Enhancing Longitudinal Studies by Linkage to National Databases: Growing Up in Australia,the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children†

Growing Up in Australia is a national longitudinal study of the development and wellbeing of 10,000 Australian children. The study has been committed since inception to support data linkage to other datasets, to value‐add to the primary modes of data collection from parents and others. It can increase the efficiency of data collection by reducing respondent and interviewer burden as well as adding new dimensions to addressing key research questions. The viability of data linkage needs to take into account the relevance of the data for research and policy, as well as data quality and cost, privacy and consent issues and the ease of access. This article documents the various sources for data linkage considered for Growing Up in Australia, including government health and education records, child care accreditation data, and community‐level data, and examines the strengths and challenges associated with each.     

MEASURING CONSUMER EXPENDITURES WITH PAYMENT DIARIES

Payment diaries measure consumer expenditures by tracking authorization of payments by instrument (cash, check, debit or credit card, etc.). Three notable results emerge from comparing the 2012 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice (DCPC) to other estimates of consumer expenditures: (1) DCPC payments are 75% higher than Consumer Expenditure Survey estimates; (2) DCPC consumption estimates are 17% higher than comparable personal consumption expenditure estimates; and (3) DCPC payments roughly equal comparably adjusted National Income and Product Accounts personal disposable income. The DCPC's relative success stems from measuring expenditures aggregated into lumpy payments (“shopping baskets”), relatively low respondent burden, and effective random sampling. (JEL E21, D12, D14)     

The use of diaries for understanding the experience of health and illness

While diaries as a method have a long tradition in sociological research, few studies to date have demonstrated its value for studying health and illness. This article intends to illustrate the importance of this method for health research. The implications of the use of solicited diaries to conduct research within the field of health and illness are discussed. The contributions that the method can make to sociological research on health and illness are explored, namely the potential to capture the everyday of ill people and their family members. Indeed, this method offers an opportunity to access the experience of illness in a multidimensional approach which is not easy for researchers to catch using other methods. The article aims to present an overview of the significance of the use of diaries in health research and will make a novel contribution to the sociology of health and illness.     

Random sampling of alters from networks: A promising direction in egocentric network research

The social network perspective has great potential for advancing knowledge of social mechanisms in many fields. However, collecting egocentric (i.e., personal) network data is costly and places a heavy burden on respondents. This is especially true of the task used to elicit information on ties between network members (i.e., alter-alter ties or density matrix), which grows exponentially in length as network size increases. While most existing national surveys circumvent this problem by capping the number of network members that can be named, this strategy has major limitations. Here, we apply random sampling of network members to reduce cost, respondent burden, and error in network studies. We examine the effectiveness and reliability of random sampling in simulated and real-world egocentric network data. We find that in estimating sample/population means of network measures, randomly selecting a small number of network members produces only minor errors, regardless of true network size. For studies that use network measures in regressions, randomly selecting the mean number of network members (e.g., randomly selecting 10 alters when mean network size is 10) is enough to recover estimates of network measures that correlate close to 1 with those of the full sample. We conclude with recommendations for best practices that will make this versatile but resource intensive methodology accessible to a wider group of researchers without sacrificing data quality.     

Video diaries: audio-visual research methods and the elusive body

The contemporary rise of body studies has led sociologists to take embodiment seriously, however, the issue of methodology in relation to the body remains largely under-explored. This article addresses the concern to capture the elusive body from a methodological perspective and discusses the video diary as a novel device for attending to bodily experience. The article considers how observation is redesigned through the video camera and describes the different ways in which bodily experience can be represented on screen. Using examples from video diaries made by participants in a multi-method study of the body, health and illness in everyday life, it shows how video diaries can contribute to an embodied sociology by making the body visibly, audibly and viscerally present.     

