Higher Education Group Research Articles

The social gradient in institutional trust from 2011–2019 in the general population in Norway

Abstract Background Trust is described as the glue of healthy societies. Although Norway is among the countries with the highest levels of trust in public institutions, the increasing socioeconomic differences observed may threaten levels of institutional trust. Therefore, we aimed to investigate such differences in the general population between 2011 and 2019. Methods A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted using data on the general population in Østfold county from 2011 (N = 16673) and 2019 (N = 15935). Differences in trust toward five public institutions (healthcare system, school system, labour and welfare administration (NAV), police, and municipal council) by educational level were investigated with Chi-square tests. Logbinomial regression analyses were used to examine potential changes in high trust over time. Gender and age were included in the analyses as control variables. Results A relatively high proportion of the general population reported high levels of trust to the health care system (2011: 71%; 2019:80%), police (2011: 73%; 2019:77%), and the school system (2011: 64%; 2019:66%), whereas a lower proportion reported high levels of trust to NAV (2011: 37%; 2019:41%) and the municipal council (2011: 45%; 2019:36%). Both in 2011 and 2019 a clear social gradient in institutional trust was found for all institutions (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in the level of trust in the health care system (low education:RR=1,10; middle:RR=1,12; high:RR=1.06) and a significant decrease in trust in the community council (low:RR=0,77; middle:RR=0,80; high:RR=0,83) in all educational groups from 2011 to 2019. The level of trust in NAV increased significantly in the highest education groups, while a non-significant decrease was shown in the low educational group. Conclusions The persisting social gradient in institutional trust is worrying as trust is an important factor in ensuring inclusion, social capital, democracy, and health and wellbeing. Key messages • Institutional trust is an important factor in ensuring inclusion, social capital, democracy, and health and wellbeing. • The lower levels of institutional trust found in low educational groups could be of particular concern as these groups might be more dependent on the different parts of the welfare system.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Intimate Partner Violence: Exploring Implications for Young Adults' Romantic Outlook.

In the present study, we used data from a community sample of 442 American young adults ages 18 to 35 to explore the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intimate partner violence (IPV), and young adults' romantic outlook (i.e., general attitude toward romantic involvement), which includes perceived average relationship quality, desire for relationships, and dismissal of relationships. Guided by a life course perspective, we examined whether ACEs and IPV work together to predict romantic outlook among young adults. We also explored whether education level moderated the effects of ACEs and IPV on romantic outlook during young adulthood. Our findings suggest that different types of IPV (physical, sexual, and psychological) are associated with different outcomes in terms of perceived relationship quality, desire, and dismissal. We also identified several significant findings related to educational attainment. Specifically, in the higher educational attainment group, participants with high ACE scores combined with high rates of IPV reported lower relationship desire and lower perceived relationship quality. These findings suggest a nuanced view of how both childhood experiences and different types of IPV are related to romantic outlook for young adults. Additionally, these findings suggest that higher education levels can strengthen the influence of adverse experiences during one's lifetime (ACEs and/or IPV) on young adults' romantic outlook.

Socioeconomic disparities and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Although socioeconomic status (SES) is considered a risk factor for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs), few studies have examined this association. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and trends of CCVDs across different SES groups over a 12-year period in a representative Korean population. We analysed 47 745 economically active adults aged ≥30 and <65 years from 97 622 patients in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-18), where a new independent sample of the population was examined each year. We categorised the participants into four groups based on education level and income. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and CCVD, including angina, myocardial infarction, and stroke, was analysed at four-year intervals. Average age, urban residence, white-collar occupation, and body mass index >30 increased, whereas CCVD prevalence did not change significantly (P = 0.410) over the study period. Low education (odds ratio (OR) = 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.47, P < 0.001) and low income (OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.02-1.28, P = 0.017) were significant determinants of CCVD in addition to existing traditional risk factors. CCVD prevalence was significantly higher in both the low-education and low-income groups compared to the high-education and high-income groups every four years, with no significant change in this gap over the study period (P = 0.239). Despite the increase in the elderly population and the prevalence of obesity, the incidence of CCVDs in Korea has remained unchanged. Individuals with low education or low income had a significantly higher prevalence of CCVD, with the lowest SES group, defined by both low education and low income, consistently having the highest prevalence of CCVDs.

Factors associated with cognitive reserve according to education level.

