211 research outputs found
Integrating biological and social science data: the expertise of Understanding Society
No full textMichaela Benzeval talks at the NCRM Autumn School 2017
https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/autumn
What is biosocial research?
No full textProfessor Michaela Benzeval considers ways in which biomarker and genetics data might be included in social science research across different disciplines
Mixing modes and measurement methods in longitudinal studies
No full textAcross the world longitudinal studies are facing falling response rates, at the same time cost imperatives are bringing into question the feasibility of large scale regular face-to-face data collection. While, the rapid development of communications technology and associated cultural changes is assumed to mean that study participants will increasingly expect to be able to answer surveys when and how it suits them. All of these factors are driving longitudinal studies to combine different modes of data collection both to increase response and to reduce costs. Mixing modes of data collection either across individuals at one point in time or within individuals over time, presents longitudinal researchers with a range of methodological challenges in both data collection and analysis. Within CLOSER, and beyond, studies are investigating different aspects of the implications of mixed mode data collection, and giving data users varying degrees of support and advice about issues that should be of concern.
Drawing on evidence from across CLOSER’s longitudinal studies, this report reviews the latest evidence gathered on the effect of mixing modes and measurement methods on response, measurement issues and survey costs. The review also focuses on the implications for analysis of measures collected in different ways either across individuals at the same point in time or within individuals over time. Building on these reviews, we identify what further research is required in relation to both the design and analysis of mixed mode data collection.
The contents of this report is based on a CLOSER workshop held in November 2016 (http://www.closer.ac.uk/event/mixing-modes-measurement-methods-longitudinal-studies/).
The workshop and report were funded by a CLOSER Innovation grant awarded to Michaela Benzeval and Annette Jäckle (University of Essex), and Kate Tilling and Dr Andy Skinner (University of Bristol) and are part of a series of three reports (see Jäckle, Gaia, & Benzeval, 2017; Stone & Skinner, 2017)
Evidence on the relationship between income and poor health: is the government doing enough?
No full textThe government’s report, Opportunity for All: Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion (Department of Social Security, 1999), identified poor health as one of the major problems associated with low income. However, much of the available evidence on the relationship between income and health is of little help in forming policies to reduce health inequalities, as it has tended to be based on cross-section surveys and is therefore unable to shed much light on causal effects. Here, we make use of two British longitudinal datasets to examine the longer-term influences of income on health within a life-course perspective. We then use the results of our analysis to provide a brief critical assessment of the likely success of the government’s anti-poverty strategy in reducing health inequalities. A more detailed assessment of government policy in this respect can be found in Benzeval et al. (forthcoming).
Does Perceived Physical Attractiveness in Adolescence Predict Better Socioeconomic Position in Adulthood? Evidence from 20 Years of Follow Up in a Population Cohort Study
No full textThere is believed to be a 'beauty premium' in key life outcomes: it is thought that people perceived to be more physically attractive have better educational outcomes, higher-status jobs, higher wages, and are more likely to marry. Evidence for these beliefs, however, is generally based on photographs in hypothetical experiments or studies of very specific population subgroups (such as college students). The extent to which physical attractiveness might have a lasting effect on such outcomes in 'real life' situations across the whole population is less well known. Using longitudinal data from a general population cohort of people in the West of Scotland, this paper investigated the association between physical attractiveness at age 15 and key socioeconomic outcomes approximately 20 years later. People assessed as more physically attractive at age 15 had higher socioeconomic positions at age 36- in terms of their employment status, housing tenure and income - and they were more likely to be married; even after adjusting for parental socioeconomic background, their own intelligence, health and self esteem, education and other adult socioeconomic outcomes. For education the association was significant for women but not for men. Understanding why attractiveness is strongly associated with long-term socioeconomic outcomes, after such extensive confounders have been considered, is important. © 2013 Benzeval et al
Response to written feedback of clinical data within a longitudinal study: a qualitative study exploring the ethical implications
No full textBackground
There is a growing ethical imperative to feedback research results to participants but there remains a striking lack of empirical research on how people respond to individualised feedback. We sought to explore longitudinal study participants’ response to receiving individual written feedback of weight-related and blood results, and to consider the balance of harms against benefits.
Methods
A qualitative study with face-to-face and telephone interviews conducted with 50 men and women who had participated in the fifth and most recent wave of the cohort study ‘West of Scotland Twenty-07’ and received a feedback letter containing body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, cholesterol and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) results.
Results
Expectations of, and response to, the feedback of their individual results varied. Whilst half of the participants were on the whole ‘pleased’ with their results or held neutral views, half reported negative responses such as ‘shock’ or ‘concern’, particularly in relation to the weight-related results. Participants who were overweight and obese used the most negative language about their results, with some being quite distressed and reporting feelings of powerlessness, low self-image and anxiety over future health. Nevertheless, some people reported having implemented lifestyle changes in direct response to the feedback, resulting in significant weight loss and/or dietary improvements. Others reported being motivated to change their behaviour. Age and gender differences were apparent in these narratives of behaviour change.
Conclusions
The potential harm caused to some participants may be balanced against the benefit to others. More evaluation of the impact of the format, content and means of individualised feedback of research findings in non-trial studies is required given the growing ethical imperative to offer participants a choice of receiving their results, and the likelihood that a high percentage will choose to receive them
Do mismatches between pre- and post-natal environments influence adult physiological functioning?
No full textPurpose
Mismatches between pre- and post-natal environments have implications for disease in adulthood. However, less is known about how this mismatch can affect physiological systems more generally, especially at younger ages. We hypothesised that mismatches between pre- and post-natal environments, as measured by the measures of birthweight and adult leg length, would be associated with poorer biomarker levels across five key physiological systems in young adults.<p></p>
Methods
Data were collected from 923, 36 year-old respondents from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study. The biomarkers were: systolic blood pressure (sBP); forced expiratory volume (FEV1); glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c); glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). These biomarkers were regressed against pre-natal conditions (birthweight), post-natal conditions (leg length) and the interaction between pre- and post-natal measures. Sex, childhood socioeconomic position and adult lifestyle characteristics were adjusted for as potential effect modifiers and confounders, respectively.<p></p>
Results
There were no associations between birthweight and leg length and sBP, FEV1, HbA1c, or GGT. Higher birthweight and longer leg length were associated with better kidney function (eGFR). However, there was no evidence for mismatches between birthweight and leg length to be associated with worse sBP, FEV1, HbA1c, eGFR or GGT levels (P>0.05).<p></p>
Conclusions
Our hypothesis that early signs of physiological damage would be present in young adults given mismatches in childhood environments, as measured by growth markers, was not proven. This lack of association could be because age 36 is too young to identify significant trends for future health, or the associations simply not being present.<p></p>
Understanding families lives across the lifecourse: the value of panel studies. Understanding Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Study
No full textIntegrating biological and social data for (biosocial) research
No full textIn this video, I am talking about: what kinds of biological data we might have in social surveys that enables us to do this kind of research; and then give examples of research questions that we could answer with these data and; show how they might contribute to understanding of health and to policy.
This video is part of an Online Learning Resource created by NCRM. This is video 1 of 2.
https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/resources/online/biosocial_research_in_social_surveys
How to use biological data in social science research?
No full textIn this video I look into how we might combine biological and social data in order to understand people's health and society better. In this part of the video we're going to look at what biological data look like, and some of the things that we need to take into account when we are analyzing them. And I'm going to give you some information about the kinds of studies that include these data and where you might go to for further advice.
This video is part of an Online Resource created by NCRM. This is video 2 of 2.
https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/resources/online/biosocial_research_in_social_surveys
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