Estimating the reliability and validity of personal support measures: full information ML estimation with planned incomplete data

Egocentered networks are common in social science research. Here, the unit of analysis is a respondent (ego) together with his/her personal network (alters). Usually, several variables are used to describe the relationship between egos and alters.In this paper, the aim is to estimate the reliability and validity of the averages of these measures by the multitrait–multimethod (MTMM) approach. This approach usually requires at least three repeated measurements (methods) of the same variable (trait) for model identification. This places a considerable burden on the respondent and increases the cost of data collection.In this paper, we use a split ballot MTMM experimental design, proposed by Saris (1999), in which separate groups of respondents get different combinations of just two methods. The design can also be regarded as having a planned missing data structure. The maximum likelihood estimation is used in the manner suggested by Allison (1987) of a confirmatory factor analysis model for MTMM-designs specified in Saris and Andrews (1991). This procedure is applied to social support data collected in the city of Ljubljana (Slovenia) in the year 2000.     

Quality of diet of working college students

Considering the scarcity of studies with young workers and the role of diet in the prevention of chronic diseases, the objective of the study was to assess the quality of diet of working college students. The present study investigated 43 university students, aged between 18 and 25 years old who had systematically being involved in a working activity in the past 6 months, paid or unpaid, at least 6 hours daily, five days a week. Dietary intake measured by seven dietary records covering every day of the week was used to calculate the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised (B-HEIR). It was observed a low B-HEIR score (53.43,±7.81) indicating a risk of a poor quality of diet, with high intake of sodium and sugar and low consumption of fruits and whole grains. This poor quality of diet can result in an inadequate nutritional status that may increase the risk of obesity and chronic diseases.     

Impact of methods for reducing respondent burden on personal network structural measures

We examine methods for reducing respondent burden in evaluating alter–alter ties on a set of network structural measures. The data consist of two sets, each containing 45 alters from respondent free lists: the first contains 447 personal networks, and the second 554. Respondents evaluated the communication between 990 alter pairs. The methods were (1) dropping alters from the end of the free-list, (2) randomly dropping alters, (3) randomly dropping links, and (4) predicting ties based on transitivity. For some measures network structure is captured with samples of less than 20 alters; other measures are less consistent. Researchers should be aware of the need to sample a minimum number of alters to capture structural variation.     

Bio-citizens online: A content analysis of pro-ana and weight loss blogs

Current neoliberal ideology in Western society encourages individuals to self-monitor their body to control population health. The resulting self-surveillance includes weight management, promoted as a marker of health. Disordered eating, like anorexia, is framed as a health disorder. However, weight loss is framed as a health initiative; we argue that these framings are engaging with the same body project, encouraging thinness as a marker of health and good bio-citizenry. Using content analysis to compare online blog context created by individuals engaged in weight loss and individuals who identify as pro-anorexia, we argue and evidence that both groups are engaged in body projects with shared parameters. Findings suggest each group is striving to embody a thin ideal through weight management. Specifically, weight loss bloggers and pro-ana bloggers demonstrate similar diet and exercise behaviours in online diaries detailing their weight loss experiences. Thus, weight loss and anorexia exist on the same spectrum of responsible bio-citizenry.     

Variation within households in consent to link survey data to administrative records: evidence from the UK Millennium Cohort Study

This study expands our knowledge of consent in linking survey and administrative data by studying respondents’ behaviour when consenting to link their own records and when consenting to link those of their children. It develops and tests a number of hypothesised mechanisms of consent, some of which were not explored in the past. The hypotheses cover: parental pride, privacy concerns, loyalty to the survey, pre-existing relations with the agency holding the data, and interviewer effects. The study uses data from the longitudinal Millennium Cohort Study to analyse the correlates of consent in multiple domains (i.e. linkage of education, health and economic records). The findings show that respondent’s behaviour vary depending on the consent domain and on the person within the household for whom consent is sought. In particular, the cohort member’s cognitive skills and the main respondent’s privacy concerns have differential effects on consent. On the other hand, loyalty to the survey proxied by the longitudinal response history has a significant and strong impact on consent irrespective of the outcome. The findings also show that interviewers account for a large proportion of variations in consent even after controlling for the characteristics of the interviewer’s assignment area. In total, it is possible to conclude that the significant impact of some of the correlates will lead to sample bias which needs to be accounted for when working with linked survey and administrative data.     

What Can We Say Regarding Shared Parenting Arrangements for Swedish Children?

