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Danaher J. Generative AI and the future of equality norms. Cognition 2024; 251:105906. [PMID: 39067317 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
This article will consider the disruptive impact of generative AI on moral beliefs and practices associated with equality, particularly equality of opportunity. It will first outline a framework for understanding the mechanisms through which generative AI can alter moral beliefs and practices. It will argue that actual and perceived cognitive ability is one of the determinants of social outcomes in modern information economies, and that one of the potential impacts of generative AI is on the distribution of this ability. Emerging, tentative, evidence suggests that generative AI currently displays an 'inverse skills bias', which favours those with less actual and perceived cognitive ability. This could have a disruptive impact on current norms of equality of opportunity, particularly with respect to the means and the purpose of such norms. The longer-term impact of generative AI on equality norms is less clear. Generative AI may shift the entire focus of equality norms or deprioritise the value of equality.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Danaher
- School of Law, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
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Deng K, Wright L, Silverwood R, Sullivan A, Bann D. Associations of schooling type, qualification type and subsequent health in mid-adulthood: evidence from the 1970 British Cohort Study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2024:jech-2023-221694. [PMID: 38889993 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2023-221694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Education is thought to benefit health. However, existing studies have predominantly focused on educational attainment-the type of institution attended has been overlooked, despite being an important indicator of education resources, quality, and future socioeconomic outcomes. In this study, we investigated associations between type of high school or university attended and multiple adult health outcomes. METHODS The 1970 British Cohort Study was used (n=8107). Associations between high school (comprehensive, grammar, private) and university (classified as normal or higher status (Russell Group)) attended with 10 health outcomes that capture cardiometabolic risks, physical capabilities and cognitive function at age 46 years were investigated. Multivariable regression models were used, adjusting for sex and childhood socioeconomic, health and cognitive factors. RESULTS Both private school and higher-status university attendance were related to favourable health outcomes. After adjusting for potential confounders, associations between private school attendance and cardiometabolic risks remained; associations for higher-status university attendance and cognitive function remained, while associations with other outcomes were largely attenuated. For example, after full adjustment, private school attendance was associated with a 0.14 SD (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.23) lower body mass index and higher-status university attendance with a 0.16 SD (0.07 to 0.26) better memory recall. CONCLUSION The type of educational institution attended was associated with multiple health outcomes, suggesting it might be a relevant factor to consider in future health inequality research-particularly in contemporary populations which have high overall attainment levels. Further research is warranted to test the causal nature of this relationship and its generalisability to other contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyao Deng
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Liam Wright
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Richard Silverwood
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alice Sullivan
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - David Bann
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
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Baek SK, Aye WT, Htet AS, Stigum H, Gopinathan U, Bjertness E. Educational inequalities and self-reported health among men and women aged 18-49 years in Yangon Region, Myanmar: analysis of a population-based, cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e074468. [PMID: 38890138 PMCID: PMC11191797 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of good self-reported health (SRH) in subpopulations based on the social determinants of health and to investigate the association between education (measured in years of schooling) and good SRH among men and women aged 18-49 years in Yangon Region, Myanmar. DESIGN Analysis of data from a population-based, cross-sectional study conducted in Yangon, Myanmar, from October to November 2016. A multistage sampling procedure was employed, and structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with standardised questions adapted from the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey. Prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% CIs were estimated using Poisson regression analyses by sex. SETTING Urban and rural areas of Yangon Region, Myanmar. PARTICIPANTS The sample included 2,506 participants (91.8% response rate) aged 18-49 years and excluded nuns, monks, soldiers, institutionalised people and individuals deemed too ill physically and/or mentally to participate. RESULTS The prevalence of good SRH was 61.2% (95% CI 59.3 to 63.1), with higher rates among men (72.0%, 95% CI 69.3 to 74.5), younger individuals (69.2%, 95% CI 66.2 to 72.1), urban residents (63.6%, 95% CI 60.8 to 66.3), extended family dwellers (66.6%, 95% CI 63.7 to 69.4) and those with a higher level of education (66.0%, 95% CI 61.3 to 70.5). After adjusting for confounders (age and area of residence), the association between years of schooling and SRH (PR) was 1.01 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.02, p=0.002) in men and 1.01 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.02, p=0.415) in women. CONCLUSIONS Good SRH was more prevalent among men than among women. Additionally, a 1-year increase in education was associated with a 1% increase in the prevalence of good SRH among men, whereas the association was not statistically significant among women. In order to enhance the educational benefits of health in Myanmar, we recommend a higher focus on the length of education and addressing gender inequalities in wage return from education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sel Ki Baek
