High-income Groups Research Articles

Socioeconomic Status and Dementia Risk Among Intensive Care Unit Survivors: Using National Health Insurance Cohort in Korea.

In aging populations, more elderly patients are going to the intensive care unit (ICU) and surviving. However, the specific factors influencing the occurrence of post-intensive care syndrome in the elderly remain uncertain. To investigate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and risk of developing dementia within two years following critical care. This study included participants from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort Database who had not been diagnosed with dementia and had been hospitalized in the ICU from 2003 to 2019. Dementia was determined using specific diagnostic codes (G30, G31) and prescription of certain medications (rivastigmine, galantamine, memantine, or donepezil). SES was categorized into low (medical aid beneficiaries) and non-low (National Health Insurance) groups. Through a 1:3 propensity score matching based on sex, age, Charlson comorbidity index, and primary diagnosis, the study included 16,780 patients. We used Cox proportional hazard models to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of dementia. Patients with low SES were higher risk of developing dementia within 2 years after receiving critical care than those who were in non-low SES (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04-1.46). Specifically, patients with low SES and those in the high-income group exhibited the highest incidence rates of developing dementia within two years after receiving critical care, with rates of 3.61 (95% CI: 3.13-4.17) for low SES and 2.58 (95% CI: 2.20-3.03) for high income, respectively. After discharge from critical care, compared to the non-low SES group, the low SES group was associated with an increased risk of developing dementia.

Trends of eating out among males in China and its correlation with nutrition and health during 2000 to 2018

To analyze the trend of eating out among Chinese male adults and explore the association between eating out and dietary nutrition and health. Males aged 18 and above with complete data were selected from China Health and Nutrition Survey 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2018. Eating out behavior was defined as having consumption of food prepared outside the home during the three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls period. Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze the trend of prevalence of eating out and the energy contribution from eating out foods in males from 2000 to 2018. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the differences in several food and dietary nutrient intakes and nutritional indicators by eating out in 2018. The prevalence of eating out among Chinese male adults increased from 48.49% in 2000 to 57.51% in 2018, showing an increased trend followed by a decreased trend. Males in the 18-29 years old group, urban group, high income group, and high education level group had a higher rate of eating out(P<0.05). The energy contribution from eating out foods increased from 21.80% in 2000 to 28.77% in 2018, showing a slow upward trend. In 2018, the intake of rice, tubers and vegetables was lower in the eating out group, while intake of wheat, fruits, livestock and poultry meat, aquatic products, eggs and milk in eating out group was higher than those in the non-eating out group(P<0.05). The eating out group had a higher intake of energy, fat, protein, cholesterol, calcium, zinc, vitamin B_1 and vitamin B_2 than the non-eating out group(P<0.05). The eating out group had lower levels of systolic blood pressure, HDL-C, blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin than the counterparts. The levels of BMI, waist, body fat percentage, diastolic blood pressure and TG were higher in the eating out group than in the non-eating out group. From 2000 to 2011, the eating out rate of males in China showed an upward trend, and a downward trend after 2011. At the same time, the energy contribution of eating out foods is increasing. Eating out was associated with major food and nutrients intake and indicators of nutritional status in male adults.

Hot or cold temperature disproportionately impacts U.S. energy burdens

The lack of affordable, reliable, and resilient energy services remains a challenge for many U.S. households. Few studies have investigated how temperature makes already vulnerable Black, low-income, and less-educated households more likely to experience energy poverty. We construct a unique 8-year historical panel dataset to unpack the relationship between temperatures and energy burdens, paying specific attention to additional burdens among the most vulnerable groups. We find that hot and cold temperatures have further exacerbated the disproportionate impact on energy burdens across regions and multiple vulnerable groups. Extremely low-income groups are ∼6 times more adversely affected by temperatures than high-income groups. Temperatures also put other already marginalized groups, such as those less-educated/unemployed/living in energy-inefficient old houses, at higher risk of falling into an energy poverty trap. Considering temperatures are the dominant feature differentiating households in their ability to meet basic electricity needs, we recommend more equitable and inclusive electrification strategies and compensation mechanisms for affected communities to improve energy equity.

