Gender-specific Relationships Research Articles

Gender Differences in the Association Between Anxiety and Interoceptive Insight.

Anxiety is one of the most common and debilitating mental health disorders, and is related to changes in interoception (perception of bodily states). While anxiety is more prevalent in women than men, gender differences in interoception-anxiety associations are often overlooked. Here, we examined gender-specific relationships between anxiety and interoception in the breathing domain, utilising multicentre data pooled from four study sites (N = 175; 51% women). State anxiety scores were quantified via the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and breathing-related interoceptive dimensions via an inspiratory load task to quantify sensitivity, decision bias, metacognitive bias (confidence in interoceptive decisions), and metacognitive insight (congruency between performance and confidence). Regression analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between state anxiety and metacognitive bias (β = -0.28; p = 0.01) and insight (β = -0.09; 95% highest density interval [HDI] in a hierarchical Bayesian regression = [-0.18, -0.004]) across the whole sample, while state anxiety did not relate to interoceptive sensitivity nor decision bias. While no mean interoceptive effects relating to gender were observed, the relationship between anxiety and metacognitive insight towards breathing was driven by women (women: β = -0.18; HDI = [-0.31, -0.05]; men: β = 0.02; HDI = [-0.12, 0.15]) with a significant interaction effect (β difference = -0.20; HDI = [-0.37, -0.01]), which did not hold for trait anxiety nor depression measures. In summary, state anxiety was associated with decreased metacognitive bias across all participants, while decreased interoceptive insight was only associated with anxiety in women but not men. Therefore, treatment programmes focusing on interoceptive metacognitive bias may be useful for all anxiety patients, while interoceptive insight might represent a specific treatment target for women with anxiety.

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COVID-19’S EFFECTS ON LONELINESS, ISOLATION, AND COGNITIVE HEALTH AMONG TAIWANESE RETIREES

Abstract Objectives This study investigates the impacts of lock-down policies during the COVID-19 pandemic on the loneliness, social isolation, and cognitive function of retirees in Taiwan, focusing on the differences between men and women. Method: We conducted a two-stage stratified sampling survey to collect 1,115 valid retirees aged 50-74 in Taiwan in early 2023. A mixed-methods approach, combining focus groups and quantitative analysis, was employed. Loneliness was evaluated using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and social isolation was measured through interaction with family members and social participation. Cognitive function was assessed using the Saint Louis University Mental Status. The statistical analysis included network analysis and multinomial logistic regression. Results This study revealed that approximately 30% of participants experienced loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, and about 20% of men and women reported less time allocated to volunteering and group activities. Although regression analysis showed no gender differences in loneliness scores and cognitive functions, network analysis found gender-specific relationships among related factors and sub-item of cognitive tests. For example, women’s feelings of loneliness negatively correlated with geometric judgment performance, while men showed a positive correlation between orientation test scores and volunteer involvement. Qualitative research further underscored the crucial role of community support in facilitating recovery from the pandemic, particularly for individuals who were less engaged in community activities. Discussion This study highlights the need to explore gender-specific correlates of loneliness and isolation across different cognitive items and emphasizes strengthening community support for post-pandemic recovery.

Gender-specific relationships between hyperuricemia and idiopathic deep venous thrombosis in the Chinese population: a case‒control study

BackgroundMany studies have indicated that hyperuricemia is positively correlated with secondary deep venous thrombosis (DVT); however, the risk factors for idiopathic DVT based on gender differences, such as serum uric acid (SUA) and hyperuricemia, have not been fully examined.ObjectivesTo investigate the association between hyperuricemia and the occurrence of idiopathic lower extremity DVT based on gender differences.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of 4299 patients who were hospitalized at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2012 to October 2021 and who underwent ultrasound of the lower limbs. A total of 930 patients were diagnosed in the DVT group, and 3369 patients were diagnosed in the control group without DVT. The baseline SUA and other important baseline data were compared between the two groups, and sex was stratified. Multivariate logistic regression analysis models adjusted for potential confounders were used to investigate the associations between hyperuricemia and idiopathic lower extremity DVT.ResultsThe SUA level in patients with idiopathic DVT was significantly greater than that in patients without DVT (total: 6.00 ± 1.75 vs. 5.40 ± 1.56 mg/dL, respectively; male: 6.42 ± 1.60 vs. 5.87 ± 1.57 mg/dL, respectively; female: 5.58 ± 1.79 vs. 4.72 ± 1.27 mg/dL, respectively; all P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with hyperuricemia in the idiopathic DVT group was significantly greater than that in the control group (total: 29.03% vs. 16.10%, respectively; male: 35.26% vs. 23.19%, respectively; female: 22.73% vs. 5.74%, respectively; all P < 0.001). The incidence of DVT in patients with hyperuricemia was significantly greater than patients with normouricemia (33.29% vs. 18.92%, respectively), and this difference was particularly prominent among women (58.01%). According to the univariate model, hyperuricemia was significantly associated with a grester risk of idiopathic DVT. After adjustment for potential confounders, this association remained significant. The risk of idiopathic lower extremity DVT in patients with hyperuricemia was 2.643-fold greater than that in patients with normouricemia (Model 3: OR: 2.643, 95% CI: 2.165–3.228). After stratification by sex, the risk of idiopathic lower extremity DVT in female patients with hyperuricemia was 7.482-fold greater than that in patients with normouricemia (Model 3, OR: 7.482, 95% CI: 4.999–11.199).ConclusionIn the Chinese population, hyperuricemia is closely related to an increased risk of idiopathic lower extremity DVT, especially in female patients.

