Single Households Research Articles

Grocery purchase data in the study of alcohol use – A validity study

BackgroundAlcohol use epidemiology is facing challenges as survey response rates decline. In addition, population surveys fail to capture a large proportion of alcohol consumed and are expensive to conduct. This study aims to aid in complementing traditional epidemiological methods by validate grocery purchase data in the research on population alcohol use. MethodsThe LoCard study subjects were loyalty card holders of a grocery retail co-operative, which possessed more than 45 % market share in Finland. One third of those who consented to the analyses of their grocery purchases were presented a questionnaire including a Food Frequency Questionnaire on the web; N = 11,818 responded. The relationship between beer purchase frequency and self-reported beer drinking frequency was studied for association and agreement in different subgroups using crosstabulations and Poisson regression modeling. ResultsThe association between beer purchase frequency and self-reported beer drinking frequency was good (Gamma = .556). The agreement between beer purchase frequency and drinking frequency was only fair (Kappa = .189). Limiting the data to those single adult households that reported making at least 61 % of their grocery purchases from this grocery retailer and collapsing the frequency categories to three instead of six increased the agreement to good (Kappa = .463). ConclusionsInformation on beer purchase frequency from the loyalty card database can be used to rank people according to their drinking frequency and to estimate beer drinking frequency with fair to good accuracy, depending on what share of grocery purchases they make from the grocery retailer in question.

Undiscovered solitary deaths in the four largest cities in the Netherlands

BackgroundResearch has shown a higher prevalence of individuals lying dead unnoticed in their homes (domestic-setting corpses) in Amsterdam, compared to adjacent less urbanized cities and villages. ObjectiveTo determine if there is a difference in incidence of domestic-setting corpses in the four major cities in the Netherlands and identifying demographic patterns accounting for possible differences. MethodsData of domestic-setting corpses with a post mortem interval of at least 14 days were extracted from forensic registrations of the four largest cities in the Netherlands. These data were analysed using Poisson-regression and compared to numbers of Statistics Netherlands to calculate the incidence rate of domestic-setting corpses. Only single households were included. ResultsThe incidence of DSC14 is not significantly different between Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam. The incidence rate of DSC in these cities is almost twice as high compared to Utrecht (corrected for age and sex 1,9; 95% CI:1,1–3,0). Conclusion: The incidence rate of DSC14 is comparable in the three largest cities of the Netherlands, and significantly higher compared to the smallest of the four (Utrecht). Possibly the lower number in Utrecht is related to less loneliness, a higher social participation and a difference in architecture.

Conceptualizing Sustainable Livelihood for Single Parent Households

Poverty rates in Malaysia are shown to decline over the years. However, the decline in poverty rates do not necessarily reflect the overall socioeconomic status of the population. Absolute poverty may have decreased substantially but relative poverty remains as an issue that needs to be addressed rigorously. Poverty and single parenting have been widely documented in international as well as local literature. Factors such as the number of dependents, employment in the informal sector, unemployment, health issues, and low education attainment contribute to the economic and financial hardship of single parent households. These situations each on its own or exist concurrently threatened the wellbeing and standard of living of the single parent households. The occurrence of single-father households is deemed to be much lower than that of single mother households though the exact numbers is officially unavailable. Therefore, obtaining a sustainable source of livelihood is of paramount importance for single parents. Amidst insufficient institutional supports and probably familial supports as well, ensuring regular and dependable income become an issue that warrant further research. Hence, the purpose of this research is to evaluate and develop sustainable livelihood programs for single parent households from the poor families in a few villages in Baling, Kedah. We would adapt the method of action research used by Collins, Morduch, Rutherford, and Ruthven (2009) for this study.

