Individual Sociodemographic Characteristics Research Articles

Higher Household Air Pollution Levels Correlate with Poorer Cognitive Function in the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI)

AbstractBackgroundIndians have some of the highest fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposures in the world, not only due to high ambient air levels but also because of household combustion of biomass fuel. To understand the burdens of these exposures for older adults, we evaluated associations of indoor PM2.5 with cognitive function in India.MethodWe used data from the 2017‐2019 baseline survey of the nationally‐representative Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) to derive a general cognition score for each participant. For indoor PM2.5 levels, we used an India‐specific prediction model informed by participant cooking and housing characteristics. We estimated associations between indoor PM2.5 with cognitive function using linear mixed‐effects models after adjustment for age, sex, individual and community‐level socioeconomic variables, region, clustering by village, and sample weights.ResultWe observed a population of 61,708 participants aged 45 and over. Many of these individuals (48%) used highly polluting fuel, resulting in average indoor PM2.5 concentrations of 205± 110 µg/m3. After adjustment for individual and area‐level confounders, we found that indoor PM2.5 was associated with poorer cognitive function. For each 100 µg/m3 of indoor PM2.5, we observed ‐0.027 (95% CI: ‐0.033, ‐0.02) lower cognition scores. These associations were strongest among women as well as among adults less than age 65 years. When scaling these associations to the observed interquartile range (150 µg/m3), household exposures resulted in cognitive differences comparable to those observed between people 2 years apart.ConclusionAmong older adults living in India, household PM2.5 is associated with poorer cognition at older ages even after adjustment for individual sociodemographic characteristics and regional trends.

(Healthy) Aging Patterns in Europe: A Multistate Health Transition Approach

We explore patterns and determinants of health transition probabilities by combining outcomes of morbidity and mortality to examine different aging patterns across Europe, and to ascertain how individual socio-demographic characteristics modify these patterns. We use panel data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2004– 2017) for 76,536 individuals aged 50 + in 20 European countries who participated in at least two waves. All transition probabilities were calculated applying a multistate analytical approach. Our findings show significant gender, education, and cohort differences in health transition probabilities and marked cross-country group differences. Central and Northern European countries present lower probabilities of health deterioration than Southern and, especially, Eastern European countries. Having a high level of education, living in Central Europe, and being younger are associated with lower probabilities of health deterioration and, if any, a higher probability of being restored to good health. We found less evidence of differences when transitions end in death. Our study contributes to this line of research by implementing a multistate approach using European harmonized panel dataset, to examine the effects of birth cohort, educational attainment and gender differences on health transitions. Our findings point to the need to consider the specific influence of individual factors in the aging process in different transitions according to the context and with reference to specific vulnerable groups. In the context of aging societies, such a consideration is both essential and policy relevant.

Identifying the Predictors of Patient-Centered Communication by Machine Learning Methods

Patient-centered communication (PCC) quality is critical to increasing the quality of patient-centered care. Based on the nationally representative data of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2019–2020 (N = 4593), this study combined four machine learning methods, namely, Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Random Forests (Random Forests), Deep Neural Networks (Deep Learning), and Gradient Boosting Machines (GBM), to identify important PCC predictors through variable importance metrics. Fifteen variables were identified as important predictors, involving multiple dimensions, such as individual sociodemographic characteristics, health-related factors, and individual living habits. Among them, four novel potential associated variables are included, an individual’s level of verbal expression, exercise habits, etc., which significantly impacted respondents’ perceived PCC quality. This study revealed the value of combining feature selection with machine learning approaches to identify broad variables that could enhance PCC prediction and clinical decision-making, influence future PCC prediction research, and improve patient-centered care. In the future, other easy-to-interpret models can be combined to conduct further research on the impact direction and mechanism of important predictors on PCC.