We investigated distinctive factors associated with cognitive reserve (CR) based on education level. Among 1247 participants who underwent neuropsychological assessment, amyloid positron emission tomography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging, 336 participants with low education (≤6 years) and 697 with high education (≥12 years) were selected. CR was measured as the difference between the predicted and observed value of cognitive function based on cortical thickness. Multiple linear regression was conducted in each group after controlling for age and sex. In the low-education group, low literacy, long sleep duration(>8h/day), and diabetes were negatively associated with CR, whereas cognitive and physical activity were positively associated with CR. In the high-education group, cognitive activity was positively related to CR, whereas low literacy, long sleep duration (>8h/day), and depression were negatively related to CR. This study provides insights into different strategies for enhancing CR based on educational background. Factors associated with cognitive reserve (CR) varied according to the education level. Diabetes and physical activity were associated with CR in the low-education group. Depression was related to CR in the high-education group. Low literacy, sleep duration, and cognitive activity were associated with CR in both groups. Dementia-prevention strategies should be tailored according to educational level.

Individual heterogeneity, educational attainment and cardiovascular mortality: a pooled analysis of Norwegian health surveys

BackgroundSmoking, physical inactivity, cholesterol level and systolic blood pressure are well-established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, even among individuals with similar levels of these factors, a substantial degree...

Quality of life in children at different stages of chronic kidney disease in a developing country.

Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) require comprehensive assessments, including medical and quality of life (QoL) evaluations. Few studies have been conducted in developing countries. This cross-sectional study included 2-18-year-old patients who were categorized into 4 groups: the CKD stage 2-3, stage 4-5, stage 5 with dialysis (D), and kidney transplantation (KT) groups. QoL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) version 4.0; relationships between different factors and QoL were determined using multivariable linear regression analysis. Eighty-seven patients (mean age: 13.3 (4.1) years) were included. The self-reported total scores were 77.5 (12.5), 78.9 (11.2), 77.4 (16.2), and 76.1 (10.9) in the stage 2-3, stage 4-5, stage 5D and KT groups, respectively. Parent-reported scores showed a weak-to-moderate correlation with self-reported scores (r = 0.12-0.42), with total scores of 71.8 (12.7), 69.5 (14.9), 63.4 (14.8), and 70.8 (18.1) in the stage 2-3, 4-5, 5D and KT groups, respectively. Multivariable linear regression revealed that the parent-reported score in the stage 5D group was 15.92 points lower than that in the stage 2-3 group (p = 0.02); the score in the low maternal education group was 10.13 points lower than that in the high maternal education group (p = 0.04). Parent-reported scores showed weak-to-moderate correlation with self-reported scores. Patients with CKD stage 5D and patients with low maternal education had lower QoL. Regular QoL assessment is recommended for patients with advanced CKD and those with socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

Beyond generic support: Contextual influences on careers of gender and sexuality diverse groups in higher education

AbstractDespite the emerging attention to career development for gender and/or sexuality diverse (GSD) students, the literature is largely limited to generic support, missing a specific focus on either careers or being GSD. Such a generic view about contextual influences makes it difficult to guide the design and implementation of concrete, feasible practices for supporting GSD students' careers. Extending the existing body of work, this study employed qualitative methods to explore more specific, nuanced contextual factors within the university setting that influence GSD students' career development. We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 25 Australian university students who self‐identified as GSD. Our findings report seven major themes that could explain the influence of university contexts on the career development and experiences of GSD students. These themes include generic mentoring not always being useful, the negative effects of framing diversity as a “risk,” small things that can foster a sense of safety, the importance of designated areas and resources, the importance of advice on safe workplaces and being authentic at work, the importance of the visibility of key people, and the need for intersectional support. In addition to unpacking the influence of unique contextual features, these findings contribute to the extension of existing career frameworks such as the career self‐management model into GSD contexts. Our results also shed light on detailed, implementable practical solutions for universities, career counselors, and psychologists to support the career development of GSD students.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Healthcare Access and Implications for All-Cause Mortality among US Adults: A 2000-2019 Record Linkage Study.

The United States (US) has witnessed a notable increase in socioeconomic disparities in all-cause mortality since 2000. While this period is marked by significant macroeconomic and health policy changes, the specific drivers of these mortality trends remain poorly understood. In this study, we assessed healthcare access variables and their association with socioeconomic status (SES)-related differences (exposure) in US all-cause mortality (outcome), since 2000. Our research drew upon cross-sectional data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS, 2000-2018), linked to death records from the National Death Index (NDI, 2000-2019) (n=486,257). The findings reveal that the odds of a lack of health insurance and unaffordability of needed medical care were over two-fold higher among individuals with lower education, compared to those with high education, following differential time trends. Moreover, elevated mortality risk was associated with lower education (up to 77%), uninsurance (17%), unaffordability (43%), and delayed care (12%). Uninsurance and unaffordability accounted for 4-6% of the disparities in time to mortality between low- and high-education groups. These findings were corroborated by income-based sensitivity analyses, emphasizing that inadequate healthcare access partially contributed to socioeconomic disparities in mortality. Effective policies promoting equitable healthcare access are imperative to mitigate socioeconomic disparities in mortality.

