In a special issue of the journal Social Science & Medicine, 26 social scientists comment on the usefulness of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) when it comes to evaluating health interventions. This interdisciplinary discussion—inspired by an article by Angus Deaton and Nancy Cartwright— includes articles by Harvard Pop Center faculty members, including Ichiro Kawachi, and S V Subramanian (who, along with a colleague, authored the preface), Robert J. Sampson, and postdoctoral fellow Rockli Kim.
Self-perceived obesity/weight linked to increased cardiometabolic risks
A study by three faculty members—S. Bryn Austin, S V Subramanian, and Ichiro Kawachi—and their colleague found that Koreans who merely perceived themselves to be overweight or obese faced increased cardiometabolic risks, such as high blood pressure and elevated triglycerides.
Long-term effects on sleep of older natural disaster victims
Ichiro Kawachi, MD, PhD, and Orfeu Buxton, PhD, are authors on a study that evaluated the sleep of those aged 65 and older who were impacted by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Two and a half years after the event, those who experienced material loss, such as financial and home, were still at greater risk of sleep problems.
Can a good marriage help fight the battle of the (midlife) bulge?
Researchers have found that those who feel supported in their marriages were more likely to be at a healthier weight in the midlife years. Harvard Pop Center Director Lisa Berkman, and faculty members Ichiro Kawachi and Laura Kubzansky are authors on the study published in Health Psychology.
Focusing on BMI: A novel study to better understand variations in individual health within a given population
Harvard Pop Center research fellow Rockli Kim, ScD, is lead author on a study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology that aims to help reduce health disparities by comprehensively examining individual heterogeneity in women’s BMI using data from 57 low- and middle-income countries.
Creator of Giving Tuesday references Ichiro Kawachi and importance of social connections
Henry Timms, executive director of the 92nd Street Y and creator of Giving Tuesday, references research by Ichiro Kawachi on the importance of social connections after a disaster in this piece in Time on how Giving Tuesday got started.
Not feeling so game to change some of your health-related habits?
Ichiro Kawachi, MD, shares his thoughts on how “gamification” (applying elements of game playing to other activities) can be used to motivate health-related behavior change in this invited commentary in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Can having a sense of purpose later in life help you function better physically?
A novel study published in JAMA Psychiatry by Ichiro Kawachi, MD, and Laura Kubzansky, PhD, and colleagues has found an association between having a sense of purpose and better physical functioning, such as grip strength and walking speed, in older adults in the U.S.
Can socializing “up” bring you down?
A study co-authored by Harvard Pop Center faculty member Ichiro Kawachi, MD, PhD, found that in Korea those who socialized with individuals of higher status were more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms. This pattern appeared to be stronger in men, and was more pronounced for those who perceive that society is unfair.
Does timing of socioeconomic status (SES) impact late-life memory function and decline differently?
Researchers have found that early- and later-life SES has an impact on late-life memory in differing ways. The study is published in the American Journal of Epidemiology by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health doctoral student Jessica Marden, along with Harvard Pop Center faculty members Ichiro Kawachi and M. Maria Glymour.