Assessing Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status of Small Millet Consumers in Bengaluru, Karnataka

The study examined the dietary patterns and nutritional status of households during 2020. High-income group among urban households of the population showed more preference towards small millets consumption due to their perceived health benefits, but the population in rural regions had higher per capita consumption of small millets (2.2 kg/capita/month) as compared to urbanites (1.4 kg/capita/month). The research also highlighted that 57 percent of rural households integrated small millets into their cultural practices, whereas about 40 per cent of urban households perceived that consumption of small millets managed to regulate their blood sugar level. Furthermore, the study found that small millets constituted 32 per cent of total energy intake in case of rural households, compared to 20 per cent in urban areas. Notably, 67 per cent of urban households and 80 percent of rural households reported experiencing the health benefits of consuming small millets. With these insights, the study suggests policy measures to include small millets in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the Mid-Day Meal scheme. Additionally, it stresses upon the importance of disseminating information about the nutritional and health advantages of small millet consumption, aiming to encourage adoption in both rural and urban households.

Wellness or medicine? Use and perception of Ayurveda in Germany: data from an online-representative cross-sectional study.

Ayurveda, South Asia's largest and most relevant system of Traditional Medicine, holds a legal status akin to conventional Western medicine in India and elsewhere. There is an almost complete lack of data on the use of Ayurveda in Germany. The aim of this study was to investigate Ayurveda's utilization patterns, entry points, and factors influencing its use and the perception of Ayurveda among the German population. Basis of this manuscript was an online-representative survey which involved 4,065 participants aged 18-75 about the use and acceptance of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) in Germany. The survey was conducted online using Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) in 2022. The dataset was analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Altogether 9.3% (n = 377) of all survey participants (n = 4,065) had already used Ayurveda somehow, either more often (1.7%) or at least once in a lifetime (7.6%). Responders associated Ayurveda primarily with Indian Medicine (27.7%) and wellness (18%). Commonly used Ayurvedic services included non-medical treatments at wellness resorts/spas (48.3%), in outpatient practices (27.1%), and hotels (23.6%). 30.2% of the participants believe in Ayurveda's therapeutic potential. 76.7% of Ayurveda users find healthy nutrition important or very important. Nine predictors were found to classify Ayurveda users vs. non-users with spirituality and belief in Ayurveda's therapeutic efficacy as the most relevant ones. Ayurveda seems to be primarily used by well-educated and female individuals, often from higher-income groups and with a rather modern social milieu-orientation. Study results suggest that about every tenth German citizen has used Ayurveda in the past and about one third believes in its therapeutic potential. Because Ayurvedic therapies are often not evidence-based, there is an urgent need to perform high quality randomized controlled trials to investigate potential effects and safety of Ayurveda and how evidence-based Ayurveda treatments can be integrated into the German healthcare system.

Mortality and Disparities of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Stroke in Korea, 2008-2019.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke are leading global causes of death and can be used to assess acute care quality. We examined the 30-day mortality trends after emergency department admission for AMI and stroke in Korea from 2008 to 2019, focusing on regional and income disparities. The AMI and stroke patients admitted to hospitals in Korea were collected from the claims data. We analyzed age and sex-standardized 30-day mortality for AMI, as well as hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Disparities in mortality were analyzed using absolute differences and relative ratios between the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) and Korea, and among income levels and regions in Korea. A 12-year joinpoint regression was used to determine the annual percent change and the average annual percent change. The trends in the 30-day AMI mortality of Korea were not significantly changed from 2008 to 2019; the gap remained at 1.2 between the OECD and Korea. Korea maintained lower mortality rates for hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke than the mean of OECD. In Korea, the 30-day hemorrhagic stroke mortality showed a constant decreasing trend for the higher-income group living in urban areas; it led to a widened gap based on income levels in urban areas. The 30-day mortality for ischemic stroke tended to decrease in the higher-income group and urban areas. National-level intervention is needed to manage regional and income-based disparities in AMI and stroke 30-day mortality. It is important to understand the variance in mortality rate by different geographical regions and income levels to establish an appropriate public health strategy.

Income in Relation to Psychosocial Factors Among Stroke Survivors using Smartwatches for Atrial Fibrillation Monitoring.

