Higher Levels Of Educational Attainment Research Articles

Food Insecurity Among Farmers in Rural Sri Lanka and the Perceived Impacts of COVID-19

ObjectivesLittle is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic (C19) has affected food security and farmers’ livelihoods in Sri Lanka. In this study, we assessed food security, perceived impacts of C19 and coping mechanisms to deal with these impacts.MethodsAs part of a baseline survey for an evaluation of the World Food Programme's Nutrition-Sensitive Food Assistance for Assets Program in Sri Lanka, we conducted ∼1300 quantitative household phone surveys across five districts between December 2020 and February 2021. Food insecurity was assessed using the 8-item Food Insecurity Experience Scale and categorized as moderate or severe using the Rasch model. Perceived impacts of C19 and the coping mechanisms used to deal with these shocks were assessed via questionnaire. Additionally, we explored how these experiences varied by wealth quintile, highest attained education level in the household, and district.ResultsDespite having had a relatively low burden of C19 cases in Sri Lanka compared to other countries, 85% of respondents in our sample reported being affected in some way by C19 or its associated control measures. Reported impacts include those on income (77% overall, 89% in lowest quintile, 62% in highest quintile) and agriculture activities (76% overall, 65% in lowest quintile, 87% in highest quintile), among others. Normal crop cultivation and harvesting was adversely impacted due to being advised to stay home (42%), being unable to purchase inputs (33%) and poor demand in the market (56%). In response to COVID shocks, about 30% of respondents in the lowest two wealth quintiles reported selling their livestock and about 20% of respondents across all wealth quintiles reported selling other assets. Half of the households interviewed were either moderately (36%) or severely (14%) food insecure. The proportion of households experiencing food insecurity varied by wealth quintile (mod: 55%-21%; sev: 27%-5%) and district (mod: 46%-29%; sev: 21%-10%).ConclusionsHigh levels of food insecurity and disruptions across domains such as income, asset ownership, and agriculture could have short- and long-term effects on people's health, nutrition and well-being. Control measures enacted in Sri Lanka should consider the potentially devastating effects on smallholder farmers and introduce measures to mitigate these issues in those most affected.Funding SourcesA4NH and WFP

Correlates of birth registrations in East and Southern Africa and implications for civil registration and vital statistics systems

ObjectivesTo analyze the role of both demand- and supply-side factors affecting birth registrations in East and Southern Africa by combining information on children, mothers, and their household on the one hand and information on the areas where they live on the other hand. Study designThe study used deidentified data from recent Demographic and Health Surveys implemented in five East and Southern African countries: Malawi (2015), Mozambique (2011), Uganda (2016), Tanzania (2015), and Zambia (2013–2014). The analysis was based on children under the age of five whose mothers provided information on whether the child's birth was registered administratively and whether they have a birth certificate. MethodsMultivariate logistic regression was conducted, and the odds ratios with the 95% confidence intervals are reported. The dependent variable is binary and indicates whether a child was registered or not. Separate analyses were performed for each country to test for similarity in results across countries. In addition, regression analysis was carried out on a pooled sample of the countries. ResultsThere are differences between countries in the variables for which statistically significant associations with the likelihood of birth registration are observed. For example, the birth order of the child is statistically significant only for Mozambique with later children more likely to be registered. In addition, delivery in a healthcare facility is associated with a marginal gain in the likelihood of registration, except for Mozambique. By and large, when considering all five countries, there is no large gain or loss of residing in an urban area after controlling for the other independent variables included in the analysis. Generally, a higher level of educational attainment for the mother is associated with a higher likelihood of registration, with especially large gains in Tanzania and Mozambique at the postsecondary level. The effect of education remains statistically significant in the pooled sample. ConclusionsBirth registration matters for a wide range of development outcomes and ensuring universal registration is a key target under the Sustainable Development Goals. Unfortunately, many low-income countries continue to have low rates of birth registration, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Changing the status quo will require considering both demand-side and supply-side factors constraining birth registrations.

