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Social Sciences - Health - 07.09.2022

Starting kindergarten: Normal stress for the vast majority of children
Measures of morning salivary cortisol show that children experience stress when starting kindergarten. It's normal. The transition to kindergarten causes a generalized and normal increase in the stress hormone cortisol in children during the first two weeks of school. Cortisol levels then decrease in some children but not others.

Health - Social Sciences - 01.09.2022

Newborns of women with disabilities more likely to experience health complications
Babies of women with disabilities have a greater chance of experiencing rare health complications and requiring intensive care - though many of the health issues are preventable, according to a new study. "There's good evidence that, especially for preterm birth and low-birth-weight babies, better access to prenatal care can make a big difference," says  Hilary Brown , co-author of the paper and assistant professor in the department of health and society at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

Psychology - Social Sciences - 24.08.2022

Using digital media to relax is related to lower-quality parenting
Negative parenting behaviours more likely when technology interrupts family interactions Caregivers who consume digital media for relaxation are more likely to engage in negative parenting practices, according to a new multinational study. The new study led by the University of Waterloo aimed to investigate the relationship between caregivers' use of digital media, mental health, and parenting practices at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social Sciences - 24.08.2022

’people-centric’ approach to surveys yields better data on diverse communities
A recent survey by University of Toronto Scarborough students not only gleaned important information from hundreds of households across Toronto, it provided critical insights on the act of surveying diverse communities that could help other researchers boost participation in future projects.

Environment - Social Sciences - 22.08.2022

Vulnerable communities face a higher risk of socio-economic injustice due to flood hazards
Traditionally-recognized socially vulnerable groups in Canada bear a disproportionate burden of flood risks Socially vulnerable groups are at greater risk from climate-change-caused flooding because of systemic disadvantages, according to a new study. The study also reveals that neighbourhood-level racial or ethnic, economic, social, and demographic factors play a significant explanatory role in the distribution of flood risk across Canadian neighbourhoods.

Social Sciences - 18.08.2022

’Happy spouse, happy house?’ Study finds men and women equally strong predictors of relationship satisfaction
Researchers have found that men and women are both equally strong predictors of future relationship satisfaction in mixed-gender relationships - suggesting the phrase "Happy spouse, happy house" is not only a more inclusive maxim than the old saw about wives and lives, but far more accurate. "People experience ups and downs in their romantic relationships," says Emily Impett , a professor in the department of psychology at University of Toronto Mississauga.

Environment - Social Sciences - 18.08.2022

Greenland’s Indigenous population favours extracting and exporting sand from melting ice sheet
An increasingly globalized Arctic Indigenous population wants to be involved in decision-making about adapting to accelerated Arctic changes A national survey of close to 1000 adults in Greenland (where approximately 90% of the population is Indigenous) conducted by a McGill University-led research team has found that a surprisingly large majority - 3 out of 4 Greenlanders - support extracting and exporting sand left by the melting ice sheet.

Social Sciences - Health - 16.08.2022

University of Toronto report shows food insecurity persists across Canada, varies by province
The latest national data from researchers at the University of Toronto show that food insecurity in Canada has remained largely unchanged over the last three years, with stark differences among the provinces. The report,  "Household Food Insecurity in Canada 2021 ," shows that 15.9 per cent of households across 10 provinces experienced some degree of food insecurity in the year before fall 2021, with little change since 2019.

Health - Social Sciences - 15.08.2022

Early sexual experiences could lead to healthier sex later in life: University of Toronto study
In her research,  Diana Peragine  encountered study after study that suggested an early sexual debut poses a risk to sexual health and sets the stage for a long list of negative outcomes, from unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections to sexual exploitation and abuse.

Social Sciences - 03.08.2022

Bioarchaeologists confirm museum shrunken head as human remains
Content Warning: This article contains digital visualizations of Ancestral human remains. While this work is part of an ongoing partnership with representatives of the associated Indigenous communities, they may be distressing to those of communities that have experienced trauma from past and ongoing colonialism.