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Win Thuzar Aye
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Aung Soe Htet
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Hein Stigum
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Unni Gopinathan
- Division for Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Espen Bjertness
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Chen LG, Tubbs JD, Liu Z, Thach TQ, Sham PC. Mendelian randomization: causal inference leveraging genetic data. Psychol Med 2024; 54:1461-1474. [PMID: 38639006 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291724000321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Mendelian randomization (MR) leverages genetic information to examine the causal relationship between phenotypes allowing for the presence of unmeasured confounders. MR has been widely applied to unresolved questions in epidemiology, making use of summary statistics from genome-wide association studies on an increasing number of human traits. However, an understanding of essential concepts is necessary for the appropriate application and interpretation of MR. This review aims to provide a non-technical overview of MR and demonstrate its relevance to psychiatric research. We begin with the origins of MR and the reasons for its recent expansion, followed by an overview of its statistical methodology. We then describe the limitations of MR, and how these are being addressed by recent methodological advances. We showcase the practical use of MR in psychiatry through three illustrative examples - the connection between cannabis use and psychosis, the link between intelligence and schizophrenia, and the search for modifiable risk factors for depression. The review concludes with a discussion of the prospects of MR, focusing on the integration of multi-omics data and its extension to delineating complex causal networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lane G Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Justin D Tubbs
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zipeng Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Thuan-Quoc Thach
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pak C Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Berntzen BJ, Tolvanen A, Kujala UM, Silventoinen K, Vuoksimaa E, Kaprio J, Aaltonen S. Longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles throughout adulthood and related characteristics: a 36-year follow-up study of the older Finnish Twin Cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2024; 21:47. [PMID: 38671483 PMCID: PMC11046842 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-024-01600-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Personalized interventions aiming to increase physical activity in individuals are effective. However, from a public health perspective, it would be important to stimulate physical activity in larger groups of people who share the vulnerability to be physically inactive throughout adulthood. To find these high-risk groups, we identified 36-year leisure-time physical activity profiles from young adulthood to late midlife in females and males. Moreover, we uncovered which anthropometric-, demographic-, lifestyle-, and health-related characteristics were associated with these physical activity profiles. METHODS We included 2,778 females and 1,938 males from the population-based older Finnish Twin Cohort Study, who responded to health and behavior surveys at the mean ages of 24, 30, 40 and 60. Latent profile analysis was used to identify longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles. RESULTS We found five longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles for both females and males. Females' profiles were: 1) Low increasing moderate (29%), 2) Moderate stable (23%), 3) Very low increasing low (20%), 4) Low stable (20%) and 5) High increasing high (9%). Males' profiles were: 1) Low increasing moderate (29%), 2) Low stable very low (26%), 3) Moderate decreasing low (21%), 4) High fluctuating high (17%) and 5) Very low stable (8%). In both females and males, lower leisure-time physical activity profiles were associated with lower education, higher body mass index, smoking, poorer perceived health, higher sedentary time, high blood pressure, and a higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, lower leisure-time physical activity was linked to a higher risk of depression in females. CONCLUSIONS We found several longitudinal leisure-time physical activity profiles with unique changes in both sexes. Fewer profiles in females than in males remained or became low physically active during the 36-year follow-up. We observed that lower education, higher body mass index, and more smoking already in young adulthood were associated with low leisure-time physical activity profiles. However, the fact that several longitudinal profiles demonstrated a change in their physical activity behavior over time implies the potential for public health interventions to improve leisure-time physical activity levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram J Berntzen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Asko Tolvanen
- Methodology Centre for Human Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Urho M Kujala
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Karri Silventoinen
- Helsinki Institute for Demography and Population Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 42, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Vuoksimaa
