Nationally-representative Sample Of Adults Research Articles

PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF WORKPLACE-BASED AGE DISCRIMINATION IN AUSTRALIA

The Australian Human Rights Commission in 2011 appointed an Age Discrimination Commissioner who has conducted widely publicized campaigns to improve attitudes to ageing and combat ageism. This paper examines perceptions and experiences of age discrimination in the workplace among Australians aged 18+ years, with a focus on those aged 55+ years. Data are from a representative national sample of adults in the Australian Attitudes to Ageing (AAA) study conducted as a component of the Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (AuSSA) in 2015–16 (n=1211). Results show that overall 46% of people perceived age discrimination to be common in Australia. Participants believed that compared to younger workers, older workers (55+ years) were more likely to be made redundant (82%), less likely to be promoted (72%), and more likely to have difficulty adapting to change (59%). The majority disagreed that they were less productive than younger workers (74%). In regards to experiencing age discrimination, younger people (18–24 years), were more likely to report age as a factor in being turned down for a position (23%), being treated with disrespect (53%) and being ignored (41%). Significant differences were found in terms of age and gender, for example, more women reported they had been ignored (31%) and treated with disrespect (30%). The findings are interpreted in the context of Government policies, demonstration projects, and other interventions intended to maintain workforce participation and increase self-funded retirement as responses to population ageing.

Analyzing Social Change with the Polish Panel Survey, POLPAN 1988–2013

In the Introduction to this special issue of the International Journal of Sociology we illustrate the centrality of the Polish Panel Survey POLPAN to empirical research on main social, economic and political phenomena that shape the social structure. POLPAN 1988–2013 is the longest continuously run panel survey in Central and Eastern Europe that focuses on changes in the social structure with individuals as the units of analysis. To date, it is the only research worldwide that collects, for a length of 25 years, life histories from a nationally-representative sample of adults, and that also opens the possibility of panel research on renewal samples of the young. Thanks to the expanded samples of young respondents, scholars can also use POLPAN for cohort analyses. We discuss the role of POLPAN also in light of its history: POLPAN started as a government-funded project in state socialist Poland, and its subsequent waves capture all pivotal moments of contemporary Poland: the post-communist transformation, the joining of the EU, and the 2008 global economic crisis and its aftermath. Thus, the panel data are uniquely suited for analyzing how individuals influence the social structure while being influenced by it. We end this Introduction with a summary of the four papers included in the Special Issue, all of which employ data from the POLPAN project.

Patterns of productive activity engagement among older adults in urban China.

This study aims to identify patterns of productive activity engagement among older adults in urban China. Once patterns are identified, we further explore how a set of individual characteristics is associated with these patterns. Using data from the 2011 baseline survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we performed a latent class analysis (LCA) on a national representative sample of adults aged 60years and over (N=3019). A specified range of productive activity indicators that fit the context of urban China was used for performing LCA (including working, grandchildren's care, parental care, spousal care, informal helping, and formal volunteering). A multinomial logistic regression was used to assess whether individual characteristics are associated with the identified patterns. The results indicated that a four-class model fit the data well, with the interpretable set of classes: spouse carer (51.2%), working grandparents (21.7%), multifaceted contributor (16.6%), and light-engaged volunteer (10.5%). Age, gender, education, number of children, proximity with the nearest child, household composition and functional status contributed to differentiating these classes. This study captured the reality of productive engagement among older adults by drawing attention to how multiple productive activities intersect in later-life stages. Our findings have implications for policy-makers, health care practitioners, and community advocates to develop programs that facilitate this aging population in assuming meaningful productive activities.

