Inequality of BMI Dynamics: A Socioeconomic and Gender Perspective

TitleInequality of BMI Dynamics: A Socioeconomic and Gender Perspective
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsLipps, O, Zella, S
JournalLIVES Working Paper
Volume56
Pagination1-23
PublisherNCCR LIVES
Keywordsage differences, fixed effects modeling, gender differences, Germany, SES and individual BMI, Switzerland, USA
Abstract

The aim is to understand causal effects of gender, socio-economic status, and ageing on body mass index (BMI) of individuals in three industrialized countries which are characterized by different BMI distributions.
Data comes from three large population representative panel surveys in the USA, Switzerland, and Germany including about 65 000 individuals and 254 000 measurements. Individuals report up to eleven times, measured annually (Switzerland) or bi-annually (USA and Germany). We use fixed effects models to interprete causal effects and random effects models to estimate coefficients of time invariant covariates. We find that not working increases BMI in the US and Germany, in women, and in lower educated individuals. A higher income increases BMI in men and in the US. Ageing is the driving force in all countries, in particular in Germany. Women increase their BMI faster than men, and the lower educated faster than those with a higher education. We conclude that the generally more deprived individuals (women, not working, lower educated, people from less affluent countries) suffer from a comparatively stronger BMI increase over their lifetime.

DOI10.12682/lives.2296-1658.2016.56

Treatment Versus Regime Effects of Carrots and Sticks

TitleTreatment Versus Regime Effects of Carrots and Sticks
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsArni, P, van den Berg, G, Lalive, R
JournalLIVES Working Paper
Volume55
Pagination1-40
PublisherNCCR LIVES
Keywordsactive labor market programs, caseworkers, earnings, employment, policy regime, treatment effect, unemployment
Abstract

Public Employment Service (PES) agencies and caseworkers (CW) often have substantial leeway in the design and implementation of active labor market policies (ALMP) for the unemployed, resulting in variation of usage. This paper presents a novel framework in which this variation is used for the joint assessment of different ways in which ALMP effects can operate. We examine an additional layer of impacts - beyond the treatment effects on the treated job seekers - called regime effects, which potentially affect all job seekers and which are defined by the extent to which programs are intended to be used in a market. We propose a novel method to jointly estimate regime effects for two types of programs, supportive (carrots) and restrictive (sticks) programs. We apply this to contrast regime and treatment effects on unemployment durations, employment, and post-unemployment earnings using register data that contain PES and caseworker identifiers for about 130,000 job seekers. The results show that “carrots” and “sticks” treatments prolong unemployment, but carrots increase earnings whereas sticks decrease them. We find regime effects of a similar order of magnitude. Higher intended usage of carrots and sticks reduces unemployment durations, but carrots raise earnings whereas sticks decrease them. We also find interaction effects between carrots and sticks policies. Regime effects are economically substantial. Our comprehensive cost-benefits analyses show that modest increases in the intended usage of carrots and sticks reduce the total cost of an unemployed individual by up to 10%.

DOI10.12682/lives.2296-1658.2016.55

Availability, cost or culture? Obstacles to Childcare Services for Low Income Families

TitleAvailability, cost or culture? Obstacles to Childcare Services for Low Income Families
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsAbrassart, A, Bonoli, G
JournalJournal of Social Policy
Volume44
Issue4
Pagination787-806
DOI10.1017/S0047279415000288
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Gender, education, and family life courses in East and West Germany: Insights from new sequence analysis techniques

TitleGender, education, and family life courses in East and West Germany: Insights from new sequence analysis techniques
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsStruffolino, E, Studer, M, Fasang, A
JournalAdvances in Life Course Research
Volume29
Pagination66-79
KeywordsEast/West Germany, education, Family life course, gender, Implicative statistic for sequences of typical, Sequence discrepancy analysis, States analysis
Abstract

