, insufficient secondary education, and gender disparities. After examining the aforementioned factors, this study asserts that the issue of educational inequality persists and proves to be particularly challenging to eradicate in certain areas, such as socio-economic disparity. Based on this, this paper puts forward the following suggestions. First, the government needs to increase spending on education. Second, attention should be paid to improving the balance of educational distribution. Finally, there is a need to close the gender gap in higher education. These guidelines are the best alternative to achieving equality in education.

Associations between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Diabetes in Vietnam-Era Women Veterans in the HealthViEWS Study.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with incident diabetes. However, past studies have often included predominantly male samples, despite important sex and gender differences in diabetes. To address this limitation, this study examined the association between PTSD and diabetes in older Veteran women, a population with a high burden of PTSD. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from 4,105 women (Mage = 67.4 years), participating in the Health of Vietnam-Era Veteran Women's Study (HealthViEWS; Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program #579). Participants completed self-report measures of demographics, health conditions, and health behaviors. Information on military service was obtained through service records. A structured clinical interview was conducted by telephone to assess current and lifetime PTSD and other mental health disorders. Weighted descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between PTSD and diabetes. Results: The prevalence of diabetes was 28.4% among women with current full PTSD compared to 23.4%, 17.6%, and 17.5% for current subthreshold, remitted, and no PTSD. In unadjusted analyses, women with current full and subthreshold PTSD were 1.87 [1.49; 2.33] and 1.44 [1.11; 1.85] times more likely to have diabetes compared to women with no PTSD. Remitted PTSD was not associated with increased odds of diabetes. Effects were attenuated but remained significant after adjustment for relevant covariates. Conclusions: Vietnam-era women with current PTSD, including subthreshold symptoms, had a greater likelihood of diabetes compared to women without PTSD. These findings suggest that women with PTSD may benefit from increased diabetes prevention efforts.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Towards Referral of Probiotics by Pediatricians of Government Hospitals In Faisalabad, Pakistan

Background: The use of probiotics is increasing with time. However, there is limited data available related to the referral and knowledge of pediatricians regarding the use of probiotics. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 196 pediatricians who participated in this study. A well-structured, self-administered questionnaire was distributed among participants to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practices towards probiotics referral. The questionnaire was based on four sections including questions related to socio-demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practices about probiotics’ use and referral. The obtained data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and, the chi-square test in SPSS. Results: The findings indicated that the majority of participants had fair knowledge (57.7%), a positive attitude (69.4%), and good practices (80.1%) towards the referral of probiotics products. The chi-square test results revealed that the gender difference of participants was significantly associated with the knowledge (p-value = 0.042). Whereas, the knowledge of participants did not vary significantly concerning the increase in the working experience (p-value = 0.075). In addition, the attitudes and practices of pediatricians were also found to be non-significantly related to the gender difference and working experience of the participants. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the attitude and practices (p-value = 0.019), and between knowledge and practices (p-value = 0.000). Whereas, no significant correlation was found between knowledge and attitude (p-value = 0.197). Conclusion: In conclusion, the majority of the participants in this study had fair knowledge, a positive attitude, and good practices towards the referral of probiotics. Although there are certain limitations to this study, it is the first study that provides insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pediatricians in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Consequently, it is suggested that additional training programs and healthcare policies should be initiated to further promote the clinical applications of probiotics by enhancing the knowledge of pediatricians as well as other healthcare professionals in the country.

Gender Differences in the Impact of a High-Fat, High-Sugar Diet in Skeletal Muscles of Young Female and Male Mice

In the context of the increasing number of obese individuals, a major problem is represented by obesity and malnutrition in children. This condition is mainly ascribable to unbalanced diets characterized by high intakes of fat and sugar. Childhood obesity and malnutrition are not only associated with concurrent pathologies but potentially compromise adult life. Considering the strict correlation among systemic metabolism, obesity, and skeletal muscle health, we wanted to study the impact of juvenile malnutrition on the adult skeletal muscle. To this aim, 3-week-old C56BL/6 female and male mice were fed for 20 weeks on a high-fat. high-sugar diet, and their muscles were subjected to a histological evaluation. MyHCs expression, glycogen content, intramyocellular lipids, mitochondrial activity, and capillary density were analyzed on serial sections to obtain the metabolic profile. Our observations indicate that a high-fat, high-sugar diet alters the metabolic profile of skeletal muscles in a sex-dependent way and induces the increase in type II fibers, mitochondrial activity, and lipid content in males, while reducing the capillary density in females. These data highlight the sex-dependent response to nutrition, calling for the development of specific strategies and for a systematic inclusion of female subjects in basic and applied research in this field.