Development of a Model to Estimate Body Fat Percentage using Decision Tree Analysis

Body fat percentage (BF%) prediction models based on anthropometric measurements have been widely used because of their practicality and moderate accuracy; however, most of the prediction models rely on complex equations that may be impractical for everyday use. PURPOSE: To develop a user-friendly model to estimate BF% using decision tree (DT) analysis from a national representative sample of adults. METHODS: Data (age≥18 years; n=7,161; male=3,109) from the 2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were divided into 80% training and 20% testing splits using a simple random sampling method. BF% was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), a criterion measure of BF%. Fifteen anthropometrics and demographics related variables were considered as predictors. Multiple DTs were constructed using chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) and classification and regression trees (CART) methods using data from training split. A parsimony DT with the lowest risk estimate was selected. The chosen DT was further validated using data from testing split. The accuracy of the DT was evaluated by R2 and root mean square error (RMSE) against BF% measured by DEXA. RESULTS: Average age, body mass index (BMI), and BF% were 44.78±.38 years, 23.62±.05 kg/m2, and 27.05±.16 %, respectively. The best model for estimation of BF% was a DT from CART method, consisting of 5 levels and 4 predictors (risk estimate=13.98; # of terminal nodes=21). The first level was sex. The second and third levels were waist circumference (WC) and BMI for males and females, respectively. The fourth and fifth levels were combinations of WC, BMI, and age. BF% estimated by the DT accounted for 73% of the variation in criterion-measured BF% with a RMSE of 4.03% in the data from testing split. CONCLUSION: The new model using DT analysis to estimate BF% had moderate R2 and small RMSE in a national representative sample of Korean adults. In addition, BF% can be estimated much easier by following the DT map (i.e., flow chart) compared with other equation models. This new algorithm can be a useful and practical method for estimating BF% with reasonable accuracy for Korean adults.

(138) Self-reported and objectively monitored physical activity in a nationally-representative sample of adults with and without chronic pain

(138) Self-reported and objectively monitored physical activity in a nationally-representative sample of adults with and without chronic pain

What Factors are Associated with Flourishing? Results from a Large Representative National Sample

Flourishing is the ultimate end-state in psychology and a key-concept in the field of positive psychology research. Flourishers are those individuals with both high levels of hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being. Although many researchers have focused on one or another of these domains, only a few have investigated the comprehensive state of flourishing. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of flourishing and its association with socio-demographics, personality traits and situational factors. This study used data from the second wave of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2), a national representative sample of adults in The Netherlands (n = 5303; 2010–2012). Findings were compared to having either high hedonic well-being or high eudaimonic well-being. Results showed that 37 % of the respondents were flourishers, mainly characterized by high levels of conscientiousness and extraversion and low levels of neuroticism. The situational factors of social support and positive life-events were significantly associated with flourishing when the analysis was controlled for socio-demographics and personality traits. Flourishing was most distinct from high hedonic well-being and showed parallelism with high eudaimonic well-being. More research is needed to establish a preferred flourishing instrument with validated cut-off points for flourishing and to understand the processes of situational factors that may underlie the promotion of flourishing. We recommend longitudinal designs and experience sampling studies to investigate the unique and modifiable predictors of flourishing. In addition, future research should include intervention studies that examine through which hedonic and eudaimonic pathways flourishing can be achieved.

Equality Hypocrisy, Inconsistency, and Prejudice: The Unequal Application of the Universal Human Right to Equality.

In Western culture, there appears to be widespread endorsement of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (which stresses equality and freedom). But do people really apply their equality values equally, or are their principles and application systematically discrepant, resulting in equality hypocrisy? The present study, conducted with a representative national sample of adults in the United Kingdom (N = 2,895), provides the first societal test of whether people apply their value of “equality for all” similarly across multiple types of status minority (women, disabled people, people aged over 70, Blacks, Muslims, and gay people). Drawing on theories of intergroup relations and stereotyping we examined, relation to each of these groups, respondents’ judgments of how important it is to satisfy their particular wishes, whether there should be greater or reduced equality of employment opportunities, and feelings of social distance. The data revealed a clear gap between general equality values and responses to these specific measures. Respondents prioritized equality more for “paternalized” groups (targets of benevolent prejudice: women, disabled, over 70) than others (Black people, Muslims, and homosexual people), demonstrating significant inconsistency. Respondents who valued equality more, or who expressed higher internal or external motivation to control prejudice, showed greater consistency in applying equality. However, even respondents who valued equality highly showed significant divergence in their responses to paternalized versus nonpaternalized groups, revealing a degree of hypocrisy. Implications for strategies to promote equality and challenge prejudice are discussed.