1인 가구 소비자의 식기 구매동기에 관한 연구

본 연구의 목적은 1인 가구 소비자들이 식기 구매 시 구매행동을 유발하는 동기가 무엇인지 유형화하고 각 유형의 주관적 특성과 차별성을 분석하는데 있다. 이를 위해 총 40명의 P 표본과 37개의 Q 표본을 구성하여 분석을 수행하였다. Q 분석결과, 1인 가구 소비자의 식기 구매동기와 관련하여 총 4개의 유형으로 나타났다. 제1유형은 응답자의 30%에 해당하는 ‘스마트 소비형’이다. 이들은 이성적 소비와 감성적 소비 사이에서 똑똑한 소비 생활을 하는 특징을 가지고 있다. 제2유형은 응답자의 40%에 해당하며 ‘소비 거부자형’으로 자신이 소유하고 있는 기존의 것에 만족하며 더 이상 쓸데없는 소비를 하지 않으려는 특징을 가지고 있다. 제3유형은 응답자의 12.5%를 차지하는 소규모로 ‘과시적 소비자형’이다. 이들은 남에게 보여 지는 나의 모습이 더 과시되어 비치길 바라는 특징을 가지고 있다. 제4유형은 응답자의 17.5%로 ‘과시적 소비자형’으로 식기가 자신의 삶에서 투자할만한 가치가 있다고 생각하는 특징을 가지고 있다.

재난피해자의 회복탄력성에 영향을 미치는 요인에 관한 연구 -1인가구와 다인가구 비교를 중심으로

재난피해자의 회복탄력성에 영향을 미치는 요인에 관한 연구 -1인가구와 다인가구 비교를 중심으로

중국 복건성(福建省) 토루(土樓) 커뮤니티 가치의 1인 가구 공간에의 융합 가능성에 대한 연구

본 연구는 1인 가구의 커뮤니티 부재를 해소하고자 시작되었다. 본 연구는 중국 복건성(福建省) 토루(土樓)의 커뮤니티를 분석하여 해결 방향을 찾는 것이다. 1인 가구는 2019년 기준 전체 가구 2천11만6천 중 598만7천(29.8%)으로 우리 사회에서 가장 보편적인 가구 형태로 볼 수 있다. 1인 가구에는 다양한 문제가 있지만, 그중 심리적 불안감에 주목하였다. 아무리 혼자 사는 것을 택했다 하더라도, 심리 문제는 다른 사람과 커뮤니티를 맺어야 해소되는 문제라 할 수 있다. 따라서 본 논문은 그 해소 방법으로 커뮤니티를 제시하고자 시도하였다. 1인 가구의 문제에 관한 연구는 꾸준히 진행되었으나, 과거에서부터 그 해답을 찾고자 하는 접근으로 연구한 사례는 부족하다고 볼 수 있다. 중국 복건성(福建省) 토루(土樓) 600년째 커뮤니티가 유지되고 있는 공간이며, 1인 가구가 필요로 하는 개인적인 공간과 다수 커뮤니티 공간의 조화를 유지 하고 있다. 따라서 본 연구의 목적은 복건토루의 커뮤니티 요소를 현대 공간의 커뮤니티에 적용할 수 있는 요소를 분석하는 것이다. 첫째, 토루에 대해 기본적인 배경지식을 조사한다. 둘째, 토루의 커뮤니티 요소를 알아보고 실제 공간의 쓰임새와 방법에 대해 분석한다. 셋째, 토루의 커뮤니티 요소가 현대 공간에 적용될 수 있는 방안에 관해 연구한다. 이러한 연구 결과를 바탕으로 복건토루의 개념과 커뮤니티를 현대적 공간 시각에서 어떻게 적용될 것인지에 대해 연구, 분석하여 1인 가구의 문제를 완화하는데 적용되기를 기대한다.

Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Senior Shared Housing for Single Elderly Households : With Focus on the Experience of Female Elderly Resident in Public Share House in Seoul

The most outstanding issue in the change of family structure in Korea is the increasing number of single female senior household. Single senior households are known for social isolation, loneliness, economical problem as well as exposure to the inferior living environment. In the context that share house for single elderly households are emerging as an important housing type, this research intends to explore issues to find the direction for improvement through Postoccupancy evaluation of public senior share house operated by city of Seoul. What is found through in-depth interview with the senior residents are as follows. First, coordination among residents in terms of lifestyle and background is required to match with the right house mate. Second, whole spatial improvement is needed in terms of safety, flexibility, convenience and sense of community in the common space. Third, basic common space needs special attention to enhance the sense of belong recognizing the potential and importance of sense of community that can be created from those spaces. Fourth, multi-purpose space is required reflecting the resident’s desire to meet with various generation rather than meeting with similar age group.