Social Sciences - Health - 29.06.2022

Low-income Canadians are nearly four times more likely to die from opioids than the rich
A new study is the first to examine the connection between socioeconomic status and opioid incidents in Canada. The study reveals a connection between poverty and opioid-related hospitalization, emergency department visits and deaths in Canada. From 2000 to 2017, Canada's poorest residents were 3.8 times more likely to die of opioid-related causes than Canada's richest residents.

Health - Social Sciences - 23.06.2022

Black people in the U.S. twice as likely to face coercion, unconsented procedures during birth
Science, Health & Technology Brett Goldhawk Pregnant people of other minoritized racial identities also experience more pressure from providers Black people in the U.S. are twice as likely as white people to be coerced into procedures during perinatal and birth care, and to undergo them without their explicit consent, according to a new study by researchers at UBC's Birth Place Lab and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

Life Sciences - Social Sciences - 23.06.2022

Mosquito-repellent paint? Researchers say slippery walls make it difficult for the biting insects to rest
As the planet warms, outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases are becoming more common around the world. Traditional solutions include bed nets or chemical treatment - but researchers at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering are trying a new angle: mosquito-repellent paint.

Economics - Social Sciences - 15.06.2022

Vigilantes seeking justice can also spell trouble for workplaces
Q&As Collins Maina Vigilantes are known for taking matters into their own hands to informally punish misbehaviour, and a new collaborative study finds they may pose a challenge to businesses and workplaces. The study , co-authored by UBC Sauder School of Business Karl Aquino ( he/him ), looks into what makes vigilantes tick.

Social Sciences - 17.05.2022

Gun ownership and homicide in the U.S.: a stronger correlation
A study by UdeM economics professor Karim Chalak finds that U.S. gun ownership is more closely associated with risk of homicide than was previously thought. In 2017, there were nearly 40,000 gun-related deaths in the United States, including homicides and suicides. To delve into this alarming statistic, U.S.-trained Université de Montréal economist Karim Chalak and his coauthors did an econometric study of the rate of U.S. gun ownership and the associated risk of death, and found it to be much higher than previously thought.

Social Sciences - Health - 12.05.2022

Western researcher leads study examining caregiver challenges
When planning ongoing care for a stroke patient, the focus tends to rest on the patient with sometimes little consideration for the family member or friend who will be their caregiver. Now, a new study is shining a spotlight on the challenges faced by stroke survivor caregivers when accessing health and social services for themselves.

Health - Social Sciences - 05.05.2022

Social network analysis to model virus evolution
New research from Western provides evidence viruses may be evolving much like a social network, creating a web of intersecting subtypes. (credit: Usis/iStock) Researchers from Western University may have discovered a new meaning to the social media phrase, "going viral." New research from Western University suggests some viruses evolve more like a dynamic social network - rather than a rigid tree, as was previously believed - recombining with one another to create a web of intersecting subtypes.

Psychology - Social Sciences - 04.05.2022

Shielding children from food insecurity - no protection from psychological problems
It's easy to imagine the emotional distress of both parents and children in families where there isn-t enough to eat. Especially if it happens regularly. An increasing number of studies have shown an association between food insecurity and adverse mental health outcomes. Now, new research from McGill University has looked at the impacts of food insecurity on the mental health of both parents and children separately.

Social Sciences - Health - 27.04.2022

Pregnant women living near natural gas sites experience higher rates of depression, substance use: Study
Women living close to natural gas operations - as well as the economic boom towns that often spring up around them - experienced higher rates of depression and substance use during pregnancy, according to a new study. The study, published in the  International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health , focused on more than 6,300 women who gave birth in northeastern British Columbia, an area known for its natural gas industry.

Environment - Social Sciences - 26.04.2022

Canada needs Indigenous-led fire stewardship
Q&As Lou Corpuz-Bosshart As a new wildfire season approaches, many Canadians are reflecting on the devastating losses of last season, and considering what they can do to protect themselves and the places where they live. Wildfires are becoming increasingly severe and unpredictable, but a new paper by UBC researchers and collaborators suggests a way forward.