Polytraumatization in an adult national sample and its association with psychological distress and self-esteem.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of self-reported experiences of potential childhood traumas and polytraumatization, and to find cut-off values for different kinds of potential traumatic events in a national representative sample of adults in Sweden. In addition, to analyse the association between polytraumatization and both psychological distress and global self-esteem.MethodA web-based survey - containing SCL-25 and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Linköping Difficult Life Events Scale - Adult - was sent out to a nationally reprative sample and 5062 people chose to participate in the study.ResultsResults showed that almost everyone (97%) has experienced at least one potential traumatic event and that polytraumatization (the 10% of the participants with most reported traumas) was significantly (Z = 12.57, P < 0.001, r = 0.18) associated with psychological distress and global self-esteem. Gender differences were significant (Z = 8.44, P < 0.001, r = 0.12), in that men experience more noninterpersonal traumas but women report more symptoms. The effect sizes regarding the impact of potential trauma on self-esteem were largest for women with experience of polytraumatization in the age group 18–25 (r = 0.48). There was almost linear increase in psychological distress and linear decrease in self-esteem with increasing number of traumatic events experienced.ConclusionExperience of polytrauma can be considered an important factor to take into account in psychiatric settings as well.

Does lacking threat-management resources increase information avoidance? A multi-sample, multi-method investigation

Are people who lack personal and interpersonal resources are more likely to avoid learning potentially threatening information? We conducted four studies assessing three different populations (undergraduates, high school students, and a nationally-representative sample of adults), using a variety of measures and methods (e.g., single and multi-item self-report measures, a behavioral measure, social network analysis), across three information contexts (i.e., general health information, specific disease risk, socially-evaluative information). The consistent finding is that people who lack personal and interpersonal resources to manage threat are more likely to avoid learning potentially-threatening information. The results indicate that personal and interpersonal resources represent generalizable and robust predictors of information avoidance.

Energy and nutrient intakes among Sri Lankan adults.

IntroductionThe epidemic of nutrition related non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity has reached to epidemic portion in the Sri Lanka. However, to date, detailed data on food consumption in the Sri Lankan population is limited. The aim of this study is to identify energy and major nutrient intake among Sri Lankan adults.MethodsA nationally-representative sample of adults was selected using a multi-stage random cluster sampling technique.ResultsData from 463 participants (166 Males, 297 Females) were analyzed. Total energy intake was significantly higher in males (1913 ± 567 kcal/d) than females (1514 ± 458 kcal/d). However, there was no significant gender differences in the percentage of energy from carbohydrate (Male: 72.8 ± 6.4%, Female: 73.9 ± 6.7%), fat (Male: 19.9 ± 6.1%, Female: 18.5 ± 5.7%) and proteins (Male: 10.6 ± 2.1%, Female: 10.9 ± 5.6%).ConclusionThe present study provides the first national estimates of energy and nutrient intake of the Sri Lankan adult population.

The Ins and Outs of the Self: Contrasting Role Exits and Role Entries as Predictors of Self-concept Clarity

A variety of role exits and role entries were examined as potential predictors of self-concept clarity. Using a large, nationally-representative sample of adults, we assessed the number of role exits and role entries each respondent had experienced in the past year. Although both role exits and role entries were negatively correlated with self-concept clarity, subsequent analyses indicated that only role exits significantly predicted self-concept clarity when controlling for demographics, physical health, and self-esteem. Additionally, we found moderate support for a model in which these patterns of results are mediated by increased social isolation and reduced stability of behavioral routines. We discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of major life transitions and the psychological impact of social roles.

Recent criminal offending and suicide attempts: a national sample

Few studies have assessed the risk of suicide and suicidal behavior among the community-residing population with recent criminal justice involvement despite evidence of high rates of suicide in jails and prisons. This study assessed the association between recent arrest history and a suicide attempt in the previous year including multiple arrests and specific offense categories using a national representative sample of adults. Data were derived from 2 years of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008 and 2010), a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of non-institutionalized US adults. Suicide attempts in the previous year based on self-report were assessed in relation to recent arrest history while accounting for socio-demographic factors, mental and physical health status and substance use. Suicide attempts in the previous year are relatively common among those with recent arrests (2.3 %) compared to the general US population (0.4 %), with much higher prevalence among those with multiple recent arrests or charges (4.5 %). The prevalence of recent suicide attempts among those with multiple recent arrests was highest among adults aged 25-34 (5.7 %), with similar risks between men and women, and across racial and ethnic subgroups. There was no association between arrests prior to the most recent year and recent suicide attempts. Suicide attempts are common among the non-institutionalized population of US adults with recent criminal justice involvement. Suicide prevention efforts in the criminal justice system should extend to clients who remain in the community both during and immediately following periods of court-processing. Future research is needed to better identify case and client characteristics indicating the highest suicide risk.