Timely detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is critical for stroke prevention. Smartwatches are FDA-approved devices that can now aide in this detection. Investigate how socioeconomic status is associated with self-reported psychosocial outcomes, including anxiety, patient activation, and health-related quality of life in stroke survivors using smartwatch for AF detection. We analyzed data from the Pulsewatch study, a randomized controlled trial (NCT03761394). Participants in the intervention group wore a cardiac patch monitor in addition to a smartwatch for AF detection, whereas the control group wore only the cardiac patch monitor. Generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale, Consumer Health Activation Index and short-form health survey were completed to assess anxiety, patient activation, physical and mental health status at baseline, 14, and 44 days. We used a longitudinal linear regression model to examine changes in psychosocial outcomes in low (<$50K) vs. high (>$50K) income groups. A total of 95 participants (average age 64.9± 9.1 years; 57.9% male; 89.5% non-Hispanic white) were included. History of renal disease (p-value 0.029), statin use (p-value 0.034), depression (p-value 0.004), and anxiety (p-value <0.001), were different between the income groups. In the adjusted model, the low-income group was associated with increased anxiety (β 2.75, p-value 0.0003), and decreased physical health status (β -5.07, p-value 0.02). There was no change identified in self-reported patient engagement and mental health status score. Our findings demonstrate that low SES is associated with worse self-reporting of physical health status, and this may influence psychosocial outcomes in smartwatch users.

Digital payments as an indicator of financial inclusion in Euro Area countries

The process of digitisation in the financial sector is developing through the systematic introduction of computer systems, the establishment of Internet connectivity and the use and ownership of various information and communication devices. Information and communication technologies can increase the desired degree of financial inclusion in a country by increasing the availability of various financial services. This study examines the individual attributes that can affect financial inclusion in the Euro Area countries in 2021. Our analysis applies a probit model to data from the World Bank Global Findex database, focusing on digital payments as a proxy for financial inclusion. The main finding highlights that higher income, higher education, female gender, and younger age groups are associated with an increased propensity to engage in digital payments. Notably, our expectation of a non-linear relationship between age and digital payments is confirmed, as evidenced by the application of the Robin Hood algorithm. Specifically, we observe a positive correlation between age and digital payment usage. However, this trend reverses beyond a specific breakpoint, approximately around the age of 40, leading to a subsequent decline in digital payment activity. Furthermore, our research shows that individuals who utilised alternative payment methods alongside cash before the COVID-19 pandemic are likelier to engage in higher digital payments. Additionally, a tendency for higher adoption of digital payments coincides with countries that achieved a higher Digital Access Index (DAI), an indicator assessing the degree of digitalisation in a country. Furthermore, it is associated with countries among the Euro Area’s founding members.

Revelando desigualdades espaciais de renda e raciais e padrões de segregação com um indicador configuracional de acessibilidade potencial.

Abstract Urban segregation has been a central challenge in the pursuit of equity and sustainability, especially in Latin American cities. The existing body of research on segregation, however, has predominantly focused on cities in the United States and Europe. Most existing metrics on segregation do not usually explicitly address the spatial dimension and diversity of cities’ spatial structures. As a result, there is still a gap in the methods to properly capture the spatial relationships implied in segregation. This paper proposes and applies a network-based method for assessing the inequalities in access to opportunities for different social groups (income and race), and the patterns of socio-spatial segregation based on urban accessibility levels. We apply the method to the city of Pelotas, Brazil, combining the street network configuration with population densities and spatial distribution of urban opportunities. Results revealed that high-income white groups dominate the accessibility levels, benefiting from a concentration of opportunities in the central district, while low-income non-white groups experience poorer accessibility. The method allowed to uncover a center-periphery segregation pattern, although more complex and spatially diversified, providing valuable insights that can inform urban planning and policy-making efforts at the intraurban scale.

The Impact of Dentistry on Global Health: Challenges and Research Priorities

Even though oral health has improved worldwide, there are still many obstacles to overcome, especially in high-income and low-income countries' underprivileged groups. For many people, having access to basic dental healthcare is still an asset rather than a right. The July 2019 release of the oral health issue in The Lancet sparked a buzz and raised awareness of dental services and oral health issues. To close the gap connecting dental studies and health worldwide and to make oral health a top concern in public health discourse globally, there is still more work to be done. Based on Shiffman's approach, we propose the creation of an international oral health network to promote systemic improvements and impact health policy. Four major areas of challenge—problem means, position, alliance building, and governance-have emerged from our experience in the field of global health. We provide these challenges to include stakeholders, in addition to seeking external validation. How well our profession handles these issues will influence our success concerning the Sustainable Development Goals and beyond.

Social Inequities in the Survival of Liver Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Korea, 2007-2017.