How do men and women's family life courses differ? Are gender differences in family life courses greater at higher or lower educational levels? And how does the intersection of gender, education and family life courses vary across different macro-structural contexts? This paper addresses these questions comparing East and West Germany during the German division (1961–1990). We thereby compare a strong male breadwinner model in a social market economy in West Germany and a universal breadwinner model in a state socialist system in the East. The analysis uses data from the German National Education Panel (NEPS) and employs two new sequence analysis tools: sequence discrepancy analysis and the implicative statistic for analyzing sequences of typical states. These tools enable us to scrutinize the degree, content, and timing of differences in family trajectories between men and women of different educational levels in the two sub-societies. In line with our expectations, family life courses were more de-standardized in the West compared to the East, and this occurred to the same extent for men and women in both contexts. While we find moderate gender differences in family life courses across all educational groups in the strong male breadwinner context in West Germany, for East Germany gender differences were significant among the medium and lower educated, but not among the highly educated. These findings underline the fact that the intersection of gender and education for family life courses is highly context-specific. They further suggest that different patterns of assortative mating play a key role for gender differences in family life courses. We demonstrate the added value of sequence discrepancy analysis and the implicative statistic to illuminate differences in longitudinal life courses between men and women or other social groups.

URLhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1040260815000714
DOI10.1016/j.alcr.2015.12.001
Refereed DesignationRefereed

The association of timing of retirement with cognitive performance in old age: The role of leisure activities after retirement

TitleThe association of timing of retirement with cognitive performance in old age: The role of leisure activities after retirement
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsIhle, A, Grotz, C, Adam, S, Oris, M, Fagot, D, Gabriel, R, Kliegel, M
JournalInternational Psychogeriatrics
Volume28
Issue10
Pagination1659-1669
ISSN1741-203X
Keywordsactivity engagement, cognitive functioning, cognitive level of occupation, cognitive reserve, cognitive stimulation, older adults, physical demand of job, timing of retirement
Abstract

Background: The role of timing of retirement on cognitive functioning in old age is inconclusive so far. Therefore, the present study set out to investigate the association of timing of retirement with cognitive performance and its interplay with key correlates of cognitive reserve in a large sample of older adults. Methods: Two thousand two hundred and sixty three older adults served as sample for the present study. Different psychometric tests (TMT A, TMT B, Mill Hill) were administered. In addition, individuals were interviewed on their retirement, occupation, educational attainment, and regarding 18 leisure activities that have been carried out after retirement. Results: Earlier retirement (compared to retirement at legal age) was significantly associated with better performance in the TMT A, the TMT B, and the Mill Hill vocabulary test. Moderation analyses showed that in individuals with a moderate number of leisure activities in old age, earlier retirement was related to better cognitive performance, but not in those with a relatively large number of leisure activities. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that entering leisure activities as additional predictor significantly increased explained variance in the cognitive measures over and above all other investigated markers of cognitive reserve (i.e., occupation and education). Conclusions: Present data further corroborate the view that leisure activities even in old age may lead to further enrichment effects and thereby may be related to better cognitive functioning. The role of engaging in activities in the context of major life events such as retirement is discussed.

DOI10.1017/S1041610216000958
Refereed DesignationRefereed

The relation of the number of languages spoken to performance in different cognitive abilities in old age

TitleThe relation of the number of languages spoken to performance in different cognitive abilities in old age
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsIhle, A, Oris, M, Fagot, D, Kliegel, M
JournalJournal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
Volume38
Issue10
Pagination1103-1114
ISSN1380-3395
Keywordsactivity engagement, cognitive functioning, cognitive reserve, multilingualism, older adults
Abstract

Introduction: Findings on the association of speaking different languages with cognitive functioning in old age are inconsistent and inconclusive so far. Therefore, the present study set out to investigate the relation of the number of languages spoken to cognitive performance and its interplay with several other markers of cognitive reserve in a large sample of older adults. Methods: Two thousand eight hundred and twelve older adults served as sample for the present study. Psychometric tests on verbal abilities, basic processing speed, and cognitive flexibility were administered. In addition, individuals were interviewed on their different languages spoken on a regular basis, educational attainment, occupation, and engaging in different activities throughout adulthood. Results: Higher number of languages regularly spoken was significantly associated with better performance in verbal abilities and processing speed, but unrelated to cognitive flexibility. Regression analyses showed that the number of languages spoken predicted cognitive performance over and above leisure activities/physical demand of job/gainful activity as respective additional predictor, but not over and above educational attainment/cognitive level of job as respective additional predictor. There was no significant moderation of the association of the number of languages spoken with cognitive performance in any model. Conclusions: Present data suggest that speaking different languages on a regular basis may additionally contribute to the built-up of cognitive reserve in old age. Yet, this may not be universal, but linked to verbal abilities and basic cognitive processing speed. Moreover, it may be dependent on other types of cognitive stimulation individuals also engaged in during their life course.