ABSTRACT

Joint physical custody (JPC) refers to children living alternatively and about equally with both parents after a parental separation or divorce. The practice has been debated in relation to child well-being because of the frequent moves imposed on children and the potential stress from living in 2 homes. This study describes the background to the high frequency of Swedish children in JPC and the results from research on Swedish children’s well-being in this living arrangement. Children in JPC report better well-being and mental health than children who live mostly or only with 1 parent. No Swedish studies have found children’s health to be worse in JPC than in sole parental care from child age of 3 years and beyond. The existing literature cannot, however, inform us about the mechanisms behind the findings. The risks of selection effects into living arrangements are plausible. For this purpose, longitudinal studies are warranted.     

Japan's financing system for health care of the elderly

The multiplicity of Japan's health insurance system fails to achieve equality among the different insurance groups of the sharing of the financial burden. This "horizontal" inequality is effectively offset by a unique redistribution mechanism established in 1982. However, there is no reserve fund so that savings can be accumulated for the greater financial need in the future. This will inevitably lead to a heavier financial burden for the future working generation or more utilization of the personal assets of the elderly. How to achieve "vertical" or intergenerational equality in financing the cost of health care for the elderly is the biggest social policy challenge for Japan.     

Japan's Financing Systems for Health Care of the Elderly

The multiplicity of Japan's health insurance system fails to achieve equality among the different insurance groups of the sharing of the financial burden. This "horizontal" inequality is effectively offset by a unique redistribution mechanism established in 1982. However, there is no reserve fund so that savings can be accumulated for the greater financial need in the future. This will inevitably lead to a heavier financial burden for the future working generation or more utilization of the personal assets of the elderly. How to achieve "vertical" or intergenerational equality in financing the cost of health care for the elderly is the biggest social policy challenge for Japan.     

Development and change of young adults' preventive health beliefs and behavior: influence from parents and peers

A longitudinal data set is employed to explore the sources of stability and change in young adults' health beliefs and behavior concerning drinking, diet, exercise, and wearing seat belts. There is substantial change in the performance of health behaviors during the first three years of college, and peers have a strong impact on the magnitude of that change. In total, however, parents are much more important than peers as sources of influence over these beliefs and behaviors. Of the various social influence processes considered, the direct modeling of behavior appears to be the most important avenue of influence for both parents and peers. These data, along with previous papers in our research program, suggest a pattern of gradually increasing parental influence on their children's health beliefs and behavior while the children are living at home, and the persistence of that influence at least through the college years.     

Hospital cost shifting, a continuing debate

This Issue Brief examines the evidence on hospital cost shifting. It defines cost shifting, explores the incentives facing hospitals and payers, reviews and critiques the new evidence on cost shifting, and discusses the policy concerns that arise from the new learning. Cost shifting has a precise and easily understood meaning. It does not mean that some payers pay different prices than others. Different prices are commonplace throughout the economy. Rather, cost shifting exists when the prices faced by one group of payers are higher because another group pays less. To be able to cost shift, a hospital must have market power, and it must not yet have fully exercised that power. There has been a spate of recent cost-shifting studies. The better known studies focus on industrywide, revenue-to-cost margins by payer. They find that the extent of cost shifting declined in the mid-1990's. The methods underlying these studies have been criticized in the academic literature, with the strong suggestion that the studies overstate any true cost shifting. Cross-sectional studies compared measures of prices across individual hospitals. These studies have failed to find evidence of hospital cost shifting. However, they suffer from a potential inability to control for levels of service, quality, and amenities that may simultaneously have changed as well. Dynamic studies compare individual measures of hospital prices through time and allow each hospital to serve as its own control. These studies find no evidence of hospital cost shifting. As one analysis concluded: "We found no evidence to suggest that cost-shifting strategies that might protect hospital revenues in the face of financial pressure were undertaken successfully." Rather than cost shifting, the existing evidence points to hospital competition limiting the provider's ability to raise prices. Whatever market power hospitals once enjoyed is disappearing--and with it the ability to cost shift. This research suggests that Medicare reform or Medicaid restructuring will have little direct effect on the hospital prices that employers and their workers pay for health care. The author argues that cost shifting is dead. However, the increased hospital competition necessarily squeezes hospital profits. This reduces the amount of charity care they can provide. Expect to see more and more examples of hospitals unable to provide care to nonpaying patients. This also suggests that care for the indigent will become a more pronounced public issue. This is a form of "cost" shifting, one that the "system" will need to deal with.     