To analyze the effects of socioeconomic status (type of insurance and income level) and cancer stage on the survival of patients with liver cancer in Korea. A retrospective cohort study was constructed using data from the Healthcare Big Data Platform project in Korea between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2017. A total of 143,511 patients in Korea diagnosed with liver cancer (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision [ICD-10] codes C22, C220, and C221) were followed for an average of 11 years. Of these, 110,443 died. The patient's insurance type and income level were used as indicators of socioeconomic status. Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model to analyze the relationship between the effects of sex, age, and cancer stage at first diagnosis (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and the End Results; SEER), type of insurance, and income level on the survival of patients with liver cancer. The interactive effects of the type of insurance, income level, and cancer stage on liver cancer death were also analyzed. The lowest income group (medical aid) showed a higher risk for mortality (HR (95% CI); 1.37 (1.27-1.47) for all patients, 1.44 (1.32-1.57) for men, and 1.16 (1.01-1.34) for women) compared to the highest income group (1-6) among liver cancer (ICD-10 code C22) patients. The risk of liver cancer death was also higher in the lowest income group with a distant cancer stage (SEER = 7) diagnosis than for any other group. Liver cancer patients with lower socioeconomic status and more severe cancer stages were at greater risk of death. Reducing social inequalities is needed to improve mortality rates among patients in lower social class groups who present with advanced cancer.

The differential role of socioeconomic status dimensions in depressive symptoms of aging adults: data from the Hamburg City Health cohort Study.

Socioeconomic status (SES) has consistently been associated with depressive symptoms, however, it remains unclear which subset of SES variables is most relevant to the development of depressive symptoms. This study determined a standardized SES-Index to test the relationship of its sub-dimensions with depressive symptoms. HCHS data (N = 10,000; analysis sample n = 8,400), comprising participants 45+ years of age, was used. A standardized approach to quantify SES was employed. Depressive symptoms were quantified using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Using multiple linear regression models, PHQ-9-scores were modeled as a function of age and sex, and (1a) total SES-Index score versus (1b) its three sub-dimension scores (education, occupational status, income). Models were compared on explained variance and goodness of fit. We determined risk ratios (RR, concerning a PHQ-9 sum score ≥ 10) based on (low, middle, high; 2a) SES-Index scores and (2b) the sub-dimension scores, with groups further differentiated by sex and age (45-64 versus 65+). We distinguished between the total SES-Index score and its three sub-dimension scores to identify relevant SES sub-dimensions in explaining PHQ-9-variability or risk of depression. Among all regression models (total explained variance 4-6%), income explained most variance, but performance of the SES-Index was comparable. Low versus high income groups showed the strongest differences in depressive trends in middle-aged females and males (RRs 3.57 and 4.91). In older age, this result was restricted to females (RR ≈ 2). Middle-aged males (versus females) showed stronger discrepancies in depressive trends pertaining to low versus high SES groups. In older age, the effect of SES was absent. Education was related to depressive trends only in middle-aged females and males. In an exploratory analysis, marital status and housing slightly increased model fit and explained variance while including somatic symptoms lead to substantial increases (R2 adj = 0.485). In line with previous research, the study provides evidence for SES playing a significant role in depressive symptoms in mid to old age, with income being robustly linked to depressive trends. Overall, the relationship between SES and depressive trends appears to be stronger in males than females and stronger in mid compared to old age.

Disponibilidade domiciliar e fontes de carotenoides importantes na saúde nos centro urbanos brasileiros segundo a renda em 2017/2018

ABSTRACT Objective Low carotenoid intake is associated with the incidence of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Given the large diversity and specificity of chemical structures and functions, along with the wide Brazilian geodiversity, it should be important for health to examine the cross-sectional distribution of carotenoid availability. Considering family incomes, the authors have calculated and analyzed the individual household availability of α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein/zeaxanthin according to income in the eleven largest Brazilian urban centers in 2017-2018. Methods Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics’ latest Family Budget Survey on monetary food acquisitions and food composition tables were used to calculate the individual carotenoid contents of both vegetable and animal food sources. Results The family acquisitions of carotenogenic foods showed to be insufficient for most families living in these urban centers, except Salvador, Belem, Belo Horizonte, and Porto Alegre, where certain key-carotenoid sources did reach the higher income groups. The main foods identified that contributed to the supply of carotenoids were carrot and common squash (α-carotene), common squash, carrot, scallion/parsley, mango, and tomato (β-carotene), papaya, orange, and tangerine (β-cryptoxanthin), tomato sauce, tomato paste, guava, watermelon and papaya (lycopene) and scallion/parsley, kale, egg, corn meal and corn flakes (lutein/zeaxanthin). Conclusion Based on the home availability of specific carotenoids estimated in the present study, it is concluded that the population was not reasonably well protected against chronic diseases given the low acquisition of key carotenoid sources in these urban centers, especially among the lower-income class.