Target similarity and gender difference: Effects of servant leadership on supervisory commitment and supervisory citizenship behavior

PurposeThis study applies the target similarity model to examine the effects of servant leadership on supervisor commitment and supervisor citizenship behavior. The mediating role of supervisory commitment is explored to determine the relationship between servant leadership and supervisor citizenship behavior. The difference in supervisor gender is examined in the linkage between servant leadership and supervisory commitment.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected through a survey of 478 salespeople in the retail industry. Structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques were used to verify the hypotheses of this study.FindingsThe findings showed significant support for the direct and indirect effects of servant leadership on supervisor commitment and supervisor citizenship behavior. Furthermore, the positive relationship between servant leadership and supervisory commitment was stronger among female supervisors than male supervisors.Originality/valueDue to the scarcity of studies conducted on the linkages of servant leadership, supervisory commitment and supervisory citizenship behavior, this study theoretically and empirically contributes to the leadership literature as it is the first study to investigate these direct and indirect relationships. Similarly, this study examined gender differences in servant leadership to fill the gap in the research field.

Assessing the Impact of Education on Life Expectancy in Rwanda

Purpose: Education's impact on life expectancy is a crucial area of study, particularly in nations undergoing rapid demographic and epidemiological transitions like Rwanda. This research examines the intricate relationship between education and life expectancy in Rwanda, considering the nation's advancements in education and healthcare. Despite progress, challenges persist in ensuring equitable access to quality education. Methodology: The study utilizes quantitative research methods, employing descriptive, correlation, and causal-comparative approaches, alongside econometric analyses like co-integration tests and vector error correction models. Data covering the period from 1965 to 2020 were collected from the World Bank Database. Findings: Findings indicate a significant effect of education on fertility rates, with higher education levels associated with lower fertility. Additionally, forecasts project an increase in life expectancy across educational groups, albeit less pronounced for the less educated. Gender disparities persist, with the rate of decrease in life expectancy differences between males and females slower than in previous decades. Increasing prediction intervals highlight growing uncertainty over time. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The research contributes to understanding the complex interplay between education and life expectancy in Rwanda, offering insights for policy interventions to enhance population health outcomes and promote sustainable development. This study underscores the imperative for targeted strategies to mitigate educational barriers and advance inclusive development, addressing existing gaps in empirical evidence within the Rwandan context.

The Burden and Psychological Distress of Family Caregivers of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Gender Approach

Background/Objectives: Relatives play the main role as caregivers of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) individuals. Women, specifically mothers, are the majority of caregivers of ASD relatives. In addition, the literature on caregivers has shown that women have worse mental health and higher perceived burdens than men. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the relationships between psychological distress and burden using a gender approach in caregivers of ASD relatives. Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied in this study with a convenience sample of 250 caregivers of ASD relatives. Most of them were mothers caring for a child who ranged in age from 1 to 31 years. Sociodemographic variables considered were age, education level, marital status, and relation to the care recipient. Additionally, psychological distress and objective burden, in the form of hours/day caring, and subjective burden, in the form of perceived burden, were analyzed. Results: Significant gender differences were found in psychological distress and objective and subjective burden, with women showing higher scores than men. Both types of burden played a serial mediating role between gender and psychological distress. Conclusions: The results highlight the important role of gender, with women bearing the high cost of caring for their children with ASD in the form of high objective burden, caring for more hours, and subjective burden, perceiving more burden and showing poorer mental health than men. These results show the need for specific support and intervention programs targeted to women caregivers to reduce burden and improve their mental health.