Discrimination against South African adolescents orphaned by AIDS

This article describes the discrimination against adolescents orphaned by AIDS. A qualitative phenomenological approach using reflective diaries was used to extract how this population is discriminated on. Fifteen adolescents ages 14 to 18 living in an urban area in South Africa participated in the study. Data were collected as part of a larger study in which a peer-based mental health intervention was designed for use with adolescents orphaned by AIDS. Colaizzi's seven stages were used to analyze the data from the reflective diaries. Analysis revealed that adolescents orphaned by AIDS experienced physical, social, and institutional expressions of stigma leading to discrimination. Adolescents were discriminated on by peers, caregivers, and teachers. The results of this study show that adolescents orphaned by AIDS face discrimination; further studies on the topic with a larger sample are needed to verify these findings.     

Overview of the physiological changes and optimal diet in the golden age generation over 50

Basically, our lifespan is determined genetically. However, several other parameters such as the environment, lifestyle and diet have a high impact on living in the best of health. Many older persons suffer from various diseases, which often cannot be avoided; however, their development can be postponed and symptoms can be mitigated by a balanced diet, moderate physical activity as well as a healthy lifestyle. These diseases are, for example, sarcopenia (degenerative loss of muscle mass), osteoporosis (decomposition of bone structure), digestive restrictions, sensory impairment, water imbalance or a compromised immune system. Psychological modifications, obesity and loss of weight also commonly occur in older adults. To define an adequate diet for elderly between the ages 50 and 80 is difficult, even impossible, because the nutritional requirements differ between the dynamic quinquagenarian and the frailer eighty-year-old. However, several studies have shown that sufficient consumption of high-quality proteins, calcium, vitamin D, anti-oxidative food compounds, water as well as adapted energy values and nourishment with high-nutrient density in combination with physical activity especially help one to remain healthy to a great age. The cornerstone of healthy ageing is the maintenance of normal bodyweight in order to prevent the development of diseases such as osteoporosis, coronary heart disease or diabetes type 2. This publication will review the physiological changes that occur with advanced age and consequential nutritional recommendations for elderly persons.     

Uncertainty and framing in a valuation task

Many stated preference studies report framing effects in responses to valuation questions. Framing in stated preference studies occurs when respondents use irrelevant information contained in the question to help them value the good. This may occur because respondents are uncertain or do not hold well-formed preferences for the good in question. We investigate if respondent certainty explains framing effects in a contingent valuation study, using data from a double bounded dichotomous elicitation format and a follow-up certainty question. We investigate if respondent certainty influences anchoring and the shift effect. We find evidence that the anchoring effect is stronger for respondents who are less certain about their response to the contingent valuation question compared to respondents who are very certain. However, the shift effect is significant and negative only for respondents who are very certain. Our results indicate that certain respondents are more consistent with the predictions of rational behaviour than uncertain respondents.     

The link between parenting approaches and health behavior: A systematic review

The familial home environment, where parenting takes place, plays an important role in the health behaviors that children and adolescents engage in and has implications on health and well-being in later life. Lifestyle-related behaviors predispose children and adolescents to the global burden of non-communicable and other lifestyle-related diseases. This review therefore examined and described previous studies looking at the associations between health behaviors and parenting approaches. It suggests that engagement in health behaviors, which promotes overall health and well-being, was associated with autonomy, supportive parenting, parental encouragement, behavior control, parental nurturance, warmth and responsiveness, and parental involvement. The review highlights the gap in literature focusing on the health behavior of children and adolescents as well as on parenting. In addition, the review also provides an overview of the continents where fewer studies have examined the presented associations. The findings presented also serve as a guide for program development and implementation to address the increase in non-communicable and other lifestyle-related diseases.