Levels Of Educational Attainment Research Articles

Mathematics Vocabulary and Problem-solving Skills of Grade 4 Pupils in Narvacan North District

This study assessed the levels of mathematics vocabulary and problem-solving skills among Grade IV learners in public elementary schools in Narvacan North District. The primary aim is to assess how well students understand and use mathematical terminology and their ability to apply this knowledge to solve mathematical problems. The research involved a sample of 366 Grade IV students, utilizing validated tests and problem-solving assessments to gather the needed data. Results indicate that moderate grasp of mathematical terms, there is notable variability and room for improvement. Furthermore, parents' educational attainment and learners' vocabulary levels are significantly related implying that higher parental education is modestly associated with better vocabulary outcomes. In terms of problem-solving skills, the findings show that learners also demonstrate moderate proficiency. Importantly, the analysis reveals that demographic factors such as age, and gender, and significantly related to problem-solving abilities, indicating that these skills are influenced more by other factors. The study concludes that enhancing instructional strategies and providing targeted support can significantly improve both vocabulary and problem-solving skills. Engaging parents in their children's education and offering additional resources can further bolster these efforts. Future research should explore other influential factors and effective interventions to support the mathematical development of Grade IV learners, thereby laying a stronger foundation for their continued academic success.

The Role of Education in Promoting Empowerment as Agency in the Lives of Women and Girls in Somaliland

This article draws on 100 qualitative interviews with young women who participated in a girls’ education programme known as SOMGEP (Somali Girls Education Programme). The underpinning research sought to explore the impact of SOMGEP education on and for the later life outcomes of the participating girls now women. Researchers were able to revisit former SOMGEP students 7 years after the end of the programme. The findings made links between higher levels of educational attendance and attainment and its positive impact on agency. What also emerged was the ways in which the expression of agency is hampered by wider contextual factors that often act as a backlash to the transformative potential of a secular education.

Carsharing in China: Impact of system and urban factors on usage and efficiency

The carsharing service has experienced significant growth over the past few years in China, yet few studies have scrutinized the multi-city variations of this service. Using carsharing data from 61 cities in China, we analyzed the usage and efficiency of each city and investigated the impact of system and urban factors on the service performance. The study reveals vast differences in carsharing supply and demand across Chinese cities. Our results show the parking station density and the parking lot to vehicle ratio of the carsharing system are positively related to the usage. Urban factors such as public transportation availability, educational attainment levels, and vehicle restriction policies, are found to have significantly positive associations with the carsharing usage. However, no urban factors demonstrate significant associations with the efficiency measured by vehicle utilization rate. Moreover, the presence of other competing carsharing services within a city exhibits a positive impact on the performance of carsharing systems. This study also examined nonlinear effects of the factors. It provides valuable insights into the management of carsharing services in China, which can inform policy-making and operational strategies for sustainable development of carsharing.

On being a foodie: Food literacy, involvement, and disgust

Foodies, despite representing a significant and important consumer segment globally, are not well characterized in the scholarly literature. In this study we examine the association between foodiness and food literacy, involvement, and disgust; factors known to mediate several dimensions of food behaviour. A sample of 617 Canadian youth (18–25 yrs.) completed a 25-item food literacy scale, the 8-item Food Disgust Scale (English version), and the Food Involvement Scale. Foodiness and foodie status (foodie or non-foodie) were determined using the modified Foodie Index. Results show that foodies (n = 204) are more food literate overall than non-foodies (n = 203) (Kruskal-Wallis H test), and score higher across all five subscales. They also have a higher level of general education attainment (Chi-square test). Unexpectedly, foodies also display higher food disgust than non-foodies (Kruskal-Wallis H test). We also show that the foodie construct is more complex than and qualitatively distinct from food involvement. Our findings should assist food marketers and retailers in market segmentation initiatives, and in aligning their products and services with the features and needs of those segments. Additionally, we discuss implications for education and policy strategies aimed at improving food literacy, and identify future research needs.