Social Activities and Risk of Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older People: Gender-Specific Findings From a Prospective Cohort Study.

This study examines thegender-specific associations between a wide range of social activities and dementia risk. A prospective cohort study was conducted involving community-dwelling older Australians (≥70 years) without significant cognitive impairment at enrolment. During the first year of enrolment, we assessed 25 self-reported social activities covering various aspects, including support from relatives and friends, community participation, social interactions with surroundings, and loneliness. Dementia diagnosis followed DSM-IV criteria, adjudicated by an international expert panel. To estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between social activities and dementia, we performed Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for age, educational attainment, baseline global cognition, and depressive symptoms. Among 9,936 participants who completed all social activity questionnaires (median [IQR] age: 73.4 [71.6-77.1] years; 47.4% men), dementia was diagnosed in 3.8% of men (n = 181/4,705) and 2.6% of women (n = 138/5,231) over a median 6.4 years (IQR: 5.3-7.6, range: 0.2-10.1) follow-up. Gender-specific relationships emerged: caregiving for a person with illness/disability in women (HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.42-0.99), and having ≥9 relatives feeling close to call for help in men (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33-0.96; reference <9 relatives) were associated with reduced dementia risk. Unexpectedly, in women, having ≥5 friends with whom they felt comfortable discussing private matters were associated with a greater dementia risk (HR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.10-2.59; reference ≤2 friends). Imputed models further identified that babysitting/childminding was associated with lower dementia risk in men (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.56-0.99). No other social activities showed significant associations with dementia. This study provides evidence of social activities influencing dementia risk. Further investigations are required to uncover the mechanisms driving these observed relationships.

Gender Difference in the Relationship between Extrapulmonary Factors and Reduced Lung Function in Early Adulthood.

(1) Background: Reduced lung function in early adulthood is associated with future risks to health outcomes that have not been fully explored by gender. We investigated gender-specific relationships between lung function and extrapulmonary variables, assessing their potential as screening markers for respiratory dysfunction in young adults. (2) Methods: The participants were 151 medical students. Clinical data, handgrip strength (HS); body composition parameters such as skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), whole-body phase angle (WBPhA), and bone mineral content (BMC); and pulmonary function variables, vital capacity (VC), forced VC (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), were measured. (3) Results: FEV1 was significantly correlated with BMI, SMI, WBPhA, BMC, and both left and right HS (p < 0.0001, respectively) across all participants. According to gender, FEV1 had the strongest positive association with left HS in males (p < 0.0001) and BMC in females (p < 0.0001). The area under the curve for detecting the bottom quartile of FEV1 was 0.705 (cut-off 41.0 kg, sensitivity 91%) for left HS in males and 0.742 (cut-off 2.11 kg, sensitivity 81%) for BMC in females. (4) Conclusions: Gender-specific relationships between intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary factors such as left HS and BMC could be useful for screening suspected respiratory dysfunction in early adulthood.

Gender-Specific Pathways in Violent Crime: Investigating the Role of Demographic and Mental Health Factors Using Mixed Graphical Models and Bayesian Networks.