Inclusion policies for social minorities in higher education: dialogue between the Brazilian and Nordic contexts

ABSTRACT This article examines the impact of socially constructed meanings regarding social minorities on the development of inclusion policies for these groups in higher education. This analysis is based on a comparative case study between Global South and Global North, specifically focusing on a dialogue between Brazil and Nordic contexts. Social minorities, such as women, the impoverished, black people, LGBTQIA+ people, immigrants and people with disabilities, are more likely to be socially underserved, making them more susceptible to adverse experiences. From this perspective, we analyse the definitions and characteristics currently applied to social minorities and reflect on how these traits function in the field of higher education in order to support student inclusion. Using a theoretical approach from Semiotic Cultural Psychology, we examine the current political landscape and how socially constructed meanings related to these groups influence the development of inclusion policies. These debates reflect an overriding need to reimagine higher education as an arena for inclusion and critical thinking, not only fostering access for social minorities, but also ensuring such debates continue within academia, and, therefore, within society.

Educational inequalities in deaths of despair in 14 OECD countries: a cross-sectional observational study

BackgroundDeaths of despair are a key contributor to stagnating life expectancy in the USA, especially among those without a university-level education, but these findings have not been compared internationally.MethodsMortality and...

Socioeconomic inequalities in pandemic-induced psychosocial stress in different life domains among the working-age population

BackgroundPsychosocial stress is considered a risk factor for physical and mental ill-health. Evidence on socioeconomic inequalities with regard to the psychosocial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany is still limited. We aimed to investigate how pandemic-induced psychosocial stress (PIPS) in different life domains differed between socioeconomic groups.MethodsData came from the German Corona-Monitoring nationwide study – wave 2 (RKI-SOEP-2, November 2021–February 2022). PIPS was assessed using 4-point Likert scales with reference to the following life domains: family, partnership, own financial situation, psychological well-being, leisure activity, social life and work/school situation. Responses were dichotomised into “not stressed/slightly stressed/rather stressed” (0) versus “highly stressed” (1). The sample was restricted to the working-age population in Germany (age = 18–67 years, n = 8,402). Prevalence estimates of high PIPS were calculated by sex, age, education and income. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) were estimated using Poisson regression to investigate the association between education/income and PIPS; high education and income were the reference groups.ResultsThe highest stress levels were reported in the domains social life and leisure activity. Women and younger participants reported high stress levels more frequently. The highest inequalities were found regarding people’s own financial situation, and PIPS was higher in low vs. high income groups (PR 5.54, 95% CI 3.61–8.52). Inequalities were also found regarding partnerships with higher PIPS in low vs. high education groups (PR 1.68, 95% CI 1.13–2.49) – and psychological well-being with higher PIPS in low vs. high income groups (PR 1.52, 95% CI 1.14–2.04).ConclusionSocioeconomic inequalities in PIPS were found for different life domains. Generally, psychosocial support and preventive interventions to help people cope with stress in a pandemic context should be target-group-specific, addressing the particular needs and circumstances of certain socioeconomic groups.

Investigating the socio-demographic characteristics and smoking cessation incidence among smokers accessing smoking cessation services in primary care settings of Qatar, a Historical Cohort Study

BackgroundTobacco dependence is a chronic disease that often requires repeated interventions and multiple attempts to quit. Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of mortality. Globally, an estimated 1.3 billion people smoke.In Qatar, Smoking cessation services (SCSs) are provided free of charge to citizens and at a minimal cost to non-citizens. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of the smoking cessation program adopted by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) of Qatar. This was achieved through calculating the percentage of smoking cessation service users (survival probabilities) who maintained the non-smoking status after selected follow up periods. Moreover, the study highlighted the possible association of selected explanatory variables with smoking cessation survival probabilities.MethodsIn this historical cohort study 490 participants were recruited by simple random sampling who attended the smoking cessation clinics (SCCs) in PHCC prior to 30/06/2021. The participants were contacted by phone and invited to participate in the study. The participants who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed utilizing a structured questionnaire.ResultsInitially 311 (63.5%) of the participants quitted smoking after receiving SCSs. There were statistically significant differences between quitting smoking and the nationality and the educational level of participants (p ≤ 0.001 and 0.02 respectively). About one fourth (23.3%) of individuals who initially quitted smoking relapsed and resumed smoking as early as 6 months after completing their SCC visits. This relapse rate increased to 38.7, 47.2 and 51.1% after 12, 24 and 36 months respectively. Less than a half (45.8%) maintained the non-smoking status after 42 months from their initially quitting.Conclusion and recommendationsThe findings of the study substantiate the effectiveness of SCSs designed within PHCC both in short- and long-term basis. Younger individuals, smokers with Arab ethnicity, smokers falling within high income and education groups were identified as high-risk groups and need highest focus. The accessibility to the service among the local population can be increased by upscaling the advertisement of the existing services.