Public health efforts to prevent expansion of alcohol retail availability in neighbourhoods with factors associated with high rates of alcohol-related harms: A case report.

This commentary illustrates a recent case study within Ontario, Canada, in which the application of sociodemographic and health data was used by public health to support a legal case to oppose a retail licence application to consume liquor at a corner store located within a neighbourhood that has experienced low socio-economic factors, including low income, high unemployment and low educational attainment levels. Communities in a similar situation may draw from this situation to prevent expansion of alcohol retail availability in neighbourhoods that have low socio-economic status populations and high unemployment and other factors associated with high rates of alcohol-related harms.

Risk and protective factors for self-harm and suicide behaviours among serving and ex-serving personnel of the UK Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force: A systematic review.

Self-harm and suicide behaviours are a major public health concern. Several factors are associated with these behaviours among military communities. Identifying these factors may have important implications for policy and clinical services. The aim of this review was to identify the risk and protective factors associated with self-harm and suicide behaviours among serving and ex-serving personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force. A systematic search of seven online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Global Health, PsycINFO, PTSDpubs and CINAHL) was conducted alongside cross-referencing, in October 2022. Following an a priori PROSPERO approved protocol (CRD42022348867), papers were independently screened and assessed for quality. Data were synthesised using a narrative approach. Overall, 28 papers were included: 13 from Canada, 10 from the United Kingdom, five from Australia and none from New Zealand. Identified risk factors included being single/ex-relationship, early service leavers, shorter length of service (but not necessarily early service leavers), junior ranks, exposure to deployment-related traumatic events, physical and mental health diagnoses, and experience of childhood adversity. Protective factors included being married/in a relationship, higher educational attainment, employment, senior ranks, and higher levels of perceived social support. Adequate care and support are a necessity for the military community. Prevention and intervention strategies for self-harm and suicide behaviours may be introduced early and may promote social networks as a key source of support. This review found a paucity of peer-reviewed research within some populations. More peer-reviewed research is needed, particularly among these populations where current work is limited, and regarding modifiable risk and protective factors.

Institutional ownership and women representation on boards in three different institutional settings

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the moderating effect of country level institutional variables on the relationship between institutional ownership and board gender diversity. Using firm and country level data of three different cultural environments (Gulf Cooperation Council countries, UK, and France) for the years 2018–2019, this study concludes that institutional elements related to women (Women Tertiary education levels; legal support, Economic Participation and culture) create isomorphic pressure on firms that enhance the role of institutional owners in increasing women representation on board of directors. Other governance elements, such as ownership concentration, board independence and board size may indicate governance levels better than board gender diversity in certain institutional environments. The study recommended that board gender diversity should not be a priority for investors and portfolio managers in financial markets where reduced female labor market participation exists. Moreover, quotas may be a good tool for enhancing female representation among boards in contexts that have reduced female labor market participation and high levels of tertiary education attainment to maintain corporate sustainability.

Longitudinal gambling risk transitions: evidence from a nationally representative Australian sample

Aims Problem gambling has downstream consequences on individuals, families and the community. While a strong research base now exists on predictors and outcomes of problem gambling risk and severity, few studies have examined the transitions in gambling risk status over time, and factors associated with these transitions. Methods The current study addresses this knowledge gap by examining gambling transitions using two waves of longitudinal, population-representative Australian data (N = 12,364) collected in 2015 and 2018. Focal to our approach is the assessment of predictors of gambling risk status including demographics, and key psychosocial factors that might attenuate the risk of transition into more severe gambling. Results The results show significant stability in gambling risk over time, particularly among individuals who reported no or low gambling risk. Gambling risk transitions were more likely to occur toward less severe than more severe levels of gambling. Furthermore, gambling problems tended to persist in more severe levels of gambling risk. Financial hardship, younger age, male gender, experience of hardship, lower levels of educational attainment, chronic health conditions, risky levels of alcohol consumption, living in low SES areas, and low sense of mastery were associated with transitions from low to more severe gambling over the three-year period. There were no significant predictors of transitions to lower levels of gambling risk in the current data. Conclusions Our findings can help inform public health interventions by better targeting individuals at elevated risk for more severe gambling over time, and we outline a method for analyzing transitions in longitudinal datasets that can be applied in future studies in addiction.