The Influence of Income Level, Educational Background, and Zakat Literacy on Zakat Payer Compliance for Paying Zakat Case Study at National Zakat Agency of Yogyakarta Indonesia

This study aims to examine and prove the influence of income levels, zakat literacy, and educational background on compliance with Zakat payments at the National Zakat Agency of Yogyakarta (BAZNAS DIY). This study uses a quantitative employing inferential statistical analysis (correlation). The collected data was processed with inferential Statistical analysis (correlation), the analyzed data obtained with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Partial Least Square (PLS) through the SMART-PLS version 4.0 software. Data was collected through questionnaires with predetermined respondent criteria. The number of samples successfully obtained and processed was 250 respondents. The findings reveal that income level, zakat literacy, and educational background all have a significant and positive effect on muzakki compliance in paying zakat through BAZNAS DIY. Therefore, BAZNAS DIY and related institutions can enhance education programs and zakat literacy campaigns to increase public awareness and understanding of Zakat’s importance and paying zakat. Furthermore, BAZNAS DIY can consider more effective strategies to target high-income groups and increase the number of muzakki. Additionally, good education can increase awareness and compliancezwith zakat obligations. Thus, zakat institutions should collaborate with educational institutions to include zakat material in the education curriculum.

Better Leverage the Role of Electricity in Supporting Common Prosperity

The electric power system has made a great contribution in the process of promoting common prosperity in China, but the current electricity regulatory system has weakened the full play of the function of supporting common prosperity in some aspects, including: rural residents have a heavy economic burden of electricity consumption, and some rural poor people still face “power poverty”; Underdeveloped areas subsidize developed areas in reverse, while developed areas often face the livelihood problems of power shortage; The contradiction of the existing electricity price cross-subsidy mechanism is becoming more and more prominent, and high-income groups enjoy more cross-subsidies. In view of the above problems, we put forward the following three suggestions: Exempt rural low-and middle-income residents from electricity charges by quota, and to support urban and rural residents to enjoy power public services more equally; Accelerate the marketization process of power generation resources and power pricing, and promote regional balanced development based on the comparative advantages of power resources; Add a higher-level residential electricity price ladder and promote cross-subsidies within residents to replace cross-subsidies between departments.

Revealing Gender Disparities in Urban Green Space Utilization Using Mobile Phone Data

Urban green spaces (UGSs), such as parks and gardens, are vital for the health and well-being of city residents. However, unequal access to and utilization of UGS can impede social cohesion and sustainable development of cities. While many studies have investigated inequalities in accessibility to UGSs across various demographic groups, gender inequality in actual utilization of UGSs has received little attention largely due to the lack of data to reliably track UGS utilization by urban residents. Here, we leveraged the capacity of mobile phone data to track the movement of a large population and assessed the gender disparities in the utilization of UGSs among more than 77,000 residents residing in 2 populous communities in Beijing. We found that men spent 11% more time in UGSs and visited them 6% more frequently than women. This gender disparity varied across different socioeconomic groups. The middle-aged group exhibited an up to 46.4% greater disparity than other age groups, while the higher-income group showed a 12.4% larger disparity than the lower-income group. Additionally, the resident group with normal commuting distances had a 52.8% higher gender disparity, and the resident group with regular working hours had a 110% greater disparity compared to their respective counterpart groups. These findings contributed to environmental justice research by revealing the complex gender disparity in UGS utilization. The approach developed in the study provides an efficient way for identifying disparities in the utilization of UGS and designing effective strategies accordingly to alleviate inequalities in our study area and beyond.

Access to DTP-Based Combination Vaccines in Asia-Pacific Countries between 2019 and 2022.