This research aims to uncover gender-specific relationships and pathways that contribute to the perpetration of violent crimes, using sophisticated analytical tools to analyze the complex interactions between various factors. Employing Mixed Graphical Models and Bayesian networks, the study analyzes a sample of 1,254 prisoners (61.64% males and 38.36% females) to investigate the relationships among demographic factors, mental health issues, and violent crime. The study utilizes comprehensive measures, including the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, to assess participants' mental health status.Key findings reveal significant gender differences in the pathways to violent crime. For males, incomplete parental marriages strongly correlate with criminal behavior severity, while marriage status emerges as a significant factor, with married males less likely to commit violent crimes. In contrast, these relationships are not significant for females. Bayesian network analysis indicates that living in urban areas differently influences education and emotional expression across genders, emphasizing the importance of contextual factors. The study highlights the need for gender-specific considerations in criminal justice policies and interventions. It underscores the complex interplay of demographic and mental health factors in influencing violent crime pathways, providing insights for developing more effective prevention strategies. Despite its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, the research significantly contributes to understanding the gendered dimensions of criminal behavior.

Analysis of the Relationships between Sport Participation, Physical Activity, and Concurrent Substance Misuse in College Students: A Gender-Stratified Analysis in the Post-Pandemic Period

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased substance use and misuse (SUM). The period in which one undergoes college education is known to be associated with a greater risk of SUM, and there is a need for greater awareness of the risks associated with concurrent SUM in the post-pandemic years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gender-specific relationships between physical activity levels (PAL), sport participation, and concurrent SUM among college students in the first post-pandemic year. The participants were college students from Croatia and from Bosnia and Herzegovina (n=398) who were tested on sport factors (involvement in individual and team sports, time of involvement, frequency of training, sport achievement), physical activity levels (PALs), and concurrent SUM (simultaneous consumption of cigarettes and alcohol) by using structured anonymous previously validated questionnaires immediately after the pandemic period. Sport factors and PALs were not significantly associated with concurrent SUM in the total sample or in male students. In female students, higher competitive achievement in sports was shown to be associated with the risk of concurrent SUM (OR=1.45, 95%CI:1.11-1.98). The results evidenced an increased risk of concurrent SUM in female students who achieved greater success in sports. Therefore, it seems that public health authorities should develop specific educational and preventive programs in female athletes. The timing of this study was in the first post-pandemic year which could have at least partially influenced our findings.

Longitudinal pathways of associations between motor proficiency and physical fitness during earlier and later childhood: The NW-CHILD study.

Understanding the relationships between motor proficiency (MP) and physical fitness (PF) is important for the future health of children, although longitudinal findings of this nature are limited. This study explored the association between MP and PF during earlier childhood (6 and 9 years old) and later childhood (12 years old) in boys and girls. A stratified and randomized research design including a baseline and two follow-up time-point measures (2010, 2013, and 2016) were used. Primary school children (N = 374, boys = 178; girls = 196) were tested with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor-Proficiency-2, Short Form, and the Test of Gross Motor Development- 2, at ages 6 and 9 years, and with the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test at age 12. Spearman Rank Order Correlations and stepwise regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Although of a low magnitude, proof of a dynamic longitudinal, but a stable relationship between MP and PF were found and with different gender-specific relationships in this pathway of association. A small but significant percentage of variation in PF at 12 years could be explained by overall motor competence (MC) and object control skills (OCS) at the ages of 6 and 9 years. Among girls, the association with PF at 12 years was influenced by both OCS, and MC, although only MC contributed to the variation found in boys. Socio-economic status made an insignificant contribution at 6 years to later PF in boys, but not in girls. MC, including OCS during early and middle childhood can be considered as possible triggers of physical activity which again, can increase PF during later childhood. Obtaining early competence in these developmental areas is therefore important to promote positive and sustainable trajectories of health with long-term health outcomes.

SUBJECTS OF ENVY AMONG YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN: CONTEXTS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