Social isolation and vulnerability to heatwave-related mortality in the urban elderly population: A time-series multi-community study in Korea

Although several studies have reported that social isolation is one of the important health risk factors in the elderly population living in urban areas, its effects on vulnerability to heatwaves have been studied relatively less than climatic and other socio-economic factors. Thus, we investigated the association between social isolation levels and heatwave-related mortality risk in the elderly population in 119 urban administrative districts in Korea, using a time-series multi-city dataset (2008–2017). We used a two-stage analysis. In the first stage, we estimated the heatwave-related mortality risk in the elderly population (age ≥ 65) for each district using a time-series regression with a distributed lag model. Subsequently, in the second stage, we applied meta-regressions to pool the estimates across all the districts and estimate the association between social isolation variables and heatwave-related mortality risk. Our findings showed that higher social gathering and mutual aid levels were associated with lower heatwave-related mortality risk. Further, the lower percentage of single elderly households living in detached houses was also related to higher heatwave-related mortality risk. The associations were generally more evident in males compared to females. Our findings suggest that vulnerability to heatwave-related mortality among the urban, city-dwelling, elderly population may be amplified by higher isolation indicators.

Investment Implications of the Rising and Falling Pattern of Marginal Tax Rates for Retirees

This article begins by explaining how income-based increases in Medicare premiums produce dramatic increases in marginal tax rates for retirees with relatively high levels of income. It then explains how the taxation of Social Security benefits causes most lower- and middle-income households to have marginal tax rates for a wide range of income after Social Security benefits begin that are either 150% or 185% of their tax bracket. By combining these two factors, the authors show that most retirees will have marginal tax rates in retirement that rise and fall frequently and sharply as their income increases. This article then explains how this rising and falling pattern of marginal tax rates should affect retired households’ withdrawal strategies from their financial portfolio, where withdrawal strategy is defined broadly to include Roth conversions. TOPICS:Wealth management, retirement, social security Key Findings • Due to income-based increases in Medicare premiums and the taxation of Social Security benefits, most retirees face marginal tax rates that rise and fall sharply as their income rises. • The marginal tax rates for retired households receiving Social Security benefits fall sharply when their income places them beyond the income level where 85% of Social Security benefits is taxable. • We encourage these single and married households to make Roth conversions to take advantage of the relatively low marginal tax rates that exist beyond this income level. However, the amount of funds that can be converted at these relatively low tax rates depends upon whether the household has begun Social Security benefits and whether it will be on Medicare two years hence.

Individual and regional determinants of long-term care expenditure in Japan: evidence from national long-term care claims.

BackgroundJapan, with the oldest population in the world, faces a financial challenge caused by rising long-term care (LTC) expenditure. For policymakers to address this, it is important that we have a better understanding of how individual and regional characteristics affect LTC expenditure.MethodsWe linked national LTC insurance (LTCI) claim data, covering the entire population who used LTCI services in Japan, with municipality data on an individual level. Individuals 65 years and older (n=3 876 068) who had used LTCI benefits at least once in the fiscal year (FY) 2016 were included. We examined the associations of individual and municipality characteristics regarding supply and demand of healthcare with the LTC expenditures on facility care, home and community care, and total care (the sum of both types of care), after adjusting for regional differences in LTC extra charges.ResultsThe following variables were associated with higher total expenditure; at the individual level: female, a higher care-need level, a lower income (0% co-payments) or a facility service user; at the municipality level: municipalities locating in metropolitan areas, with a higher proportion of single elderly households, more doctors per 1000 citizens, more nursing homes per 100 000 LTC benefit users or more outpatient medical spending per citizen ≥75 years old.ConclusionsAs we are able to identify several individual and municipality characteristics associated with higher LTC expenditure in Japan, the study offers insights into dealing with the rapidly growing LTC expenditure.

Living arrangements and food security of a sample of older Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

