Mental health is likely to be influenced by contextual variables that emerge only at the level of the group. We studied the effect of two such group-level variables, within-state income inequality and alcohol tax policy, on symptoms of current depression and alcohol dependence in a US national...

Recent research suggests soda consumption is associated with aggression and depression among adolescents. However, this association has not been examined among younger children. We examine soda consumption and aggressive behaviors, attention problems and withdrawn behavior among five-year-old...

A spatial latent class analysis model that extends the classic latent class analysis model by adding spatial structure to the latent class distribution through the use of the multinomial probit model is introduced. Linear combinations of independent Gaussian spatial processes are used to develop...

Although most individuals who gamble do so without any adverse consequences, some individuals develop a recurrent, maladaptive pattern of gambling behaviour, often called pathological gambling or gambling disorder, that is associated with financial losses, disruption of family and interpersonal...

Analysts often use different conceptual definitions of a cohort effect, and therefore different statistical methods, which lead to differing empirical results. A definition often used in sociology assumes that cohorts have unique characteristics confounded by age and period effects, whereas...

There is a growing research literature suggesting that racism is an important risk factor undermining the health of Blacks in the United States. Racism can take many forms, ranging from interpersonal interactions to institutional/structural conditions and practices. Existing research, however,...

Understanding current patterns of population smoking by socioeconomic position (SEP) can be substantially enhanced by research that follows birth cohorts over long periods of time, yet such data in the US are rare. Information from birth cohorts followed during critical time periods when the...

The main objective of the study was to assess the socioeconomic and demographic determinants of social capital amongst child caregivers in the Iganga and Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site Eastern Uganda. Logistic regression models were used to analyze associations between 4 social...