“If I say sustainable diet”: What are French consumers’ social representations?

The adoption of sustainable diets is essential to maintain our planet’s ecosystem and the well-being of its inhabitants. Scientists characterize sustainable diets by four essential dimensions: respectful of the environment, of good nutritional quality, culturally acceptable, and economically fair. The ‘sustainable diet’ concept, however, can be challenging for consumers to understand. They might partially understand the concept or have representations of the concept that are not shared between individuals, which could result in difficulty putting the recommendations into practice. Our study investigated French consumers’ social representations of sustainable diets, aiming more particularly to show if groups with different levels of education might have different representations. A free word association task was carried out by 273 participants aged between 20 and 60 years. Our results revealed common associations among the participants, including concepts such as ecology, health, environment, and locality. Sociocultural and economic dimensions were rarely mentioned, unlike the predominant environmental dimension. Segmentation analysis by education level revealed that participants in the higher education group had more multidimensional social representations. These results show that the ‘sustainable diet’ concept is not fully shared by French consumers. Clarifying the definition should improve consumer understanding, thus promoting the adoption of sustainable diet practices by all.

Association between education and disability-free life expectancy among Japanese older people: The Ohsaki Cohort 2006 study

BackgroundHigher education level is associated with longer disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). However, evidence is scarce regarding factors that can contribute to eliminating inequality in DFLE according to education level. This study aimed to clarify the association between education and DFLE and estimate whether DFLE in people with lower education may increase to the same level as that in people with higher education through social participation. MethodsWe analyzed data from 13,849 Japanese people aged 65 years and older who participated in a 13-year prospective study. At baseline, we collected information on education levels (low, middle, or high) and social participation. DFLE was defined as the average duration people expect to live without disability. To calculate DFLE for each education level group, the multistate life table method was employed using a Markov model. ResultsAt the age of 65 years, DFLE (95 % confidence interval [CI]) in women with low education was 21.3 years (20.8–21.8) without social participation and 24.3 (23.8–24.9) with social participation. In the middle education group, DFLE was 22.1 (21.6–22.6) without social participation and 25.0 (24.6–25.5) with social participation. In the high education group, DFLE was 22.1 (21.5–22.8) without social participation and 25.5 (25.0–26.0) with social participation. Similar results were found for men. ConclusionsDFLE in people with low or middle education with social participation was almost the same as that in those with high education with social participation, suggesting the possibility that disparities in DFLE by education level could be offset by promoting social participation in older adults.

Guidelines for Literacy Transmission of Changde Sixian Opera in Schools and Educational Institutes

Changde Sixian Opera is a cherished intangible cultural heritage traditional folk opera known for its vibrant melodies. The objective of this study is to propose guidelines for the literacy transmission of Changde Sixian Opera within schools and educational institutes. The study was conducted in Changde City, Hunan Province, and enlisted two key informants, including experienced Changde Sixian performers and educators. Employing a mixed-methods approach involving semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis, the study unearthed a multifaceted integration of Changde Sixian into primary and secondary education, higher education, community activities, television programming, and professional performance groups. The research findings underscore the importance of educational institutions in preserving and transmitting Changde Sixian Opera while emphasizing the need for ongoing strategies to address declining interest among younger generations, ensuring the continued vibrancy of this cultural treasure.

The effect of retirement on physical and mental health in China: a nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity study

BackgroundWith the rapid aging of the domestic population, China has a strong incentive to increase the statutory retirement age. How retirement affects the health of the elderly is crucial to this policymaking. The health consequences of retirement have been debated greatly. This study aims to investigate the effects of retirement on physical and mental health among Chinese elderly people.MethodsThe data we use in this study comes from four waves (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) of the Harmonized China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (Harmonized CHARLS), a prospective cohort. We use the nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity design to estimate the effects of retirement on physical and mental health. We test the robustness of our results with respect to different bandwidths, kernel functions, and polynomial orders. We also explore the heterogeneity across gender and education.ResultsResults show that retirement has an insignificant effect on a series of physical and mental health outcomes, with and without adjusting several sociodemographic variables. Heterogeneity exists regarding gender and education. Although stratified analyses indicate that the transition from working to retirement leaves minimal effects on males and females, the effects go in the opposite direction. This finding holds for low-educated and high-educated groups for health outcomes including depression and cognitive function. Most of the results are stable with respect to different bandwidths, kernel functions, and polynomial orders.ConclusionsOur results suggest that it is possible to delay the statutory retirement age in China as retirement has insignificant effects on physical and mental health. However, further research is needed to assess the long-term effect of retirement on health.