This article explores the propensity for deviant behavior and the objects of envy among young men and women. Specifically, it examines the following aspects: Appearance: Young individuals often experience jealousy regarding each other's physical appearance, clothing, hairstyle, and more. Envy of attractive attributes may drive both genders to engage in deviant behaviors, such as resorting to drug use or alcohol abuse to achieve these attributes. Social Status: Envy can also revolve around social status, encompassing factors like popularity, academic or athletic success, and group affiliations. Envious feelings related to these aspects may lead to deviant behaviors, including the use of violence or manipulation to attain desired status. Material Goods: Material possessions can be a focal point of envy, motivating young people to engage in theft, deceit, or illicit activities to acquire them. Power and Control: Envy of power and control may serve as another motivator for deviant behavior. For instance, the desire to wield power can lead to attempts to control others or resort to violence to achieve personal objectives. Deviant behaviors often stem from envy, as individuals may seek to obtain desired objects or statuses through wrongful means. For instance, a young man envious of a successful classmate may resort to grade forgery or cheating to attain similar success. Jealousy can also trigger conflicts and violence among individuals. For example, two girls envious of each other's attractiveness or popularity may engage in efforts to undermine each other's lives or even resort to physical aggression. The primary objective of this article is to identify the principal psychological and legal characteristics of envy among male and female students within the context of deviant behavior. The article's objectives include assessing the level of envy among male and female cadets and exploring gender-specific relationships between deviant behavior and envy across various subject areas. It is essential to note that envy alone is not the sole cause of deviant behavior; rather, it is one of several factors influencing young individuals and motivating them to engage in unlawful acts. Additional factors, such as inadequate social support, low self-esteem, or negative environmental influences, also significantly contribute to the development of deviant behavior. In conclusion, this study underscores that envy is not a moral sentiment and highlights the centrality of feelings of inferiority in the experience of envy. Moreover, gender differences in envy, prevalent among youth, tend to diminish as individuals mature.

Relationships Between Psychopathy and DSM Personality Disorders in Men and Women.

The current investigation asseses the relationship between DSM personality disorders (PDs) and PCL psychopathy in a community study: the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development (CSDD). The children (Generation 3) of the original CSDD males (Generation 2) were assessed for PDs and psychopathy in early adulthood. Generation 3 consisted of both males (n = 291) and females (n = 260) and allowed for analyses separately for each gender. Cluster B PDs showed the strongest relationships with psychopathy, especially Borderline and Antisocial PD. Histrionic PD did not appear to have strong relationships with psychopathy, and there were no indications that histrionic PD overlaps with psychopathy in females as past research has hypothesized. There were however some other gender-specific relationships in the analyses, most notably between psychopathy and schizoid and schizotypal PDs for females, and between psychopathy and paranoid PD in males. Implications for the understanding of psychopathy in males and females are discussed.

Relationship between Serum Angiopoietin-like Proteins 3 and 8 and Atherogenic Lipid Biomarkers in Non-Diabetic Adults Depends on Gender and Obesity.

Hypertriglyceridemia is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays an essential role in the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs). Angiopoietin-like proteins ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 are shown to be important regulators of LPL activity. Increased concentrations of these proteins may reflect cardiovascular risk, and the treatment of patients with dyslipidemia with ANGPTLs inhibitors may decrease this risk. We assessed the gender-specific relationships of serum ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 with atherogenic lipid biomarkers and obesity in non-diabetic adults. The study comprised 238 participants aged 25–74 [122 with triglycerides (TG) <150 mg/dL (<1.7 mmol/L) and 116 with hypertriglyceridemia]. Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TG, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycated hemoglobin, apolipoprotein B, small dense LDL-C (sd-LDL-C), ANGPTL3, and ANGPTL8 were measured. Non-HDL-cholesterol, remnant cholesterol (remnant-C) concentrations, and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Results: Women and men did not differ in terms of age, CRP levels, the percentage of obese subjects, and concentrations of atherogenic lipid biomarkers, except higher TG in males and higher ANGPTL3 concentrations in females. Positive correlations of both ANGPTLs with TG, remnant-C, and sdLDL-C levels were found in females. In males, only ANGPTL3 correlated positively with atherogenic biomarkers, but there were no correlations with ANGPTL8. Concentrations of ANGPTL3 were higher in obese men, whereas ANGPTL8 levels were higher in obese women. In women alone, ANGPTL8 showed very good discrimination power to identify subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (AUC = 0.83). Contrary to this, ANGPTL3 was a better discriminator of hypertriglyceridemia (AUC = 0.78) in male subjects. Regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and BMI showed a weak but significant effect of ANGPTL8 to increase the risk of hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusions: In females, ANGPTL8 is more strongly associated with TRLs metabolism, whereas in males, ANGPTL3 plays a more important role. We suggest sex differences be taken into consideration when applying new therapies with angiopoietin-like proteins inhibitors in the treatment of dyslipidemia.

Negative associations of morning serum cortisol levels with obesity: the Henan rural cohort study.