Widening Educational Disparities in Health and Longevity

Educational attainment level has long been a strong predictor of adult health and longevity in the United States. Interestingly, the association between education and these outcomes has strengthened in recent decades. Since the 1980s, higher-educated adults have experienced favorable trends in health and longevity, while lower-educated adults have experienced stagnation or unfavorable trends. Studies have provided important clues about why the association between education and health and longevity has strengthened over time. However, explanations remain incomplete and contested. This article discusses key findings and debates about why the association has become stronger and offers recommendations to advance robust explanations. Two key recommendations call for a fundamental shift in how researchers conceptualize and study the increasingly strong association. These include (a) reconsidering which education groups should be viewed as normative in analyses of the trends and (b) elevating attention on contexts, institutions, and actors that have had an outsized influence on the trends.

Women Who Stopped Working Due to Their Husband’s Opposition in Egypt

Abstract This paper investigates a neglected reason underlying the low female labor participation rates in Egypt: husbands’ opposition. We find that opposition falls with increasing levels of educational attainment and chronological age of the husband. Age at first marriage, religious affiliation, wealth, and the extent to which a husband upholds traditional views regarding the participation of women in the labor market and gender equality in general were not significant. We also report an inverse relationship between the likelihood of husband’s opposition and the number of children in the household, which suggests that financial considerations may outstrip normative considerations.

Analysis on the willingness and influencing factors of choosing hospice care service institutions among among older people in Wuhu, China: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the inclination and determinants influencing the selection of hospice care service institutions among elderly individuals in China.DesignThe study conducted has a cross-sectional...

Proximity to public green spaces and depressive symptoms among South African residents: a population-based study

BackgroundExposure to green spaces has been suggested to improve mental health and may reduce the risk of depression. However, there is generally limited evidence on the association between green spaces and depression originating from low-and middle-income countries and Africa in particular. Here, we investigate the association between proximity to public green spaces and depressive symptoms among residents of Gauteng Province, South Africa.MethodsWe used data from the 2017/2018 Gauteng quality of life survey. We included all individuals aged 18 years or older residing in the nine municipalities of Gauteng Province that completed the survey (n = 24,341). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2. Proximity to public green spaces was defined as self-reported walking time (either less or greater than 15 min) from individuals’ homes to the nearest public green space. To assess the association between access to public green spaces and depressive symptoms, we used mixed-effects models, adjusted for age, sex, population group (African, Indian/Asian, Coloured (mixed race), and White), educational attainment, and municipality. We additionally performed stratified analyses by age, sex, educational attainment, and population group to evaluate whether associations differed within subgroups. Associations are expressed as prevalence ratios (PR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsWe observed a 6% (PR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.92–0.96) prevalence reduction in depressive symptoms for individuals who reported that the nearest public green space was less than 15 min from their homes as compared to those who reported > 15 min. After stratification, this inverse association was stronger among females, individuals aged 35–59 years,those with higher levels of educational attainment, and Coloured individuals as compared to their counterparts.ConclusionOur findings suggest that public green spaces close to residential homes may be associated with a reduction in the occurrence of depressive symptoms among urban populations in resource-constrained settings like South Africa.

The impact of COVID-19 school disruptions on children’s learning

IntroductionNational health policies to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the US resulted in widespread school closures and disrupted learning in Spring 2020.MethodsThis study draws on unique individual-level data from n = 282 5–12 year olds enrolled in the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Research Program to investigate associations between caregiver-reported duration of Spring 2020 learning disruptions and academic achievement.ResultsLinear regression analyses estimated that children who experienced more than 4 weeks of instruction disruptions in Spring 2020 scored 4.5 points [95% CI: −8.77, −0.22] lower on age-normed math assessments compared to peers who had four or fewer weeks of disruption, adjusting for sociodemographic variables, pre-pandemic vocabulary, and COVID-19 family hardships and stress. No differences were found for reading. Children whose caregivers had higher levels of pandemic-related traumatic stress and lower educational attainment also had lower math scores, adjusting for all other covariates.DiscussionResults suggest educators and schools focus additional attention on supporting math instruction for children who experienced extended learning disruptions.