Analysis of the influence of educational level on the nutritional status and lifestyle habits of the young Spanish population.

This study aims to analyze some nutrition and health habits of young people and the impact of educational attainment on health. An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out using surveys. Using non-probabilistic snowball sampling, a previously validated questionnaire was disseminated through networks, collecting a sample of 9,681 people between 18 and 30 years old. Comparative analyses between groups were obtained by clustering and the corresponding statistical tests. The results showed how young people with higher education generally have a lower BMI, a higher healthy nutrition index, less frequent consumption of sugary drinks, and less smoking than their peers with basic education. These healthier habits are reflected in the higher self-perceived health status of the higher-educated group. While for all the educational levels analyzed, the minutes of physical activity practice are above the 150 min recommended by the WHO. Our findings suggest that young people's education level is of fundamental importance for health, particularly for nutritional habits. In general, the lifestyle habits of the young Spanish population are healthy, but there is a need for improvement in those aspects related to nutrition and food.

Humanising pedagogic research in higher education: A reflective commentary on a university-wide special interest group

In this article, we reflect on our efforts supporting an institution-wide special interest group (SIG) on pedagogic research. Initiated by the Academic and Learning Enhancement at the University of Greenwich, the SIG serves as an interdisciplinary and collaborative space for the university community to develop skills and practice in this area. We discuss our practices around the structure and sustainability of the Pedagogic Research SIG, which are characterised by values such as openness, transparency, inclusion, and equity. In the current neo-liberal climate of Higher Education, we advocate for the humanisation of pedagogic practice through a recognition of staff agency, endorsed by a compassionate community of practice. As an antidote to the commodification of academic practice, we suggest a more holistic approach to academic development with an emphasis on authenticity and fulfilment. In the context of the Pedagogic Research SIG, we envision impact as a multidimensional and layered construct, which includes the intellectual, social and personal dimensions of education, emphasising transformation and change with a potential positive effect on individuals, communities and the society within and beyond academia. Our work makes a significant contribution to the scant scholarship on special interest groups in Higher Education with broader implications for academic development and practice.

Anatomize the Positive Impact of Higher Education Groups on the Country by Exploring and Comparing the Chinese and British Higher Education Background

In this study, the background of higher education in China and the UK will be compared to analyze the positive impact of higher education populations on national development. By comparing the differences in the higher education systems, teaching methods and subject settings of the two countries, the impact of different educational backgrounds on the higher education population and their contribution to national development will be discovered. By doing so, relevant data and literature on higher education in China and the UK are collected. A majority of information is found after analyzing the performance of higher education populations in the two countries in terms of job market, innovation ability, social responsibility, etc. Furthermore, the differences in higher education between China and the UK are not only due to the differences in education system and cultural background, but also influenced by various factors such as economic, social and political environment. Through the comparative analysis of the higher education population of the two countries, more findings are concluded. On one hand, higher education is an important way to train professional talents. On the other hand, higher education is an important driving force for national development. The background and characteristics of higher education in different countries have a profound impact on the qualities, abilities and values of the population, and have a positive impact on the social, economic and cultural development of the country.

Getting beyond peeing and pronouns: living non-binary gender in higher education

ABSTRACT Non-binary people make up just over half the UK trans population and younger people are more likely to identify as non-binary than those over 35 . Despite this increasing recognition, non-binary identities and experiences continue to be widely misunderstood. Similarly, if university trans inclusion policies focus solely on models of binary or medical transition, they will not fully address the needs of non-binary students. In the context of an increased focus on the participation and success of marginalized social groups in higher education, and a social and political backlash against equality, diversity and inclusion work, questions of how non-binary students thrive in universities are pressing. Non-binary inclusion and experiences in higher education have received little dedicated attention. This article draws on data from the largest survey to date of non-binary students in the United Kingdom and begins to fill those gaps. We highlight the prominence in the survey of issues around ‘peeing’ and ‘pronouns’ in the lived experiences of non-binary students and demonstrate the detrimental impact of the lack of recognition on students’ learning and lives at university. We conclude universities must get beyond ‘peeing and pronouns’ to reimagine higher education as an accessible and inclusive space.