Structural stigma and 7-year improvement in life satisfaction: A repeated cross-sectional study of sexual minority individuals across 28 countries

Abstract Background Structural stigma toward sexual minority individuals varies widely across countries and is associated with psychosocial health outcomes. Yet, the association of changes in country-level structural stigma over time, as has recently characterized many European countries, with such outcomes is largely unknown. The current study examined the association between change in structural stigma from 2012 to 2019 across European Union countries and change in life satisfaction among sexual minority individuals during the same period. Secondary analyses examined whether changes in structural stigma differentially benefitted some subgroups of sexual minority individuals more than others. Methods The current study analyzed data from sexual minority respondents (2012: n = 82,668; 2019: n = 96,576) living in 28 European countries. Results Adjusted multilevel models showed that life satisfaction had improved among sexual minority individuals in all countries between 2012 and 2019 (β = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.35), but the improvement was stronger among those living in higher stigma countries compared to those living in lower stigma countries. Changes also varied by relationship status; the strongest improvement in life satisfaction as a function of improvement in structural stigma was found among sexual minority individuals in a relationship. Conclusions Although life satisfaction has increased during the past decade among sexual minority individuals living in Europe, significant variation in this change exists across countries as a function of country-level structural stigma and individual sociodemographic characteristics. The findings support the relevance of structural stigma for sexual minority individuals’ life satisfaction and call for further research to understand the differential impact of structural stigma across sexual minority subgroups.

Determining the prevalence of functional limitation and the factors affecting it among older adults in need of long-term care in Turkey

ABSTRACT This study aimed to calculate the prevalence of the elderly (aged 60 years+) in Turkey who need long-term care for activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and examine factors affecting functional limitation. Data were collected from the Turkey Health Survey conducted by TurkStat in 2019. The individuals’ dependency degree was measured using seven questions on ADLs and six on IADLs in the survey. The chi-squared test was used to compare the dependency levels of the older adults in terms of age groups, and logistic regression to identify factors related to disability. 23.98% of elderly people required long-term care (minimum six months) —11.82% experienced some difficulty (group 1) and 11.91% experienced great difficulty (group 2); 0.25% were completely dependent (group 3). The dependency level was higher for elderly, female, uninsured, and single people living in northeastern Anatolia. There was statistical significance between depression, Alzheimer's, recent hospitalizations, number of chronic diseases, and disability. The prevalence of functional disability is high in the elderly; one out of four elderly people needs long-term care. Additionally, the disability level increases with age and there is an effect of an individual's sociodemographic and health characteristics on disability.

Investigation of the relationship between the use of complementary alternative medicine and illness perception and illness cognition in patients with diabetic foot ulcer

Objective: to examine the relationship between illness perception, illness cognition, and other sociodemographic characteristics of individuals with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and their complementary alternative therapies (CAM) use within the framework of self-regulation model (SRM). Material and methodsThis cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with 220 individuals with DFU in the Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases outpatient clinic of two training and research hospitals between December 5, 2020, and June 5, 2021. Research data were collected by using the Patient Information Form, Brief Illness Perception Scale (BIPS), and Illness Cognition Questionnaire (ICQ). Descriptive statistical methods and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to were used in the evaluation of the data. The determinants of the CAM use status of the patients were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. ResultsIt was determined that 136 (61.81%) patients who used CAM mostly preferred herbal methods. Patients' mean scores were 42.23 ± 5.66 on the total BIPS, 39.65 ± 16.01 on the total ICQ. Increasing age, female gender, increased disease perception (BIPS) and disease cognition (ICQ) increased the use of CAM (Nagelkerke R2:0.552; Model: x2 = 168.579 p = 0.00) ConclusionsIt was determined that our patients frequently preferred CAM. Predictors of CAM use were identified as female gender, advanced age, illness perception, and illness cognition. Accordingly, for effective management of DFU, besides the comprehensive evaluation of individuals with DFU and the provision of wound care by health care professionals, illness perceptions, illness cognition, and CAM use should be considered carefully.