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sari Aaltonen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 20, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Zhang M, Liu B, Ke W, Cai Y, Zhang L, Huang W, Yan X, Chen H. Correlation analysis between occupational stress and metabolic syndrome in workers of a petrochemical enterprise: based on two assessment models of occupational stress. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:802. [PMID: 38486274 PMCID: PMC10938751 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18305-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occupational stress is becoming a common phenomenon around the world. Being in a high occupational stress state for a long time may destroy the metabolic balance of the body, thereby increasing the risk of metabolic diseases. There is limited evidence regarding the correlation between occupational stress and metabolic syndrome (MetS), particularly in the petrochemical workers. METHODS A total of 1683 workers of a petrochemical enterprise in China were included in the survey by cluster sampling method. The occupational stress assessment was carried out by the Job Content Questionnaire and the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, and the general demographic characteristics, work characteristics, occupational hazards, lifestyle and health examination data of the participants were collected. Logistic regression and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the correlations and influencing factors between occupational stress and its dimensions with MetS and its components. RESULTS A total of 1683 questionnaires were sent out, and 1608 were effectively collected, with an effective recovery rate of 95.54%. The detection rates of occupational stress in Job Demand-Control (JDC) and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models were 28.4% and 27.2%, respectively. In this study, 257 participants (16.0%) were diagnosed with MetS. Compared with the non-MetS group, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides (TG) and fasting blood-glucose (FBG) levels were significantly higher in the MetS group, and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001). The results of multiple linear regression showed that after adjusting for nation, marital status, education, work system, smoking and drinking, and further adjusting for occupational hazards, the D/C ratio was significantly negatively correlated with SBP in the JDC model. Social support was negatively correlated with WC. In the ERI model, there was a significant positive correlation between over-commitment and FBG. CONCLUSIONS The detection rates of occupational stress and MetS were high in workers of a petrochemical enterprise. In the JDC model, occupational stress was negatively correlated with SBP, and social support was negatively correlated with WC. In the ERI model, there was a significantly positive correlation between over-commitment and FBG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, 510300, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, 518000, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiyi Ke
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, 510300, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yashi Cai
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, 510300, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lingyu Zhang
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, 510300, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weixu Huang
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, 510300, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuehua Yan
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, 510300, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Huifeng Chen
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, 510300, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, 030001, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
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Drouard G, Silventoinen K, Latvala A, Kaprio J. Genetic and Environmental Factors Underlying Parallel Changes in Body Mass Index and Alcohol Consumption: A 36-Year Longitudinal Study of Adult Twins. Obes Facts 2023; 16:224-236. [PMID: 36882010 PMCID: PMC10826601 DOI: 10.1159/000529835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While the genetic and environmental underpinnings of body weight and alcohol use are fairly well-known, determinants of simultaneous changes in these traits are still poorly known. We sought to quantify the environmental and genetic components underlying parallel changes in weight and alcohol consumption and to investigate potential covariation between them. METHODS The analysis comprised 4,461 adult participants (58% women) from the Finnish Twin Cohort with four measures of alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI) over a 36-year follow-up. Trajectories of each trait were described by growth factors, defined as intercepts (i.e., baseline) and slopes (i.e., change over follow-up), using latent growth curve modeling. Growth values were used for male (190 monozygotic pairs, 293 dizygotic pairs) and female (316 monozygotic pairs, 487 dizygotic pairs) same-sex complete twin pairs in multivariate twin modeling. The variances and covariances of growth factors were then decomposed into genetic and environmental components. RESULTS The baseline heritabilities were similar in men (BMI: h2 = 79% [95% confidence interval: 74, 83]; alcohol consumption: h2 = 49% [32, 67]) and women (h2 = 77% [73, 81]; h2 = 45% [29, 61]). Heritabilities of BMI change were similar in men (h2 = 52% [42, 61]) and women (h2 = 57% [50, 63]), but the heritability of change in alcohol consumption was significantly higher (p = 0.03) in men (h2 = 45% [34, 54]) than in women (h2 = 31% [22, 38]). Significant additive genetic correlations between BMI at baseline and change in alcohol consumption were observed in both men (rA = -0.17 [-0.29, -0.04]) and women (rA = -0.18 [-0.31, -0.06]). Non-shared environmental factors affecting changes in alcohol consumption and BMI were correlated in men (rE = 0.18 [0.06, 0.30]). Among women, non-shared environmental factors affecting baseline alcohol consumption and the change in BMI were inversely correlated (rE = -0.11 [-0.20, -0.01]). CONCLUSIONS Based on genetic correlations, genetic variation underlying BMI may affect changes in alcohol consumption. Independent of genetic effects, change in BMI correlates with change in alcohol consumption in men, suggesting direct effects between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabin Drouard
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Karri Silventoinen
- Population Research Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Latvala
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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