DOI10.1080/13803395.2016.1197184
Refereed DesignationRefereed

The influence of high and low cue–action association on prospective memory performance

TitleThe influence of high and low cue–action association on prospective memory performance
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsAlbiński, R, Kliegel, M, Gurynowicz, K
JournalJournal of Cognitive Psychology
Volume28
Issue6
Pagination707-717
ISSN2044-5911
Keywordscue-action association, prospective component, prospective memory, retrospective component, study times
Abstract

Recent discoveries in the field of prospective memory (PM) show higher accuracy for remembering intentions in which prospective cue and action are strongly associated. In two experiments presented in this paper participants encoded both high and low association cue–action pairs and were later tested on both prospective and retrospective PM components. Results of both studies show higher PM accuracy for the low association pairs compared to high association ones but only for the prospective component (across both Experiments) and only when a high association cue was presented first (Experiment 2). This finding was accompanied by longer study times for the low association pairs and study times were functionally related to later performance (across both Experiments). In the retrospective component higher accuracy was observed for pairs with high level of association (but only in the first Experiment). Data are discussed in the context of metacognitive processes possibly related to the encoding of an intention as well as cue monitoring in case of PM tasks with high memory load and varying task difficulty.

URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20445911.2016.1186675
DOI10.1080/20445911.2016.1186675
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Do inhibitory control demands affect event-based prospective memory performance in ADHD?

TitleDo inhibitory control demands affect event-based prospective memory performance in ADHD?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsAltgassen, M, Koch, A, Kliegel, M
JournalJournal of Attention Disorders
Volume23
Number1
Pagination51–56
ISSN1557-1246
KeywordsADHD, Executive Function, inhibition, prospective memory
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Empirical evidence on prospective memory (PM) in ADHD is inconsistent. Differential findings have been related to differential executive control demands. This study aimed at exploring the impact of inhibitory control on event-based PM performance in ADHD. METHOD: Eighteen adults with ADHD and 18 controls performed a word categorization task with an embedded event-based PM task. In addition, participants performed an acoustically presented task that put either low or high loads on inhibitory control processes. RESULTS: Inhibitory load did not differentially affect PM performance: Across both inhibitory load conditions, individuals with ADHD showed reduced PM performance when compared with controls. Moreover, inhibitory load did not influence PM performance across both groups. CONCLUSION: Possibly, full inhibitory control resources are not necessary during the entire duration of an event-based PM task, but may suffice to be employed after cue detection when needing to interrupt the ongoing task. (J. of Att. Dis. 2019; 23(1) 51-56).

DOI10.1177/1087054713518236
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Children's planning performance in the Zoo Map task (BADS-C): Is it driven by general cognitive ability, executive functioning, or prospection?

TitleChildren's planning performance in the Zoo Map task (BADS-C): Is it driven by general cognitive ability, executive functioning, or prospection?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsBallhausen, N, Mahy, CEV, Hering, A, Voigt, B, Schnitzspahn, KM, Lagner, P, Ihle, A, Kliegel, M
JournalApplied Neuropsychology: Child
Volume6
Issue2
Pagination138-144
ISSN2162-2965
Abstract

A minimal amount of research has examined the cognitive predictors of children's performance in naturalistic errand-type planning tasks such as the Zoo Map task of the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children (BADS-C). Thus the current study examined prospection (i.e. the ability to remember to carry out a future intention) executive functioning and intelligence markers as predictors of performance in this widely used naturalistic planning task in 56 children aged 7- to 12-years-old. Measures of planning prospection inhibition crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence were collected in an individual differences study. Regression analyses showed that prospection (rather than traditional measures of intelligence or inhibition) predicted planning suggesting that naturalistic planning tasks such as the Zoo Map task may rely on future-oriented cognitive processes rather than executive problem solving or general knowledge.

URLhttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21622965.2015.1124276
DOI10.1080/21622965.2015.1124276
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Benefits in tasks related to everyday life competences after a working memory training in older adults

TitleBenefits in tasks related to everyday life competences after a working memory training in older adults
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsCantarella, A, Borella, E, Carretti, B, Kliegel, M, de Beni, R
JournalInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume32
Issue1
Pagination86-93
ISSN1099-1166
Keywordsaging, everyday abilities, intelligence, older adults, transfer effects, working memory training
Abstract

Objective impact of working memory (WM) training on everyday life functioning has rarely been examined and it is not clear whether WM training gains are transferred to reasoning abilities. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a verbal WM training in older adults in terms of specific gains and transfer effects to everyday life and reasoning abilities. community dwelling older adults (from 65 to 75 years of age) were randomly assigned to a training or an active control group. The specific gains in a WM task similar to the one trained were assessed. Transfer effects to everyday life and reasoning abilities were also examined using (i) objective performance-based tasks (the Everyday Problem Test and the Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale) and (ii) the Cattell test and Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices respectively. the trained group showed specific benefits and transfer effects to one of the everyday abilities measures (the Everyday Problem Test) and in the two reasoning tasks. These results suggest that WM training can positively impact cognitive functioning and more importantly older adults' abilities in everyday living.

URLhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gps.4448/abstract
DOI10.1002/gps.4448
Refereed DesignationRefereed

The effects of ongoing task absorption on event-based prospective memory in preschoolers

TitleThe effects of ongoing task absorption on event-based prospective memory in preschoolers
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsZhang, X, Ballhausen, N, Liu, S, Kliegel, M, Wang, L
JournalEuropean Journal of Developmental Psychology
Volume16
Issue1
Number2
Pagination123–136
Date Published06/2017
ISSN1740-5629
Keywordscomputerized task, Event-based prospective memory, ongoing task absorption, preschoolers, scenario game task, www
Abstract

The current study applied a 2 × 2 experimental design to investigate the effects of ongoing task absorption on event-based prospective memory performance of children aged 3 and 5 years. Children were required to label pictures as ongoing task but to remember to refrain from picture naming and to respond to the target cues in a different way as the prospective memory task. Two differently absorbing ongoing tasks (high absorbing scenario game task vs. low absorbing computer-based task) were administered. Results indicated that prospective memory performance of 5-year-old children was significantly better than that of 3-year-old children. Ongoing task absorption affected the ongoing task performance of preschoolers, but not overall prospective memory performance. Only the 3-year-olds were negatively affected by high ongoing task absorption, which was not the case for the 5-year-olds. The findings are discussed within the light of the multiprocess theory.

URLhttps://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2017.1346503
DOI10.1080/17405629.2017.1346503
Refereed DesignationRefereed

An individual difference perspective on focal versus nonfocal prospective memory

TitleAn individual difference perspective on focal versus nonfocal prospective memory
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsZuber, S, Kliegel, M, Ihle, A
JournalMemory & Cognition
Volume44
Issue8
Pagination1192-1203
ISSN0090-502X
Keywordscue focality, episodic memory, executive functions, latent variable modeling, prospective remembering
Abstract

The present study targeted the question of whether focal versus nonfocal prospective memory (PM) can be distinguished on a construct level and if so to what extent individual differences in these two constructs are related to individual differences in facets of controlled attention and episodic memory. 315 individuals (aged 20–68 years) were administered focal and nonfocal PM tasks as well as indicators measuring updating inhibition shifting and episodic memory. Latent variable modeling revealed that focal and nonfocal PM were two distinguishable but related constructs. Furthermore analyses showed that focal PM was more strongly related to inhibition while nonfocal PM was more strongly related to shifting. Present data support the conceptual hypothesis that focal and nonfocal PM should be conceptualized as two distinguishable but related constructs. Moreover they suggest that both have some but distinct associations to controlled attention.

URLhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13421-016-0628-5
DOI10.3758/s13421-016-0628-5
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Interaction between BDNF Polymorphism and Physical Activity on Inhibitory Performance in the Elderly without Cognitive Impairment

TitleInteraction between BDNF Polymorphism and Physical Activity on Inhibitory Performance in the Elderly without Cognitive Impairment
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsCanivet, A, Albinet, CT, Rodríguez-Ballesteros, M, Chicherio, C, Fagot, D, André, N, Audiffren, M
JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience
Volume11
Number370
Pagination1-12
Date Published11/2017
ISSN1662-5161
Keywordsaging, BDNF gene, controlled inhibition, executive functions, genetic polymorphism, physical activity, reaction time
Abstract