A longitudinal study of symptom cluster latent profiles in ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

This study aimed to identify distinct patterns within the symptom cluster of fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance among ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, to determine the factors predicting these patterns and their impact on quality of life. The longitudinal study collected data from 151 ovarian cancer patients at three time points: before chemotherapy (T0), after the first chemotherapy cycle (T1), and following the completion of four cycles of chemotherapy (T2). Latent profile analysis and latent transition analysis were used to identify symptom patterns and evaluate changes in symptom patterns. A bias-adjusted three-step approach was utilized to examine predictor variables and distal outcomes associated with latent class membership. Three symptom patterns emerged: "All Low," "Moderate" (T0)/"Low pain and high sleep disturbance" (T1 and T2), and "All High." Patients with lower educational attainment and higher levels of anxiety and depression were found to be at an elevated risk of belonging to the "All High" class. All quality-of-life domains showed significant differences among the three subgroups, following an "All Low" > "All High" pattern (p < 0.05). Membership in three classes remained relatively stable over time, with probabilities of 0.749 staying within their groups from T0 to T2. This study underscores the existence of a diverse and heterogeneous experience within the symptom cluster of fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance among ovarian cancer patients. Importantly, these patterns were stable throughout chemotherapy. Recognizing and understanding these patterns can inform the development of targeted interventions to alleviate the burden of symptom clusters in this population.

Using latent class analysis to investigate enduring effects of intersectional social disadvantage on long-term vocational and financial outcomes in the 20-year prospective Chicago Longitudinal Study.

Class and social disadvantage have long been identified as significant factors in the etiology and epidemiology of psychosis. Few studies have explicitly examined the impact of intersecting social disadvantage on long-term employment and financial independence. We applied latent class analysis (LCA) to 20-year longitudinal data from participants with affective and non-affective psychosis (n = 256) within the Chicago Longitudinal Research. LCA groups were modeled using multiple indicators of pre-morbid disadvantage (parental social class, educational attainment, race, gender, and work and social functioning prior to psychosis onset). The comparative longitudinal work and financial functioning of LCA groups were then examined. We identified three distinct latent classes: one comprised entirely of White participants, with the highest parental class and highest levels of educational attainment; a second predominantly working-class group, with equal numbers of Black and White participants; and a third with the lowest parental social class, lowest levels of education and a mix of Black and White participants. The latter, our highest social disadvantage group experienced significantly poorer employment and financial outcomes at all time-points, controlling for diagnosis, symptoms, and hospitalizations prior to baseline. Contrary to our hypotheses, on most measures, the two less disadvantaged groups did not significantly differ from each other. Our analyses add to a growing literature on the impact of multiple forms of social disadvantage on long-term functional trajectories, underscoring the importance of proactive attention to sociostructural disadvantage early in treatment, and the development and evaluation of interventions designed to mitigate ongoing social stratification.

Socioeconomic position indicators and risk of alcohol-related medical conditions: A national cohort study from Sweden.