The Asia-Pacific countries are highly diverse in health and economic conditions that may impact vaccine access and uptake. Our study aimed to characterize patterns of health access to DTP-based combination vaccines in 10 countries from 2019 to 2022 using the IQVIA-MIDAS database. The availability, affordability, and accessibility were compared across countries by national health and economic performance indicators using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Our findings showed that the three aspects of access to DTP-based vaccines varied substantially in the Asia-Pacific region, with higher levels in countries with better health and economic performance. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine accessibility fluctuates significantly in lower-income countries, with DTP coverage rates falling by more than 14% in the Philippines and Indonesia between 2019 and 2021. For availability and affordability, Singapore and Malaysia from high-income groups were largely affected, which may be related to health expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (Coefficient = 0.39, p = 0.03). Our study indicates that greater attention needs to be paid to national health expenditure and routine immunization services to improve vaccine disparities and increase the robustness and resilience of the vaccine supply chain during public health emergencies.

Could information and communication technology (ICT) reduce carbon emissions? The role of trade openness and financial development

Information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the fastest growing new industries in the world. This study aims to understand the nonlinear impact of ICT on carbon emissions more systematically. To this end, a threshold panel regression model is developed based on panel data of 92 countries. ICT is the explanatory variable, carbon emission is the explained variable, and trade openness and financial development are the threshold variables. The results show that: (i) When taking trade openness as threshold variable, both low- and high-income group have passed the double threshold test, the negative regression coefficient of ICT and carbon emissions firstly decreases, and then turns into positive effect when crossing the second threshold value in low-income group. While in high-income group, this effect shows a sustained growing positive trend. (ii) Taking financial development as threshold variable, this negative effect firstly turns positive which then increases when passing the second threshold in low-income group. While in high-income group, the positive impact of ICT on CO2 shows a sustained growth which is similar to the situation when trade openness is taken as threshold variable. (iii) Income levels are set as a categorical variable, the impact of ICT on CO2 presents a "U" shape under the influence of financial development and trade openness. The "U"-shaped turning point occurs in the low-income band and when the level of trade development and financial development is low.

An Investigation of the Relationship Between Parents’ Socioeconomic Standards and their Children’s Online Safety; Perspective: Bangladesh

"The field of child-computer interaction has garnered significant interest from researchers worldwide. Nevertheless, the discourse around the protection of children’s digital safe, that includes privacy and security remains significantly underrepresented in both Bangladesh and the broader global south. In situations where a significant portion of senior and adult persons lack awareness regarding optimal strategies for effectively utilizing digital gadgets and tools, it is difficult to anticipate a higher level of proficiency among younger individuals. Privacy generally encompasses the capacity of individuals to exercise control over, get access to, and govern their personal data. In contrast, the security system serves to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access, data leakage, or cyber intrusions, therefore safeguarding the data from potential compromise. Previous studies have indicated that the responsibility for safeguarding the digital privacy and security of children lies with both parents and children themselves. Regrettably, a dearth of scholarly investigations exists within the domain, hindering the ability to systematically monitor and analyze the potential relationship between parental socioeconomic status and the privacy and safety of their offspring. This research aims to discover the correlation. This study employed semi-structured interviews with a sample of 48 parents and 42 children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, including high income, middle income, and low-income groups. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis. The findings of this study indicate that children from high income families are more susceptible to online safety issues compared to their counterparts from low-income households. This vulnerability is attributed to factors such as the widespread availability of internet access and personal digital devices, greater purchasing power on online platforms, and a lack of parental monitoring. This study presents a limited number of recommendations for parents and children across various socioeconomic backgrounds in order to enhance the state of internet safety for children."

Analysing individuals' use of moped-sharing and their perception about future private car dependency

Moped-scooters are one of the latest services coming into the shared mobility ecosystem, which is why scientific contributions devoted to this actor are still scarce. This research explores two main questions. First, it analyses the determinants of the frequency of use of e-moped-sharing among adopters of these services. Second, it examines whether the use of e-moped-sharing may affect the individuals' perspective of the need to own a private vehicle in the future. To achieve this goal, we conducted a survey campaign in the four main cities of Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville) which gathered 3897 valid responses. This data was employed to build a Generalized Structural Equations Model that accounts for the influence of a variety of factors, including socio-economic characteristics, stated travel behaviour, and psychological preferences of the individuals. The results show that the frequency of use of electric shared-mopeds is higher among wealthier younger individuals and residents in the city centre. The modelling concludes that more frequent use of shared electric mopeds is negatively correlated with the belief that private vehicles will remain a necessity in the future. This effect seems to be more pronounced among high-income groups and those that combine e-moped-sharing with other shared services.