Background Although we know of the relationship between food insecurity, poor dietary intake and health outcomes, there are limited studies examining the determinants of food insecurity in older adults in developing countries. This study describes the living arrangement and characteristics of protracted Palestinian refugees in Lebanon aged 60 years and older and, the status and determinants of household food insecurity. Methods Two surveys, representative of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (2010 and 2015), were appended and used to examine living arrangement of older adults and household food security. Our final pooled sample included 5412 households and 24,540 individuals. Of these individuals, 10.85% (n=2663) were adults aged 60 years and older, our population of interest. Living arrangement included 1) households with no older adults, 2) multigenerational households that included at least one older adult, 3) older adults living alone, with spouse or with another older person (single households). Food security was collected using two similar questionnaires that were equated and scores were used to classify households into food secure, moderately and severely food insecure. Means and proportions were used to examine household characteristics and sociodemographic and health variables of older adults by living arrangements. Logistic regression tested determinants of food insecurity. Results About 27% of older adults lived in single households and of those living alone, 94.3% were women. Overall, poverty was highly prevalent in households (57%) and only 38% of households were food secure. However, poverty and food insecurity were significantly less prevalent in single households (P<0.0001) and these were also the highest recipients of welfare and remittances. Conclusions Successful interventions to address poverty and food insecurity will require a better understanding of family structure, interactions within the household, and the role that older adults play within the family.

Social Welfare Transfers and Poverty Transitions in Hong Kong: Evidence from Two-Wave Panel Data

This study is the first attempt to examine poverty transitions and their correlates in Hong Kong, which has a high poverty rate despite being one of the world’s wealthiest societies. By classifying the respondents into pre-transfer non-poor, non-transfer poor, post-transfer non-poor and post-transfer poor, factors that were associated with the probability of moving out of (into) poverty due to the receipt (absence) of social welfare transfers were identified. The examination of poverty transitions with consideration for social welfare transfers has important implications on development of effective policies for poverty alleviation. Two types of factors were included: social stratification factors and life-course events. We draw data from the 2015 and 2017 Hong Kong Panel Survey for Poverty Alleviation. Binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine factors associated with poverty transitions. The results showed that employment factors (number of employed household members and increased employment ratio) were the only factors that help people move out of poverty. Demographic factors (number of children in the household and increased dependency ratio) increased the risk of falling into post-transfer poor. Immigrants were more likely to transit from post-transfer poor to non-transfer poor. More policy efforts should be devoted to helping the working poor and single parent households, and to reducing stigma against immigrants receiving welfare benefits.

Heat transition for major communities supported by geothermal energy development of the Alberta Basin, Canada

We examined the potential of geothermal energy to supply power and heat for larger communities (population > 10,000) located over the Alberta Basin in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). The major cities and seven towns in Alberta examined, with a combined total population of >2,500,000 people, were scrutinized for their geothermal potential. Depending on T (°C) and production rate (kg/s) the range of households that are feasible to be heated is in the 100’s to 1000’s for produced water >70 °C and flow rates of 30−80 kg/s. These are available in most of the deep foreland basin in western Alberta and in most of the larger population centers, outside the shallow and ‘cold’ parts of the basin in the east. As space heating is the dominant energy demand in Canada, with single households representing ∼80% of energy usage, the geothermal heating transition in Alberta would be the best option for municipalities. Power production is feasible in just a few Alberta communities located over the deeper parts of the basin, still requiring >140 °C temperatures and high production rates (>80 kg/s) due to low efficiency of power plants (some 10%) and economics of the system. The range of the feasible net power production is assessed between single decimals of MW electrical and up to maximum of 2.7 MW in deep hot high production systems.

Comparison on health behaviors and health checking by status of workers and age of single households

Comparison on health behaviors and health checking by status of workers and age of single households

The Role of Family Structure and Family Processes on Adolescent Problem Behavior

ABSTRACT We examined the impact of family structure and family processes on engagement in multiple and co-occurring problem behaviors during adolescence (delinquency, substance use, risky sexual behavior, and truancy) while accounting for key risk factors (attachment to school, antisocial peers, self-control, and residential stability) for antisocial behavior. Using data from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 9,992), latent class analysis identified classes of youth based on engagement in multiple forms of problem behavior. Multinomial logistic regression was then employed to test the direct and indirect effects of family structure on family processes and placement in the latent classes. Significant differences in family processes and latent class membership were identified across categories of family structure except when comparing across two types of single biological mother households (with children from one father and multipartnered fertility families). Family processes, self-control, and having antisocial peers reduced the effects of family structure on latent class membership.