Alcohol consumption contributes to excess morbidity and mortality in part through the development of alcohol-related medical conditions (AMCs, including alcoholic cardiomyopathy, hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc.). The current study aimed to clarify the extent to which risk for these outcomes differs as a function of socioeconomic position (SEP), as discrepancies could lead to exacerbated health disparities. We used longitudinal Swedish national registries to estimate the individual and joint associations between 2 SEP indicators, educational attainment and income level, and risk of AMC based on International Classification of Diseases codes, while controlling for other sociodemographic covariates and psychiatric illness. We conducted Cox proportional hazards models in sex-stratified analyses (N = 1,162,679 females and N = 1,196,659 males), beginning observation at age 40 with follow-up through December 2018, death, or emigration. By the end of follow-up, 4,253 (0.37%) females and 11,183 (0.93%) males had received an AMC registration, corresponding to overall AMC incidence rates among females and males of 2.01 and 5.20, respectively. In sex-stratified models adjusted for birth year, marital status, region of origin, internalizing and externalizing disorder registrations, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) registration, lower educational attainment was associated with higher risk of AMC in both females (hazard ratios [HRs] = 1.40 to 2.46 for low- and mid-level educational attainment across 0 to 15 years of observation) and males (HRs = 1.13 to 1.48). Likewise, risk of AMC was increased for those with lower income levels (females: HRs = 1.10 to 5.86; males: HRs = 1.07 to 6.41). In secondary analyses, we further adjusted for aggregate familial risk of AUD by including family genetic risk scores for AUD (FGRSAUD), estimated using medical, pharmacy, and criminal registries in extended families, as covariates. While FGRSAUD were associated with risk of AMC in adjusted models (HR = 1.17 for females and HR = 1.21 for males), estimates for education and income level remained largely unchanged. Furthermore, FGRSAUD interacted with income level, but not education level, such that those at higher familial liability to AUD were more susceptible to the adverse effect of low income. Limitations of these analyses include the possibility of false negatives for psychiatric illness registrations, changes in income after age 40 that were not accounted for due to modeling restrictions, restriction to residents of a high-income country, and the inability to account for individual-level alcohol consumption using registry data. Using comprehensive national registry data, these analyses demonstrate that individuals with lower levels of education and/or income are at higher risk of developing AMC. These associations persist even when accounting for a range of sociodemographic, psychiatric, and familial risk factors. Differences in risk could contribute to further health disparities, potentially warranting increased screening and prevention efforts in clinical and public health settings.

The impact of smart city construction (SCC) on pollution emissions (PE): evidence from China

Based on panel data from 210 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2021, this study employs the Time-Varying Differences-in-Differences (Time-Varying DID) approach to systematically examine the impact of smart city construction on pollution emissions and its underlying mechanisms. Additionally, the Propensity Score Matching–Differences-in-Differences method is employed for further validation. The research findings indicate that Smart City Construction (SCC) significantly reduces urban Volume of Sewage Discharge (VSD), sulfur dioxide emissions (SO2), and Emissions of Fumes and Dust (EFD), thereby mitigating pollution emissions (PE) and enhancing environmental quality. Mechanism analysis reveals that SCC achieves these effects through scale effects, structural effects, and technological effects. City heterogeneity analysis shows that provincial capital cities exhibit a stronger suppression effect on pollution emissions compared to non-provincial capital cities. Moreover, cities with lower levels of education attainment demonstrate a stronger ability to curb pollution emissions, while larger cities exhibit a more pronounced impact on mitigating pollution emissions. The marginal contributions of this study mainly consist of three aspects: Firstly, it enriches the literature on environmental impact factors by assessing, for the first time, the influence of SCC on PE. Secondly, a comprehensive approach is employed, integrating VSD, EFD, SO2 data, and economic and pollution data at the city level. Time-Varying DID is used to evaluate the policy effects of SCC. Finally, the study analyzes the impact mechanisms of SCC policy on environmental emissions from various perspectives.

The effect of educational attainment on birthrate in Japan: an analysis using the census and the vital statistics from 2000 to 2020