The Creativity Premium

Success in life increasingly depends on key skills that allow people to thrive in education, the labor market, and their interactions with others. In this paper, we emphasize creativity as a key skill that is essential to open-ended problem solving and resistant to automation. We use rich longitudinal data to study the relationship between people's creativity measured in childhood and their individual attributes and life outcomes. We find that childhood creativity predicts labor market and educational success: more creative individuals earn more during the course of their careers, work in higher occupational categories, and reach higher levels of educational attainment. Our analysis of attributes further suggests that creative individuals have a package of practical skills that allows them to thrive in work environments where learning from experience is important. We combine insights from our findings with evidence from psychology to propose creativity-improving interventions that could lead to substantial economic benefits.

Transforming Zones of Exclusion to Zones of Inclusion? Local-Level UN Peacekeeping Deployments and Educational Attainment

Abstract Higher educational attainment levels are associated with better public health outcomes, lower levels of income inequality, more participation in democratic instructions, and safer communities. Promoting education in war-torn societies can have an immediate impact in mitigating violence and play a significant role in preventing conflict recurrence. This study investigates UN peacekeeping missions’ role in this process, positing that UN deployments to locations experiencing armed conflict lead to higher levels of educational attainment by increasing local stability, incentivizing individuals to return to school while also making renewed investment worthwhile. Testing this logic using new data on local-level educational attainment across Africa from 2000 to 2014, this study finds that conflict zones where the UN maintained peacekeeping deployments saw an increase in educational attainment when compared to those that did not, a finding corroborated by coarsened exact matching. Maintaining a modest number of UN forces is shown to increase female attainment by at least 4.89 percent and reduce gender disparity by 5.13 percent, revealing the critical role UN peacekeeping plays in restoring education in the shadow of political violence.

Detecting fake news on Facebook: The role of emotional intelligence.

The proliferation of fake news on social media is now a matter of considerable public and governmental concern. In 2016, the UK EU referendum and the US Presidential election were both marked by social media misinformation campaigns, which have subsequently reduced trust in democratic processes. More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the acceptance of fake news has been shown to pose a threat to public health. Research on how to combat the false acceptance of fake news is still in its infancy. However, recent studies have started to focus on the psychological factors which might make some individuals less likely to fall for fake news. Here, we adopt that approach to assess whether individuals who show high levels of ‘emotional intelligence’ (EQ) are less likely to fall for fake news items. That is, are individuals who are better able to disregard the emotionally charged content of such items, better equipped to assess the veracity of the information. Using a sample of UK participants, an established measure of EQ and a novel fake news detection task, we report a significant positive relationship between individual differences in emotional intelligence and fake news detection ability. We also report a similar effect for higher levels of educational attainment, and we report some exploratory qualitative fake news judgement data. Our findings are discussed in terms of their applicability to practical short term (i.e. current Facebook user data) and medium term (i.e. emotional intelligence training) interventions which could enhance fake news detection.

Dietary patterns and their associations with overweight/obesity among preschool children in Dongcheng District of Beijing: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundFew studies investigated the associations between dietary patterns and overweight/obesity among Chinese preschool children. Thus, the study aims to explore dietary patterns and their associations with overweight/obesity among preschool children in the Dongcheng District of Beijing.MethodsWith a stratified proportionate cluster sampling, the study included 3373 pairs of preschool children and their guardians. Children’s weight and height were measured by school nurses, and their food and beverage consumption frequencies were reported by guardians via a food frequency questionnaire. Children’s age, gender, physical activity time, and sedentary time, as well as their parents’ highest level of educational attainment, occupation, weight, and height were also collected. Dietary patterns were identified through exploratory factor analysis. Among these identified dietary patterns, the one with the largest factor score was defined as the predominant dietary pattern for each child. The associations between predominant dietary patterns and overweight/obesity were tested by two-level random-intercept logistic models with cluster-robust standard errors.ResultsFour dietary patterns, i.e., a “Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and snack” pattern, a “Chinese traditional” pattern, a “Health conscious” pattern, and a “Snack” pattern, were identified. Among the children, 21.02% (95% CI: 19.68 to 22.43%) were predominated by the “SSB and snack” pattern, 27.78% (95% CI: 26.29 to 29.32%) by the “Chinese traditional” pattern, 24.90% (95% CI: 23.47 to 26.39%) by the “Health conscious” pattern, and 26.30% (95% CI: 24.84 to 27.81%) by the “Snack” pattern. After controlling for potential confounders, the “SSB and snack” pattern characterized by fresh fruit/vegetable juice, flavored milk drinks, carbonated drinks, flavored fruit/vegetable drinks, tea drinks, plant-protein drinks, puffed foods, fried foods, and Western fast foods was associated with a higher risk of overweight/obesity (OR: 1.61, 95% CI:1.09 to 2.38), compared with the “Chinese traditional” pattern.ConclusionsThe preference for dietary patterns with high energy density but low nutritional value was prevalent among preschool children in the Dongcheng District of Beijing. Comprehensive measures to simultaneously reduce consumption of SSBs and unhealthy snacks among preschool children should be taken urgently to address the childhood obesity problem in China, particularly in metropolises.