Discarding homes: New York City public housing and single mother-led households (1963–2016)

ABSTRACT New York City Public Housing Authority (NYCHA), the United States’ largest system, witnessed a sea change in the demographics of its residents over the twentieth century. NYCHA campaign posters, data books, oral histories, and media coverage tell a story of how heteronormative, racialized, and classed ideologies have carried through the founding to contemporary understandings of public housing. While initially envisioned as a means of supporting white heteronormative families, as public housing became home to single mother-led families of color, residents were faced with a system that both neglected their homes and treated them with suspicion. A rereading of this history demonstrates that while residents’ claims to quality, affordable homes has been undermined, single mothers continue to need access to public housing in the wake of ongoing wage stagnation and increased housing cost.

저소득 중장년 1인 가구 남성의 삶의 질 향상을 위한 프로그램 개발 및 평가 -자활사업 참여자를 중심으로-

본 연구는 새로운 사회적 취약계층으로 떠오르고 있는 저소득 중장년 1인 가구 남성의 삶의 질 향상을 위한 프로그램 개발에 그 목적이 있다. 자활사업 참여자를 대상으로 저소득 중장년 1인 가구 남성의 삶의 질 향상을 위한 프로그램을 개발하고 실제 프로그램 진행후 양적, 질적 방법을 혼합하여 평가하였다. 프로그램은 총 14회기로 1회당 90~120분이며, 삶의 질 척도 중 하위요인에 해당하는 신체적 건강관리, 사회적 관계, 심리적 건강, 생활환경 관리능력 향상에 초점을 두어 교육과 체험 활동으로 구성하였다. 양적평가 결과 프로그램 참여자들의 삶의 질 점수가 유의미하게 상승한 것을 확인할 수 있었으며, 심층인터뷰, 진행기록지를 통한 질적평가에서도 프로그램 참여 전후 삶의 질 향상 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 이에 본 프로그램의 활용이 급증하는 저소득 중장년 1인 가구 남성의 삶의 질 향상에 기여할 수 있기를 기대한다.

1인 가구의 스포츠 참여와 주관적 건강의 관계

1인 가구의 스포츠 참여와 주관적 건강의 관계

Outpatient decolonization after recurrent skin infection with Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-producing S. aureus-The importance of treatment repetition.

BackgroundRecurrent skin abscesses are often associated with Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing strains of S. aureus (PVL-SA). Decolonization measures are required along with treatment of active infections to prevent re-infection and spreading. Even though most PVL-SA patients are treated as outpatients, there are few studies that assess the effectiveness of outpatient topical decolonization in PVL-SA patients.MethodsWe assessed the results of topical decolonization of PVL-SA in a retrospective review of patient files and personal interviews. Successful decolonization was defined as the absence of any skin abscesses for at least 6 months after completion of the final decolonization treatment. Clinical and demographic data was assessed. An intention-to-treat protocol was used.ResultsOur cohort consisted of 115 symptomatic patients, 66% from PVL-positive MSSA and 19% from PVL-positive MRSA. The remaining 16% consisted of symptomatic patients with close contact to PVL-SA positive index patients but without detection of PVL-SA. The majority of patients were female (66%). The median age was 29.87% of the patients lived in multiple person households. Our results showed a 48% reduction in symptomatic PVL-SA cases after the first decolonization treatment. The results also showed that the decrease continued with each repeated decolonization treatment and reached 89% following the 5th treatment. A built multivariable Cox proportional-hazards model showed that the absence of PVL-SA detection (OR 2.0) and living in single person households (OR 2.4) were associated with an independently increased chance of successful decolonization.ConclusionIn our cohort, topical decolonization was a successful preventive measure for reducing the risk of PVL-SA skin abscesses in the outpatient setting. Special attention should be given to patients living in multiple person households because these settings could confer a risk that decolonization will not be successful.

Is shared housing a viable economic and social housing option for young adults?: Willingness to pay for shared housing in Seoul

Shared housing, which provides an individual, private room for each tenant and common spaces for all housemates, is an emerging housing option for young adults in many countries. This study explored housing perceptions and preferences and assessed young adults' willingness to pay for shared housing based on Maslow's hierarchy of human needs and Means-End Chain theory. Stated preferences regarding shared housing often refer to its unique attributes, such as security, affordable rent, better quality of living spaces, as well as social relationships with housemates. Based on a survey of 1000 young, single households in Seoul, the study found that respondents expressed greater willingness to pay for shared housing to gain economic, social, and security benefits; however, the trade-off between affordable rent and privacy was an important consideration. Understanding the needs of young, single adults in the context of shared housing is essential to solving the housing challenges currently facing this demographic group.