BackgroundIn Japan, difference in birth rates depending on educational attainment has not been investigated. This study aimed to reveal birth rates in Japan depending on the highest level of educational attainment and their trends over the years using nationwide government statistics data.MethodsIndividual-level data from Vital Statistics and the Census from 2000, 2010, and 2020 were used for birth and population data, respectively. Data linkage was conducted for males and females in the Census and fathers and mothers in the Vital Statistics using information about gender, household, nationality, marital status, birth year, birth month, prefecture, and municipality for individuals. The birth rate was calculated by gender, a five-year age group, the highest level of educational attainment achieved, and year. In addition, the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) were calculated to evaluate the degree of inequality in birth rates, depending on the educational attainment.ResultsBirth rates were higher in persons with lower educational attainment compared to those with a higher educational attainment among males and females in their twenties, while they tended to be higher in persons with higher educational attainment among those in their thirties and forties. Additionally, an increase in the birth rate from 2000 to 2020 was the largest in university graduates among males aged 25–49 years and women aged 30–49 years, and a decrease in the birth rate was the smallest in university graduates among males and females aged 20–24 years. As a result, SII and RII increased from 2000 to 2020 among males and females in their thirties and forties.ConclusionsIn conclusion, persons with higher educational attainment tended to have a relatively favorable trend in the birth rate compared with persons with lower educational attainment in recent decades. It suggested that enhanced administrative support for individuals with lower educational attainment or lower socioeconomic status may be required to ameliorate the declining birth rate in Japan.

Association and mediation between educational attainment and respiratory diseases: a Mendelian randomization study

BackgroundRespiratory diseases are a major health burden, and educational inequalities may influence disease prevalence. We aim to evaluate the causal link between educational attainment and respiratory disease, and to determine the mediating influence of several known modifiable risk factors.MethodsWe conducted a two-step, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables for educational attainment and respiratory diseases. Additionally, we performed a multivariable MR analysis to estimate the direct causal effect of each exposure variable included in the analysis on the outcome, conditional on the other exposure variables included in the model. The mediating roles of body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and smoking were also assessed.FindingsMR analyses provide evidence of genetically predicted educational attainment on the risk of FEV1 (β = 0.10, 95% CI 0.06, 0.14), FVC (β = 0.12, 95% CI 0.07, 0.16), FEV1/FVC (β = − 0.005, 95% CI − 0.05, 0.04), lung cancer (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.45, 0.65) and asthma (OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.78, 0.94). Multivariable MR dicated the effect of educational attainment on FEV1 (β = 0.10, 95% CI 0.04, 0.16), FVC (β = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01, 0.12), FEV1/FVC (β = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01, 0.01), lung cancer (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.42, 0.71) and asthma (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.78, 0.99) persisted after adjusting BMI and cigarettes per day. Of the 23 potential risk factors, BMI, smoking may partially mediate the relationship between education and lung disease.ConclusionHigh levels of educational attainment have a potential causal protective effect on respiratory diseases. Reducing smoking and adiposity may be a target for the prevention of respiratory diseases attributable to low educational attainment.

Analyzing the Relationship between Online Purchasing Behavior and Levels of Educational Attainment in the Slovak Republic

Objective - The global surge in internet purchases drives economic growth and contributes significantly to developed countries' improved living standards. Methodology/Technique - This unprecedented e-commerce boom, facilitated by the convenience of round-the-clock online shopping, has reshaped consumer behavior. Within this landscape, educational level emerges as a prominent demographic determinant influencing online purchasing patterns. The Slovak Republic has experienced an upward trajectory in internet purchases across various educational segments, highlighting a growing preference for online shopping experiences. Findings – However, it is important to note that a discernible gap in online shopping behavior persists between these educational strata. Moreover, Slovakia's achievement of its convergence goal, aligning with the European Union's admission average, underscores its commitment to growth and development. This accomplishment highlights the nation's progress and reflects the pivotal role of e-commerce in shaping economic trajectories. Novelty - We analyze the trend of online shopping in Slovakia compared to the EU 27 average and top-performing countries, finding that Slovakia exhibits a steeper trend, especially among highly educated individuals. In an era where online interactions and transactions have become integral to daily life, the nexus between educational attainment, online purchasing behavior, and economic advancement demands continued research and analysis. Type of Paper: Empirical JEL Classification: M32, D12, L81 Keywords: E-commerce, Education level, Slovak Republic, Internet purchases, Convergence Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Fedorko, R; Kizák, M; Župina, D. (2024). Analyzing the Relationship between Online Purchasing Behavior and Levels of Educational Attainment in the Slovak Republic, J. Mgt. Mkt. Review, 9(1), 35 – 48. https://doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2024.9.1(4)