An Investigation of the Potential Adoption of Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Production in Irish Farms

Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been recognised as an effective means of simultaneously producing energy while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite having a large agriculture sector, Ireland has experienced little uptake of the technology, ranking 20th within the EU-28. It is, therefore, necessary to understand the general opinions, willingness to adopt, and perceived obstacles of potential adopters of the technology. As likely primary users of this technology, a survey of Irish cattle farmers was conducted to assess the potential of on-farm AD for energy production in Ireland. The study seeks to understand farmers’ motivations, perceived barriers, and preferred business model. The study found that approximately 41% of the 91 respondents were interested in installing AD on their farming enterprise within the next five years. These Likely Adopters tended to have a higher level of education attainment, and together, currently hold 4379 cattle, potentially providing 37,122 t year−1 of wastes as feedstock, resulting in a potential CO2 reduction of 800.65 t CO2-eq. year−1. Moreover, the results indicated that the primary consideration preventing the implementation of AD is a lack of information regarding the technology and high investment costs. Of the Likely Adopters and Possible Adopters, a self-owned and operated plant was the preferred ownership structure, while 58% expressed an interest in joining a co-operative scheme. The findings generated provide valuable insights into the willingness of farmers to implement AD and guidance for its potential widespread adoption.

Income inequality, human capital and terrorism in Africa: Beyond exploratory analytics

This study uncovers the effect of income inequality on terrorism, delineated with four distinct markers: domestic, transnational, uncertain, and total, respectively, intermediated with the role of human capital, on a panel of 34 African countries, over the period 1980–2012. Thus, rather than presenting correlation analyses implied by exploratory analytics among these key variables of interest, this study further employs a zero-inflated negative binomial regression estimator due to the preponderance of zero values of the terrorism data. The following findings are consistently established. First, income inequality remains a substantive predictor of terrorism across the model specifications, with the exception of transnational terrorism. Second, human capital variables exert a positive first-order effect on both domestic and total terrorism. Third, the marginal impacts of interactions between human capital measures and income inequality indicators are negative at the higher levels of educational attainment. These findings remain robust in the presence of endogeneity concerns, time and country-specific effects, alternative estimators, and regional effects, respectively. On the policy front, eliminating the gaps in income inequality remains an effective policy antidote to quell the ember of angers and frustration that may aggravate into arm taking by the aggrieved.

Why Do Intelligent People Care More About the Environment?

The present study investigates and provides support for the Savanna-IQ interaction hypothesis regarding pro-environmental values. Study 1 showed that the highest attained education level is a significant predictor of pro-environmental concern, while Study 2 showed that the trait of openness to experience plays a unique role in predicting biospheric values, but not other values, lending support for the Savanna-IQ interaction hypothesis. Acting to preserve the natural environment is an evolutionarily novel challenge, and therefore, is more actively addressed by individuals who more readily adopt novel ideas and seek out new ways of behaving.

Does U.S. Sentiment Attract Foreign Investors?