Reasons for Delay in Seeking Treatment for Dental Caries in Tanzania

IntroductionThe delay in seeking dental treatment is a universal health problem, with a reported prevalence as high as 98%. It is a critical feature not only in planning management but also in the final treatment outcome. AimThis study aimed to determine the reasons for the delay in seeking treatment for dental caries amongst patients attending public dental clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. MethodologyThis was a cross-sectional study carried out in 5 public hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It included 315 adult patients who had dental caries. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included questions regarding reasons for the delay in seeking care for dental caries. Data were analysed using the SPSS computer software version 26. A one-way analysis of variance was used to assess the association between variables, and the significance level was set at P < .05. ResultsA majority (n = 244, 77.5%) of the participants delayed seeking dental care upon noting a problem in their teeth. However, the association between the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and delay in seeking dental care was statistically insignificant (P > .05). The most common reason given by the participants who delayed seeking dental care for their decayed teeth included self-negligence (n = 184, 75.4%), the practice of self-medication (n = 164, 67.2%), and ignorance (n = 110, 45.1%). ConclusionsThe majority of patients experiencing dental caries seek dental care very late. Delay in seeking dental care is not dependent on sociodemographic characteristics of individuals. Self-negligence, the practice of self‑medication, and ignorance are the major reasons for the delay.

Using Health data to analyse repeat victimisation in Scotland.

ObjectiveThe aim of this project is to analyse temporal patterns of repeat violent victimisation (RVV) in Scotland using administrative data and explore the extent to which these patterns are associated with underlying health vulnerabilities (related to mental health and problematic alcohol and/or drug use) and vary by individual socio-demographic characteristics. ApproachViolence in Scotland, and especially RVV, is a ‘key public health priority’. However, very little is known about the link between violence and other health vulnerabilities at an individual level, which may be useful in informing prevention approaches. This paper uses data on violence-related ambulance call-outs linked to hospital records containing information on wider health vulnerabilities. We use survival mixture models to identify and characterise population sub-groups, based on time to repeated violent episodes and explore how different health-related factors are associated with RVV and how this varies across sub-populations. ResultsWe identify two classes of RVV with two distinct survival trajectories: a ‘low vulnerability’ class and a ‘high vulnerability’ class. People in the high vulnerability class experienced RVV more quickly and were more likely to have underlying mental health conditions and/or problematic drug or alcohol use than those in the low vulnerability class. The association between socio-demographic characteristics and RVV differed across the two classes, with significant inequality in RVV for high-risk individuals between those in the most and the least affluent communities. The findings suggest that the first 6 months after the index event is a critical period of RVV for people in the high-risk group, but there may be different exposure mechanisms for different types of victims. ConclusionBetter use of administrative data from health sources could help improve our understanding and identification of repeat victims of violence. The ability to identify whether victims are likely to be ‘high-risk’ or ‘low-risk’ could inform the design of focused strategic approaches and interventions aimed at reducing repeat violent victimization.

A cross-sectional study examining consideration of self-managed abortion among people seeking facility-based care in the United States

IntroductionWith increasing restrictions on abortion across the United States, we sought to understand whether people seeking abortion would consider ending their pregnancy on their own if unable to access a facility-based abortion.MethodsFrom January to June 2019, we surveyed patients seeking abortion at 4 facilities in 3 US states. We explored consideration of self-managed abortion (SMA) using responses to the question: “Would you consider ending this pregnancy on your own if you are unable to obtain care at a health care facility?” We used multivariable Poisson regression to assess associations between individual sociodemographic, pregnancy and care-seeking characteristics and prevalence of considering SMA. In bivariate Poisson models, we also explored whether consideration of SMA differed by specific obstacles to abortion care.ResultsOne-third (34%) of 741 participants indicated they would definitely or probably consider ending the pregnancy on their own if unable to obtain care at a facility. Consideration of SMA was higher among those who reported no health insurance (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.66; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.12–2.44), described the pregnancy as unintended (aPR = 1.53; 95% CI 1.08–2.16), were seeking abortion due to concerns about their own physical or mental health (aPR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.02, 2.20), or experienced obstacles that delayed their abortion care seeking (aPR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.49, 3.40). Compared to those who would not consider SMA, participants who would consider SMA expressed higher difficulty finding an abortion facility (35 vs. 27%, p = 0.019), figuring out how to get to the clinic (29 vs 21%, p = 0.021) and needing multiple clinic visits (23 vs 17%, p = 0.044).Conclusions.One in three people seeking facility-based abortion would consider SMA if unable to obtain abortion care at a facility. As abortion access becomes increasingly restricted in the US, SMA may become more common. Future research should continue to monitor people’s consideration and use of SMA and ensure that they have access to safe and effective methods.