Background: In the elderly, physical activity (PA) enhances cognitive performances, increases brain plasticity and improves brain health. The neurotrophic hypothesis is that the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is implicated in brain plasticity and cognition, is triggered by PA because motoneurons secrete BDNF into the bloodstream during exercise. Individual differences in cognitive performance may be explained by individual differences in genetic predisposition. A single nucleotide polymorphism on the BDNF gene, BDNFVal66Met, affects activity-dependent BDNF secretion. This study investigated the influence of the BDNFVal66Met polymorphism on the relationship between PA and controlled inhibition performance in older adults. Methods: A total of 114 healthy elderly volunteers (mean age = 71.53 years old) were evaluated. Participants were genotyped for the BDNFVal66Met polymorphism. We evaluated inhibitory performance using choice reaction times (RT) and error rates from a Simon-like task and estimated their PA using two self-reported questionnaires. We established 4 groups according to PA level (active vs. inactive) and BDNFVal66Met genotype (Met carriers vs. Val-homozygous). The results were analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA, including age, gender and, body mass index as covariates. Results: The BDNFVal66Met polymorphism interacted with PA on controlled inhibition performance. More specifically, inactive Val-homozygous participants exhibited a lower inhibition performance than active Val homozygotes and inactive Met carriers; the former had a higher error rate without differences in RT. Conclusions: Differences between individuals on inhibitory performance may be partially understood by the interaction between genetic influence in BDNF secretion and PA level. The results of this study clearly support the neurotrophic hypothesis that BDNF synthesis is an important mechanism underlying the influence of physical activity on brain structure and functions.

URLhttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00541/full
DOI10.3389/fnhum.2017.00541
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Insight level in the assimilation process: A comparison of good- and poor-outcome cases in short-term dynamic psychotherapy of depressive inpatients

TitleInsight level in the assimilation process: A comparison of good- and poor-outcome cases in short-term dynamic psychotherapy of depressive inpatients
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsMeystre, C, Kramer, U, Despland, J-N, de Roten, Y
JournalCounselling Psychology Quarterly
Volume30
Issue2
Pagination134-151
DOI10.1080/09515070.2016.1161598
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Work-life balance vulnerabilities and resources for women in Switzerland: Results from a national study

TitleWork-life balance vulnerabilities and resources for women in Switzerland: Results from a national study
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsStauffer, SD, Maggiori, C, Johnston, C, Rossier, J, Rochat, S
EditorFaniko, K, Lorenzi-Cioldi, F, Sarrasin, O, Mayor, E
Book TitleGender and Social Hierarchies: Perspectives from Social Psychology
Chapter8
EditionFirst
Pagination117-131
PublisherPeter Lang
Place PublishedBern, Switzerland
ISBN Number978-1-138-93811-3
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Looking too old? How an older age appearance reduces chances of being hired

TitleLooking too old? How an older age appearance reduces chances of being hired
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsKaufmann, M, Krings, F, Sczesny, S
JournalBritish Journal of Management
Volume27
Issue4
Pagination727-739
DOI10.1111/1467-8551.12125
Refereed DesignationRefereed

When winning is everything: The relationship between competitive worldviews and job applicant faking

TitleWhen winning is everything: The relationship between competitive worldviews and job applicant faking
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsRoulin, N, Krings, F
JournalApplied Psychology: An international Review
Volume65
Issue4
Pagination643-670
DOI10.1111/apps.12072
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Career adaptability, hope, optimism and life satisfaction in Italian and Swiss adolescents

TitleCareer adaptability, hope, optimism and life satisfaction in Italian and Swiss adolescents
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsSantilli, S, Marcionetti, J, Rochat, S, Rossier, J, Nota, L
JournalJournal of Career Development
Volume44
Issue1
Pagination62-76
DOI10.1177/0894845316633793
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Working alliance in career counseling: A systematic overview

TitleWorking alliance in career counseling: A systematic overview
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsWhiston, SC, Rossier, J, Barón, PMHernand
JournalJournal of Career Assessment
Volume24
Issue4
Pagination591-604
Keywordscareer counseling, therapeutic alliance, vocational counseling, working alliance
Abstract

The research related to the working alliance in career counseling is reviewed in this article. This review indicates that the working alliance does typically increase over the course of career counseling. Furthermore in career counseling, most of the correlations between the working alliance and various outcome measures were significant and hovered around .30, which is consistent with findings related to the correlation between the working alliance and the outcome in psychotherapy. In terms of factors that predict the working alliance’s contribution to career counseling outcome, there is a lack of studies and more research is needed in this area. This article also provides suggestions for practice in career counseling and recommendations for future research.

DOI10.1177/1069072715615849
Refereed DesignationRefereed

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