Previous research shows that high sentiment among U.S. investors increases real investment both domestically and abroad. In this paper, we show that high U.S. sentiment also prompts financially developed countries to invest more in the United States, especially if they exhibit a high level of educational attainment. The results suggest that the real effects of sentiment are larger than previously thought.

Enhancing HIV Prevention Services: Exploring Psychosocial Associations of HIV Antibody Testing Frequency among Sexually Active Men who have Sex with Men

Despite recommendations of annual HIV testing for high-risk individuals, one-third of infected men who have sex with men (MSM) are unaware of their serostatus. In an effort to improve HIV prevention services and subsequently decrease prevalence, this study aimed to examine the HIV testing patterns and factors associated with testing frequency among MSM. Utilizing eight reliable and validated instruments and a sample of 374 sexually active MSM, this study examined a series of demographic, behavioral and psychosocial associations of antibody testing frequency, including substance use/abuse, depression levels, internalized homophobia, unprotected anal intercourse, sexual regulation and attribution, and HIV knowledge, . MSM who tested for HIV frequently were more likely to be older, have higher levels of educational attainment, and self-identify as gay. Respondents who reported never having been tested and irregularly tested had higher levels of internalized homophobia, depression, and alcohol use and abuse patterns. Respondents who had never been tested or infrequently tested engaged in lower levels of sexual risk, particularly unprotected receptive anal intercourse. Those with no or irregular histories of testing also exhibited greater external sexual loci of control, and were significantly more likely to attribute life events to external, unstable, and pessimistic causes.

Willingness to Use Automated Vehicles: Results From a Large and Diverse Sample of U.S. Older Adults.

The diffusion of fully automated vehicles (AVs), or self-driving vehicles, is expected to provide many affordances for older adults. If older adults are not willing to use AVs, they will not be able to reap these affordances. Understanding factors related to older adults’ willingness to use AVs is key to ensuring that successful strategies can be devised to promote their utilization in the future. In this study, we investigate U.S. older adults’ willingness to use AVs among a large and diverse sample (N = 1,231). We assessed sociodemographic, population density, health, and attitudinal determinants of willingness to use AVs. Our binary logistic regression results showed that older adults with higher levels of educational attainment, transportation limitations, and positive attitudes toward new technology adoption were more likely to be willing to use AVs. Our study indicates that older adults’ willingness to use AVs are complex and vary among U.S. older adults. Practical implications and study limitations are discussed.

Live longer, retire later? Developments of healthy life expectancies and working life expectancies between age 50\u201359 and age 60\u201369 in Europe

Europe’s population is ageing. Statutory retirement ages are commonly raised to account for continuous increases in life expectancy. In order to estimate the potential to increase statutory and consequently effective retirement ages further, in this study, we investigate the relationship between partial working life expectancy (WLE) and three health expectancies that represent health aspects important for work ability and employability between ages 50 and 59 as well as 60 and 69 for women and men in Europe. We also explore the association between these four indicators and the highest level of educational attainment. We apply Sullivan’s method to estimate WLE and three selected measures that capture general, physical, and cognitive health status of older adults for 26 European countries since 2004. Over time, WLEs increased significantly in the younger age group for women and in the older age group for both sexes. The expected number of years in good physical health have continuously been higher than any of the other three indicators, while the expected number of years in good cognitive health have shown a noticeable increase over time. The investigation of the relationship between education and each life expectancy confirms the well-established positive correlation between education and economic activity as well as good health. Our results indicate potential to extend working lives beyond current levels. However, significant differences in the expected number of years in good health between persons with different levels of education require policies that account for this heterogeneity.

The Contradictions of Liminal Legality: Economic Attainment and Civic Engagement of Central American Immigrants on Temporary Protected Status.