Exploring the association between neighbourhood streetscape vegetation and subjective well-being in a high-density built environment: Evidence from Beijing, China.

Many studies have disentangled the perceived benefits of vegetation on subjective well-being (SWB). Yet, scant attention has been paid to the joint effect of vegetation and building density on SWB. This study explores the relationship between streetscape vegetation (SV), building density and SWB in Beijing, China. Our analysis relies on rich measures of street view data to assess SV exposure at the neighbourhood level. Notably, we distinguish between trees (SV-tree) and grasses (SV-grass) when evaluating SV metrics. The results suggest that streetscape trees and grasses are positively associated with SWB, though estimated effects are dependent upon tree and grass density exposures. We also find that the effects of streetscape trees and grass are moderated by building density in the neighbourhood. Additional decomposition analysis provides the insight that the well-being implications of street vegetation and building density are varied significantly by individual sociodemographic characteristics such as sex, age and income. The findings of this study suggest the importance of considering density in SV planning and land use policies to enhance people's quality of life.

Association between the community food environment and dietary patterns in residents of areas of different socio-economic levels of a southern capital city in Brazil.

This study aimed to verify the association between the community food environment and dietary patterns in a population of different socio-economic levels. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 400 adults and elderly aged between 20 and 70 years residing in the central area of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Four dietary patterns were explored: healthy, traditional Brazilian, refined carbohydrates and sugars, and fast food. The community food environment included the identification of all food stores by areas where individuals lived and auditing based on the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores (NEMS-S) score. Poisson regression was used to estimate the prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective 95 % CI. After the adjustment for individual sociodemographic characteristics, residents of the area with the best community food environment (highest NEMS-S score) had 12 % and 18 % lower probabilities of high consumption (upper tertile) of the traditional (PR = 0·88; 95 % CI (0·78, 0·98)) and refined carbohydrate and sugar (PR = 0·82; 95 % CI (0·73, 0·92)) dietary patterns, respectively, compared with those living in the area with the worst community food environment (lowest NEMS-S score). Healthy and fast-food dietary patterns showed no association with the community food environment. In conclusion, the community food environment is a factor associated with the consumption of certain dietary patterns, independent of individual sociodemographic characteristics. Thus, aspects of the community food environment become important in food and nutrition actions and policies aimed at health promotion.

The Role of CYP2B6*6 Gene Polymorphisms in 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol Levels as a Biomarker of Chlorpyrifos Toxicity Among Indonesian Farmers.