Abstract P30: Gender-Specific Profiles of Lifestyle Behaviors Among US Adults Treated for Hypertension

Background: The 7th Joint National Committee (JNC7) recommends lifestyle behavior modification as an essential strategy in the management of hypertension. Purpose: To identify gender-specific profiles among multiple JNC7-recommended lifestyle behaviors in a nationally-representative sample of adults on antihypertensive medications. Methods: We used data from the 2009 CDC Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Study on adults (age ≥18years) taking antihypertensive medications. Latent class mixture modeling (with sampling weights) was applied to identify common profiles among ordered categories of physical activity, fruit/vegetable consumption, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and smoking in models stratified by gender. Lo-Mendell-Rubin tests were used to compare model solutions (k vs. k-1 profiles). Within-profile gender differences were quantified using χ2 tests. Results are reported in weighted means or proportions ± standard errors. Results: Mean age (population estimate=45,703,441) was 61.1±0.1 years; 51% of the sample was female. Lifestyle behaviors fit best into three profiles for both women and men (both P&lt;0.05). Hallmarks of profile 1 (35.9% of women, 37.3% of men) were high prevalence of physical activity, low prevalence of obesity, and frequent fruit/vegetable consumption. Hallmarks of profile 2 (52.2% of women, 52.5% of men) were very high prevalence of insufficient physical activity, very high prevalence of obesity, and moderate-to-low fruit/vegetable consumption. Hallmark of profile 3 (11.9% of women, 11.1% of men) were current smoking, high prevalence of insufficient/no physical activity, high prevalence of obesity, poor fruit/vegetable consumption, and the highest prevalence of alcohol consumption. Within each profile, there were significant differences in each lifestyle behavior comparing women with men (all P&lt;1x10-7). Conclusions: We observed three distinct profiles that characterize a gradient of cardiovascular risk based on multiple modifiable lifestyle behaviors in hypertension that are different in women and men. Personalized and gender-specific interventions that focus on multiple lifestyle behaviors are needed to reduce cardiovascular risk in the treated hypertensive U.S. population.

Adequacy of follow-up after an abnormal fecal occult blood test (FOBT) result

6035 Background: Annual fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) is the only colon cancer screening shown to reduce colon cancer incidence and mortality in randomized controlled trials. The true benefits of screening are only realized when total colon examination (TCE) is performed as follow-up to an abnormal screening result. Methods: We used the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Cancer Control Supplement, a nationally representative sample of households, to examine follow-up after abnormal FOBT and the content of this follow-up. Persons who reported undergoing an FOBT were the population of interest. Reasons for FOBT, results of test, and follow-up after an abnormal FOBT were examined. Inadequate follow-up after a positive FOBT included no follow-up or another FOBT. TCE was defined as sigmoidoscopy with double contrast barium enema (DCBE) or colonoscopy. We used SUDAAN to obtain population estimates. Results: We included 4,908 respondents who indicated they had undergone FOBT (79.8% as part of the routine physical examination, 14.7% for a specific problem, 2.0% as follow-up of a previous abnormal test/screening examine, 1.4% family history). Overall, 5.7% of respondents reported an abnormal test, varying by reason for test (3.5% for screening and 16.9% for those who had FOBT done for a specific problem). For those reporting an abnormal FOBT during screening, 62.9% had some follow-up diagnostic procedures. Fifty-three percent reported having a TCE as defined above. Forty-seven percent either had no further evaluation, another FOBT or incomplete colon examination with sigmoidoscopy alone, and DCBE only or a surgical evaluation. Those who had FOBT completed for a specific problem had more surgical evaluations (18.4%) and fewer TCEs (44.3%). Conclusions: Among a nationally-representative sample of adults who reported FOBT as a screening test for colorectal cancer, close to 63% had some type of follow-up. Only 53% of those with a positive screening FOBT had a TCE. These results suggest that the full potential of CRC screening is not being realized, and point to the need to improve follow-up of abnormal FOBT results. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Intentional weight control and food choice habits in a national representative sample of adults in the UK.