This study examines how Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may shape immigrants' integration trajectories. Building on core themes identified in the immigrant incorporation scholarship, it investigates whether associations of educational attainment with labor market outcomes and with civic participation, which are well established in the general population, hold for immigrants who live in the "liminal legality" of TPS. Conducted in 2016 in five U.S. metropolitan areas, the study is based on a unique survey of Salvadoran and Honduran TPS holders, the majority of immigrants on this status. The analyses find that TPS holders with higher levels of educational attainment do not derive commensurate significant occupational or earnings premiums from their education. In contrast, the analysis of the relationship between educational attainment and civic engagement detects a positive association: more educated TPS holders are more likely to be members of community organizations and to participate in voluntary community service, compared to their less educated counterparts. These findings illustrate the contradictions inherent to TPS as it may hinder certain aspects of immigrant integration but not others. This examination contributes to our understanding of the implications of immigrants' legal statuses and of immigration law and policy for key aspects of immigrant integration trajectories.

Tobacco Product Use Among Adults - United States, 2019.

Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States (1). The prevalence of current cigarette smoking among U.S. adults has declined over the past several decades, with a prevalence of 13.7% in 2018 (2). However, a variety of combustible, noncombustible, and electronic tobacco products are available in the United States (1,3). To assess recent national estimates of tobacco product use among U.S. adults aged ≥18 years, CDC analyzed data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). In 2019, an estimated 50.6 million U.S. adults (20.8%) reported currently using any tobacco product, including cigarettes (14.0%), e-cigarettes (4.5%), cigars (3.6%), smokeless tobacco (2.4%), and pipes* (1.0%).† Most current tobacco product users (80.5%) reported using combustible products (cigarettes, cigars, or pipes), and 18.6% reported using two or more tobacco products.§ The prevalence of any current tobacco product use was higher among males; adults aged ≤65 years; non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults; those whose highest level of educational attainment was a General Educational Development (GED) certificate; those with an annual household income <$35,000; lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) adults; uninsured adults and those with Medicaid; those with a disability; or those with mild, moderate, or severe generalized anxiety disorder. E-cigarette use was highest among adults aged 18-24 years (9.3%), with over half (56.0%) of these young adults reporting that they had never smoked cigarettes. Implementing comprehensive, evidence-based, population level interventions (e.g., tobacco price increases, comprehensive smoke-free policies, high-impact antitobacco media campaigns, and barrier-free cessation coverage), in coordination with regulation of the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of all tobacco products, can reduce tobacco-related disease and death in the United States (1,4). As part of a comprehensive approach, targeted interventions are also warranted to reach subpopulations with the highest prevalence of use, which might vary by tobacco product type.

Population Geography and Emergency Contraception Access in Louisiana.

We assessed the same-day availability of oral emergency contraception (EC) in five Louisiana communities, and evaluated this data for relationships between availability and local population demographics. Researchers called all retail pharmacies in five municipalities of varying sizes in order to inquire about the same-day stockage of EC products and their availability to teens. Individual pharmacies were then geolocated to a census tract, and call data was analyzed against neighborhood census data regarding population size, income, gender, race, family structure, and educational level. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to predict the same-day availability of emergency contraception. EC was available on the same day in 66% of all pharmacies. The same-day availability of EC decreased with the local population size (p < 0.001), and the availability increased with higher levels of educational attainment (p = 0.0015). The largest census level predictor of access to same-day EC was the city population, with the availability increasing by 6.6% for every 10,000 person increase in population. Despite changing to over-the-counter sales in 2013, EC is still not widely available in all geographic areas. Its availability is partially predictable by local population demographics, and this difference may represent a health disparity for teens and women seeking EC.

Abstract 15492: The Prognostic Role of Education Attainment Level in Individuals With Ischemic Heart Disease: Analysis From the Endocrine Vascular Approach Study