ObjectivesOne of the most widely used pesticides today is chlorpyrifos (CPF). Cytochrome P450 (CYP)2B6, the most prominent catalyst in CPF bioactivation, is highly polymorphic. The objective of our study was to evaluate the role of CYP2B6*6, which contains both 516G>T and 785A>G polymorphisms, in CPF toxicity, as represented by the concentration of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), among vegetable farmers in Central Java, Indonesia, where CPF has been commonly used.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 132 vegetable farmers. Individual socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, as determinants of TCPy levels, were obtained using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and subsequently used to estimate the cumulative exposure level (CEL). TCPy levels were detected with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. CYP2B6*6 gene polymorphisms were analyzed using a TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assay and Sanger sequencing. Linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between TCPy, as a biomarker of CPF exposure, and its determinants.ResultsThe prevalence of CYP2B6*6 polymorphisms was 31% for *1/*1, 51% for *1/*6, and 18% for *6/*6. TCPy concentrations were higher among participants with CYP2B6*1/*1 than among those with *1/*6 or *6/*6 genotypes. CYP2B6*6 gene polymorphisms, smoking, CEL, body mass index, and spraying time were retained in the final linear regression model as determinants of TCPy.ConclusionsThe results suggest that CYP2B6*6 gene polymorphisms may play an important role in influencing susceptibility to CPF exposure. CYP2B6*6 gene polymorphisms together with CEL, smoking habits, body mass index, and spraying time were the determinants of urinary TCPy concentrations, as a biomarker of CPF toxicity.

At the heart of the COVID-19 crisis: Perceived concerns of changes in long-term cancer care in French women with cancer.

ObjectiveIn the COVID‐19 crisis context, the main objective of the study is to investigate factors associated with perceived concerns of change in long‐term cancer care in patients currently under treatment.MethodsA French population‐based cross‐sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire in April 2020. All persons currently receiving cancer treatment and belonging to the Seintinelles Association (https://www.seintinelles.com) were included in this present analysis. Individual sociodemographic characteristics, medical status and information regarding cancer care were collected. Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was performed.ResultsWe included 298 women in the analysis. Younger participants (OR = 0.96 [0.94–0.99]), the need to visit healthcare facilities to receive treatment (OR = 2.93 [1.16–8.52]), deterioration in the quality of communication with the medical team since the beginning of the COVID‐19 crisis (OR = 3.24 [1.61–7.02]) and being cared for by a university hospital or a public hospital (OR = 2.19 [1.16–4.23] versus comprehensive cancer centre) were associated with a perceived fear of change in long‐term cancer care.ConclusionTo address patients' concerns regarding changes in their long‐term cancer care, medical teams should consider the patients' own perceptions of the situation and provide clear, appropriate, precise information on cancer care, especially in the centres mostly affected by the COVID‐19 crisis.

Individual Preferences for COVID-19 Vaccination under the China's 2021 National Vaccination Policy: A Discrete Choice Experiment Study.

(1) Background: Since China’s national vaccination policy announcement in January 2021, individual vaccination preferences related to vaccine characteristics, social relationships, sociodemographic characteristics and cognition remain opaque. This study aims to investigate vaccination preferences regarding these attributes, and to assess changes in individual vaccine preferences since the pre-2021 emergency vaccination phase. (2) Methods: The two-part questionnaire surveyed 849 individuals between May and June 2021 in Qingdao, China. The survey contained eight binary choice tasks that investigated preference trade-offs. Respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics, including age, sex, urban/rural residence, income, education and whether living with the young or old, were also collected. Conditional logit, mixed logit and latent class models were used to quantify preference utility and identify preference heterogeneity. (3) Results: Vaccine effectiveness, vaccine side effects, duration of protection and probability of infection all significantly affected vaccination utility. Preference heterogeneity based on individual social relationships and sociodemographic characteristics were also established. Marginal analysis showed that compared to the pre-2021 phase, individuals’ preferences had shifted towards vaccines with longer protection periods and better accessibility. (4) Conclusion: This study will inform the full rollout of China’s 2021 national vaccination program and provide valuable information for future vaccination policy design to meet resurgent COVID-19 risks.