To evaluate the associations of morning serum cortisol levels with obesity defined by different indices in Chinese rural populations. A cross-sectional study was performed including 6198 participants (2566 males and 3632 females). Serum cortisol was collected in morning and quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Obesity was defined by body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference (WC), visceral fat index (VFI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Both multivariable liner regression, logistic regression and restrictive cubic splines models were used to estimate the gender-specific relationships between cortisol levels and obesity defined by different indices, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, serum cortisol was negatively associated with different obesity measures, except obese females defined by BFP (for instance, overall obesity defined by BMI, Quartile 4 vs. Quartile 1, odds ratio (OR) = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.15, 0.41 in males, and OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42,0.80 in females, central obesity defined by WC, OR = 0.52, 95% CI:0.39,0.69 in males and OR = 0.63, 95% CI:0.51,0.77 in females). Similarly, restrictive cubic splines showed the nonlinear relationship between high levels of cortisol and different obesity indices. Furthermore, ROC curve analysis indicated that cortisol could improve the discrimination of model with common biomarkers. Morning serum cortisol were negatively related to obesity defined by different indices in Chinese rural populations. In addition, cortisol could be as a biomarker for prediction of obesity in males.

Clarifying and Revealing the Gender Differences in the Relationships of Lean and Fat Mass with Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in Asian Men and Women

Objectives: To clarify the relationships of fat and lean mass with the metabolic syndrome risk factors in Asian men and women. Methods: This is a cross sectional study of 530 and 1326 Singaporean men and women. The lean mass index (LMI), fat mass index (FMI) and abdominal fat index (AbFI) were computed with height adjustments as with BMI, and were categorized into four groups to evaluated for their relationships with the various metabolic syndrome risk factors. Results: Men have 35% more LMI, 57% less FMI and 30% less of AbFI than in women. Lean and fat mass have independent and gender-specific relationships with the various metabolic syndrome risk factors. Varying amounts of LMI in men have no bearing on the MetS risk factors. While in women, high LMI is associated with risk factors for metabolic health. High FMI in men is cardio-protective, while high FMI in women is associated with higher insulin resistance markers. High AbFI in both men and women is a predictor, possibly, of poorer metabolic health. BMI reflects the combined association of LMI, FMI and AbFI. Conclusions: The results clarify and reveal the clear gender differences in the relationships of LMI, FMI, AbFI and BMI with the various MetS risk factors. These news findings, together with known predicators of MetS such as age, physical exercise, male and female hormones, should form the basis to establish different and gender-specific management modalities for MetS.

Human Capital Investments, Differential Fecundity, and the Marriage Market

I build an investment-and-marriage model to provide a new explanation of the reversed college gender gap, i.e., more women than men are going to college. The explanation is based on differential fecundity and an equilibrium marriage-market effect. The model also sheds light on gender-specific relationships between age at marriage and midlife personal income for American men and women, and the evolving relationship between age at marriage and spousal income for American women.

Violent Injuries Among College Students in China: An Exploration of Gender Mental Stress Model.

The purpose of this study was to explore the gender-specific mental stress model of violent injuries among Chinese college students. A cross-sectional, multistage sampling process was employed to recruit a total of 5025 college students from 22 universities in China. Survey respondents reported their exposure to violent injuries and noted individual and environmental factors that could relate to violent injuries. Both unadjusted and adjusted statistical methods were used to examine the relationships between selected individual and environmental variables with violent injuries among male and female college students. The overall prevalence of violent injuries among male and female college students in this study was 4.40% (95% CI [0.10%, 7.80%]) and 5.20% (95% CI [0.05%, 10.35%]). The study found that higher mental stress (OR: 3.32), lower level universities (OR: 5.99), and family location in rural areas (OR: 4.00) were associated with a higher likelihood of violent injuries, and mothers employed as professionals (OR: 0.07) was associated with lower prevalence of violent injuries among male students. Unlike male students, mental stress and mothers’ occupation were not associated with violent injuries among female students. University type was also associated with violent injuries but this association was inverted (OR: 0.06) among female students. This study found gender-specific relationships affecting violent injuries among college students in China. Prevention strategies need to be developed in consideration of gender influences and should be enacted to reduce the negative impact of violent injuries on society and personal health in China.

Gender-specific associations between coronary heart disease and other chronic diseases: cross-sectional evaluation of national survey data from adult residents of Germany.