Introduction: Although adverse outcomes from cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been on a linear decline, the burden remains high. Addressing the social determinants of health in the care of CVD patients is emerging as a strategy for improving outcomes. Educational attainment level (EAL), a proxy of socioeconomic status, has been associated with both cardiovascular risk and patient’s ability to self-manage the complex cardiovascular treatment. Objective: To assess the impact of EAL on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause death in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) is a prospective observational study recruiting hospitalized patients with IHD undergoing coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary interventions. Socio-demographics and clinical data, including the level of multimorbidity defined by a Charlson Comorbidity Index≥ 4, were collected. A low-EAL, assessed through a self-reported questionnaire, was defined if at least elementary/middle school education was completed. The primary outcome was the occurrence of MACE (i.e. cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke) and a secondary composite endpoint (i.e. all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke) was also analyzed. Results: Among 460 individuals (mean age 67±11, 30% women) with IHD, 252 (55%) had a low-EAL. Individuals with low-EAL were younger and more likely to have heart failure, vascular encephalopathy, and high multimorbidity. A low-EAL was associated with a higher risk of MACE compared with higher EAL (Log-rank=12.29, p&lt;0.001) with similar results for the secondary outcome (Log-rank=9.45, p=0.002). In the adjusted multivariate regression analysis, low EAL was independently associated with MACE [Hazard Ration (HR): 2.31, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.23-4.34, p=0.010] and secondary outcome [HR: 1.73, 95%CI 1.02-2.92, p=0.042] compared to high-EAL. Conclusion: Individuals with IHD and low-EAL had a higher risk of MACE and all-cause death. Interventions that specifically address health literacy and cognition should be tested among these high-risk patients to improve outcomes.

Age-related loss of resources and perceived old age in China

AbstractLife expectancy in China has increased. This paper explores the age when older adults (aged 60 and above) consider themselves to be an ‘older person’ and how age-related loss of resources (five dimensions: early cumulative factors, decline and loss of health resources, reduction and loss of economic resources, weakening and loss of social support resources, and personal role transition and experiences of losing family members) could impact their perceived old age. Using two waves of data from the China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey (CLASS) in 2014 and 2016 (6,244 participants in 2014 and 2,989 participants in both 2014 and 2016), we found that the mean perceived old age is around 70 years at baseline (2014). Higher level of educational attainment and occupational types (early cumulative factors), better health condition, receiving support from friends and taking care of grandchildren are significantly associated with the perception that old age begins at an older age at baseline, while being Han-Chinese, being an urban resident (early cumulative factors) and reporting better health condition have significant positive effects on the perception that old age begins at an older age in the later wave. Our findings suggest that the age standard of older adults should be adjusted dynamically in response to social development and longevity, and also highlight the importance of early cumulative factors in shaping the ageing process besides age-related factors.

Black–White achievement gaps differ by family socioeconomic status from early childhood through early adolescence.

Theory and limited research indicate that race and socioeconomic status (SES) interact dynamically to shape children’s developmental contexts and academic achievement, but little scholarship examines how race and SES intersect to shape Black–White achievement gaps across development. We used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 (N ≈ 9,100)—which tracks a nationally representative cohort of children in the United States—to investigate how race and family SES (i.e., parental education and household income) intersect to shape trajectories of academic skills development from kindergarten entry through the spring of eighth grade. Results reveal that household income and parental education were differentially related to academic development, with Black–White gaps narrowing (and Black children’s skills growing slightly faster) at higher income gradients but widening (and Black children’s skills developing more slowly) at higher levels of educational attainment. Despite performance advantages at kindergarten entry, large baseline disparities meant that higher-income Black students underperformed their White peers by middle school, whereas Black students with better-educated parents consistently trailed their White counterparts. Taken together, these findings suggest that failure to examine how race and SES intersect to shape achievement gaps may obscure complex patterns of educational inequality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Does education increase pro-environmental willingness to pay? Evidence from Chinese household survey

China, as the most populated country with severe ecological deterioration, has put much effort on environmental protection. The success of environmental protection relies not only on administrative regulations but also mainly on public supports, especially how much the public is willing to pay for relevant environmental improvements. It is widely accepted that higher educational attainment promotes pro-environmental behavior. However, the increase of pro-environmental willingness to pay (WTP) associated with higher education attainment and the identification of their causality has been missing. In this study, the authors investigate into how higher level of educational attainment contributes to WTP based on household survey data. Using the enactment of the Compulsory Schooling Law as an instrumental variable, it is significant that higher education would increase both the incentive and the amount of WTP for environmental improvements, which also implies that governmental efforts on public education may contribute to environmental protection by promoting public supports.