Dentistry as a professional career: the views of London's secondary school pupils (2011-2017)

Aim To explore young people's perceptions of dentistry as a potential future career, including features which would attract or deter them from wanting to become dentists and the perceived influences on these views.Methods Purposive sampling of London schools was undertaken. Exploration of academically-able, science-minded young people's (aged 14-18 years) perceptions of dentistry as a potential career was achieved through a series of focus groups conducted at various types of school in the Greater London region (13 focus groups and 91 students). A topic guide, informed by the literature and previous research, explored the perceived motivating and demotivating factors and associated influences, identified by these pupils, on studying dentistry at university. Data were analysed using framework methodology.Results Multiple factors were identified by London secondary school pupils that would attract them to dentistry. Pull factors were: 1) science-based; 2) status and security - extrinsic rewards; 3) structure of service provision; 4) career opportunities; 5) social interactions; 6) personal skills and care - intrinsic rewards; and 7) being a vocational degree. Push factors away from the career included lack of diversity within the job and the 'negative image' of dentists, with medicine having greater social status and more varied career options. Individual and wider influences on pupils' perceptions included their personal experience with dentistry, social and community networks, the school environment, as well as system and societal level influencers.Conclusions These findings suggest that a wide range of influences determine teenagers' perceptions of a dental career. Pupils in London schools report similar features of dentistry as being attractive as dental students, as well as its importance as a vocational degree, and although dentistry appears to lack status and profile when compared with medicine, it may be more acceptable in relation to its lifestyle. Individual sociodemographic characteristics and wider environmental factors may influence the relative importance of these features.

Non-linear association between residential greenness and general health among old adults in China

While a plethora of evidence has suggested the existence of salutogenic effects of exposure to residential greenness, including mitigating residents’ exposure to environmental stressors (the mitigation effect), relevant evidence of these effects in a Chinese context remains limited and inconsistent. This study explored the association between residential greenness and older adults’ self-rated general health (SGH) in China, particularly focusing on the potential non-linear association, using the microdata sample from the Chinese one-percent national population sample survey. We further examined whether the association varied significantly according to neighbourhood urbanicity and individual socio-demographic characteristics, and investigated whether residential greenness can mitigate against the detrimental effects of air pollution, higher temperature, and outdoor light pollution at night on older adults’ health. We found that higher residential greenness was positively associated with the odds of reporting good health, and a greenness-SGH inverted U-shaped relationship was observed, with a turning point at an NDVI value of 0.40. The greenness-SGH association was stronger for older adults who resided in urban areas, were female, older (>= 80 years), were single or divorced or widowed, had elementary or secondary school education, and lived in households with a car valued over ¥ 200,000. We also found that greenness can help mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution and outdoor light pollution at night on older adults’ SGH. Our findings suggest that providing green infrastructure in a residential environment can promote older people’s health through mitigating the hazards of environmental contaminants in a rapidly urbanizing and developing country.

Changes in Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms During COVID-19 Lockdown: United States Adult Age Groups.

This study investigates: (1) the changes in three major health-related factors—physical activity, non-physical-activity health behavior (i.e., diet quality, alcohol consumption, smoking, sleep quality), and depressive symptoms, and (2) how changes in physical activity were associated with changes in one’s depressive symptoms among young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults while controlling non-physical-activity health behavior and sociodemographic characteristics among young, middle-aged, and older adults before and after the COVID-19 outbreak lockdown in the United States. A total of 695 participants completed an online questionnaire via MTurk, and participants were asked to recall their physical activity, depressive symptoms, and non-physical-activity health behavior status in January and May of 2020. The IPAQ-SF was used to evaluate individuals’ physical activity, while the CES-D-10 was used to assess depressive symptoms. Covariates included non-physical-activity health behavior and sociodemographic factors. A Bayesian significance testing of changes was used to examine significant changes in physical activity, non-physical-activity behavior, and depressive symptoms in each age group while Bayesian regression analysis was employed to examine how the changes in physical activity were associated with respondents’ depressive symptoms while controlling for individual NHB and sociodemographic characteristics. The results showed that the participants tended to maintain their physical activity levels after the lockdown despite significant increases in sitting time among young and older adults. Decreases in moderate physical activity frequency were associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms (R2 = 17.1%). Although young and middle-aged cohorts experienced fewer differences in depressive symptoms compared to their counterparts in the older group, we found no significant heterogeneity effects in the relationships of interest across all age groups. Considering different influences of physical activity on depressive symptoms depending on different levels of activity and ages, more randomized clinical trials with program-based intervention studies should be conducted with different physical activity programs for different age populations.