To establish the association between intentional weight control and specific eating behaviours. An interview-based survey of a representative sample of the UK population including questions about demographic characteristics, weight and height, intentional weight control and eating behaviours. Associations among the eating behaviours, and between weight control and eating behaviours, were examined. 1894 men and women completed the interview (70% response rate). Approximately equal proportions of the sample were 'not bothered about weight' (30%), 'watching their weight' (36%), or 'trying to lose weight' (28%). More men were 'not bothered' and more women were 'trying to lose'. People who were trying to lose or were watching their weight were more likely to report restricting fats, sugars, snacks, and the amount eaten at meals, than those who were not bothered, but there were no differences between weight watchers and weight losers. The overall level of restriction among weight losers was modest. There were no group differences in eating breakfast, fruits or vegetables, skipping meals or fasting. Around two-thirds of the adult population of the UK appear to be concerned about weight control, and this is reflected in somewhat higher than average adherence to recommended restrictive dietary habits.

Suicidal ideation among the United States drinking population: results from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey.

Data from a national representative sample of adults was used to identify major risk factors of suicidal ideation among the U.S. drinking population. Data from a sample of 18,352 current drinkers, 18 years of age and older, were analyzed by means of multiple logistic regression analysis. In these analyses, multivariate associations were examined between risk factors for suicidal ideation and the occurrence of suicidal ideation. For men and women, past year major depression and alcohol dependence were identified as risk factors of suicidal ideation, with major depression having the more sizable impact. Suicidal ideation was increased among men with a past alcohol use disorder, and elevated among women who had used drugs nonmedically and developed a drug use disorder during the past year. The occurrence of a recent physical illness and lifetime treatment for major depression among men and women increased the risk of suicidal ideation, while marriage was protective against ideation for both sexes. Unemployment and having a family history of alcoholism increased the risk of suicidal ideation among men, but not women. Major findings are discussed in terms of the impact of severity versus chronicity of psychopathology on suicidal ideation, gender roles and differential engagement in suicidal ideation, and the recognition and treatment of major depression as the single most important intervention in reducing suicidal behavior.

A victimization survey of female-perpetrated assaults in the United Kingdom

A survey of a national representative sample of adults (1,455) in the United Kingdom investigated the incidence of female-perpetrated assault as had been experienced by adult male and female respondents in any context over the past five years. Sampling was undertaken throughout the United Kingdom by a self-completion instrument modeled on the Conflict Tactics Scale. Respondents reporting assault were also asked brief details about their assailant and the context of the assault (e.g., estimated age, relation to victim, and involvement of alcohol) and whether injury was suffered. Men reported being victimized by females more than women and experiencing the more severe forms of assault more than women. Single women were the most likely women to report a female assault, and approximately 50% of assaulted men reported that they experienced assault by a female intimate or ex-intimate. Aggr. Behav. 25:67–79, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The inner city and drug use: initial findings from an epidemiological study

Although scientific and policy statements regarding drugs often suggest that there are grave problems of drug use within America's inner cities, the evidence that supports these statements is often based on anecdotal or incomplete data. This study of African-American adults from the Woodlawn study followed longitudinally partially fills that gap, at least for learning more about those who spend some or all of their childhood within an inner city neighborhood. We found few differences between the lifetime prevalence of drug use and a national representative sample of adults of the same age range. Furthermore, a national household survey of African-Americans of similar age living in six central cities also reported low lifetime rates of illicit drug use. Nevertheless, those from the Woodlawn cohort had higher rates of use of illicit drugs in the past year than the national sample, especially those still living in areas with high rates of poverty. Additionally, reports of heavy drug trafficking were much greater in the inner city areas than in the suburbs.