BackgroundCombinations of coronary heart disease (CHD) and other chronic conditions complicate clinical management and increase healthcare costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender-specific relationships between CHD and other comorbidities.MethodsWe analyzed data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey (DEGS1), a national survey of 8152 adults aged 18–79 years. Female and male participants with self-reported CHD were compared for 23 chronic medical conditions. Regression models were applied to determine potential associations between CHD and these 23 conditions.ResultsThe prevalence of CHD was 9% (547 participants): 34% (185) were female CHD participants and 66% (362) male. In women, CHD was associated with hypertension (OR = 3.28 (1.81–5.9)), lipid disorders (OR = 2.40 (1.50–3.83)), diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.08 (1.24–3.50)), kidney disease (OR = 2.66 (1.101–6.99)), thyroid disease (OR = 1.81 (1.18–2.79)), gout/high uric acid levels (OR = 2.08 (1.22–3.56)) and osteoporosis (OR = 1.69 (1.01–2.84)). In men, CHD patients were more likely to have hypertension (OR = 2.80 (1.94–4.04)), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.87 (1.29–2.71)), lipid disorder (OR = 1.82 (1.34–2.47)), and chronic kidney disease (OR = 3.28 (1.81–5.9)).ConclusionOur analysis revealed two sets of chronic conditions associated with CHD. The first set occurred in both women and men, and comprised known risk factors: hypertension, lipid disorders, kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. The second set appeared unique to women: thyroid disease, osteoporosis, and gout/high uric acid. Identification of shared and unique gender-related associations between CHD and other conditions provides potential to tailor screening, preventive, and therapeutic options.

The missing link: exploring the intersection of gender, capabilities, and depressive symptoms in the context of chronic HIV

ABSTRACTDepressive symptoms occur frequently among people living with HIV, especially women. These symptoms are associated with human, social, financial, and physical/natural capabilities and life stressors that differ between women and men. However, the link between depressive symptoms and functional limitations/disability is seldom discussed in the context of HIV, especially for gender-specific relationships. A cross-sectional survey of 1042 people living with HIV and using long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa was conducted from June to August 2014 to investigate the associations of disability, human, social, physical/natural, and financial capabilities, health, and adherence to ART, including possible gender-specific factors. Socio-demographic information, capabilities, health indicators, functional limitations/disability, and depressive symptoms (CES-D 10) were measured. We applied descriptive and bivariate statistics and multiple regression. Overall, 26% of people presented with depressive symptoms. Greater functional limitations and health symptoms and lower food security were strongly associated with depressive symptoms, while associations with financial capital and body mass index were gender-specific. The results call for the improvement of comprehensive care, including gender-sensitive mental health interventions. The results further indicate that functional limitations/disability needs to be considered, along with linking rehabilitation and livelihood programs with comprehensive HIV-care, in particular for those who experience depressive symptoms.

Modern Body Mass Index Values, Marital Status, and Household Size: 1980s to the Present

The body mass index (BMI) is the primary means of classifying obesity and reflects a complex set of interactions related to the institution of marriage and household characteristics. There is an inverse relationship between BMI and height, and height reflects the cumulative price of net nutrition during childhood and resources devoted to an off-spring’s health from care-givers. There are gender specific relationships between BMI and marital status, and after controlling for height, single women have lower BMIs than women in other household relationships. While causal mechanisms may have changed over time, there is a positive relationship between BMIs and household size.

An Investment-and-Marriage Model with Differential Fecundity

I build an equilibrium investment-and-marriage model with differential fecundity to explain stylized facts about education, income, and marriage for Americans born in the twentieth century that had not been explained in a unified way. The most novel finding is an explanation for why women attend college at a higher rate and earn a lower average income than men. Differential fecundity and an equilibrium marriage market form the basis of my explanation. The model also accounts for gender-specific relationships between age at marriage and income, and the evolving relationship between age at marriage and spousal income for women. I provide evidence to support my theory and calibrate the model to conduct counterfactual analyses.

The moderating role of age and gender differences in the relation between subjective well-being, psychopathology and substance use in Uruguayan adolescents

The aim of this study is to explore the Subjective well-being (SWB) of school-going adolescents in Uruguay (N= 325; Mage= 14.67; SD= 1.62). We investigate age- and gender-specific relationships between psychopathology and substance use on the one hand, and subjective well-being on the other hand. Multivariate linear regression analyses, indicated five significant predictors of SWB: three psychopathology factors (depression-anxiety, social anxiety and dissocial behaviour), and age displayed a negative association, while one psychopathology factor (resilience) showed a positive association. When extending the multivariate linear regression analysis with interaction effects, significant interactions appeared regarding gender and resilience and age and substance use. Our study focuses on the necessity to have evidence-based results in order to plan appropriate preventive interventions with adolescents.