The life cycle of conspiracy theories: evidence from a long-term panel survey on conspiracy beliefs in Italy

AbstractConspiracy theories are gaining increasing interest in academic and public debate. A broad research agenda focused on the socio-political and psychological determinants of conspiracy theory beliefs, on the effect of social media as a new channel of dissemination, on the role played by populist leaders in explaining those theories, and on the impact on social and political outputs. This introduction to the special issue proposes a summary of this growing literature and addresses an aspect that is still under-investigated: the life cycle of conspiracy theories. Previous empirical studies investigated the topic either in a cross-sectional fashion or by employing short-term panels – focusing on how conspiracy theories change over a small period (e.g., before and after an election). Using panel survey data, we take a medium-term approach. We base our investigation on a longitudinal study composed of two survey waves, administered in 2016 and late 2020. Respondents were asked to rate the plausibility of different ‘classic’ conspiracy theories. This allows comparing changes in beliefs in those conspiracy theories over this 4-year time frame. Results show that believes in these theories decrease over time. Furthermore, this decline can only be marginally explained by individual socio-demographic characteristics or political orientations. After thoroughly describing these differences over time, we speculate on why this decline occurs, mainly basing our argument on the role of the media landscape in shaping public opinion.

Association of Condom Use Advocacy with Perceived Condom Use Among Social Network Members: The Mediating Role of Advocates' Internalized HIV Stigma and Own Condom Use.

We examined the association of HIV prevention advocacy with social network members (alters) on alter condom use behavior, and factors that may mediate and moderate this relationship, among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Uganda. Ninety PLWH completed all assessments (baseline and 5- and 8-month follow-ups). Internalized HIV stigma, HIV disclosure self-efficacy, positive living behavior (i.e., condom use), and advocacy self-efficacy were examined as mediators (at 5-month follow-up) of the association between condom use advocacy and perceived alter condom use. Individual socio-demographic and social network characteristics at baseline were examined as moderators. Among alters who received condom use advocacy in the months prior to both baseline and 5-month follow-up, 69.9% (51/73) were perceived to mostly/always use condoms at either the 5- or 8-month follow-up, which was significantly higher than the 36.4% (235/645) of alters who received none or less advocacy. Participants' internalized HIV stigma and consistent condom use mediated the association of advocacy and perceived consistent condom use among alters; the participant having any secondary education and the alter being male were associated with increased magnitude of the associations between advocacy and alter condom use. These findings highlight the importance of sustained advocacy to promote consistent condom use, and the value of anti-stigma and positive living interventions as mechanisms for enhancing effective advocacy.

Investigation of the Relationships between Life Satisfaction, Optimism, Happiness and Blood Lipid, Vitamin-D Levels of Individuals Aged 55 and Over.

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate of the relationships between life satisfaction, optimism and happiness on blood lipid and vitamin-D levels in people aged 55 and over. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 283 individuals over the age of 55. The survey consisted of two main parts. In the first part, there are 19 questions about the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients, their chronic disease status, alcohol and smoking habits, physical activity and sunbathing duration. In the second part, Life Satisfaction Scale, Life Orientation Test and Subjective Happiness Scale were used. The lipid parameters and Vitamin D levels were investigated as dependent variables. Socio-demographic characteristics of individuals, physical activity status, and average scores of scales were investigated as independent variables. Results: The results indicated that, LDL level was significantly and reverse associated with subjective happiness level. There was no significant relationship between other lipid parameters and subjective happiness level. It was determined that there was a significant and linear relationship between vitamin D level and life satisfaction and subjective happiness levels. Conclusion: Understanding the psychological characteristics and the factors affecting their psychology of individuals aged 55 and over may play a key role for a healthy population, prevention of cardiovascular diseases and low vitamin D deficiency.