Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2020011

Authors: Loretta E. Bass Oyindamola A. Okuwa

We examine relationships across two focal variables, being an immigrant and experiencing racial discrimination (an adverse childhood experience, or ACE), and the outcome of a mental or emotional health condition for adolescent children in the U.S. Using a nationally representative sample from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH; n = 16,040; 12–17 years old), we find that immigrant teens are 17 percent less likely than native-born teens to have a mental or emotional health condition and that teens who have experienced racial discrimination are almost twice as likely as teens who did not to have a mental or emotional health condition, net of other relationships. Adolescents with a mental or emotional health condition are more likely to be female, White, urban, living in an unsafe neighborhood, having a parent with less education, and coming from a household with a lower income. We find evidence for the healthy immigrant effect in terms of mental health for immigrant teens in the U.S., and also, we find a strong relationship between the ACE of experiencing racial discrimination and poor mental health of adolescents overall.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2020010

Authors: Man Xu Paula England

Most demographic studies of fertility use data from surveys of women, not men. These studies have shown that, in the U.S., nonmarital births are more common among women from lower rather than higher socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds and higher among Black than White women. Using panel data, which have been shown to reduce men’s under-reporting of nonmarital births, we show that these generalizations also hold for men. Our analysis of nonmarital births for Black and White men and women distinguishes between nonunion and cohabiting births and shows that nonunion births are predicted by racial and SES disadvantage for both women and men. By contrast, cohabiting births are not higher for Black individuals, and they are higher among women whose mothers had less education only among White, and not Black individuals. The effects of race and mothers’ education on having a nonunion first birth are partly mediated by the income and family structure of one’s family of origin, high school grade point average, and school enrollment. We use NLSY-97 panel data from U.S. men and women born in 1980–1984 and present descriptive statistics, double decrement life tables, and event history models. We conclude that disadvantaged racial and SES backgrounds are strongly predictive of having a nonunion first birth for men as well as women.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010009

Authors: Richard Cincotta

This study adheres to a logistic regression modeling protocol originally developed for long-range intelligence analyses and employs data from UN demographic estimates (the 2024 revision) to generate a set of statistical functions that suggest a moderately strong relationship between increasing median age and the probability of a persistently positive international net migration rate (NMR). According to this relationship, the post-Cold War probability (data from 1990 to 2015) of experiencing a persistently positive net migration rate (defined as a +NMR, directly followed by five consecutive years of +NMRs) rose from less than 0.12 at a population median age of 15 years, to a probability greater than 0.55 at 36 years, and then to more than 0.77 at 45 years. The author hypothesizes a speculative set of predictions aimed at providing long-term tests for this model. These predictions assume that, by a median age of 36.0 years, at least one country in the hypothesized cluster of countries will have shifted to experiencing a series of +NMRs. If, as this model predicts, the age-structurally associated transition to sustained +NMRs transpires by 2055, there could be a substantially larger pool of migrant net-receiving states in parts of Asia, Latin America, and North Africa than the UN’s future scenarios currently project.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010008

Authors: Karina Donald Lorna Durrant Xingyi Li

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced an additional major stressor for families in the Caribbean, a region already shaped by environmental risk and socioeconomic vulnerability. This study examined changes in family resilience across pandemic phases among English-speaking Caribbean populations, drawing on Walsh’s family resilience framework, which emphasizes belief systems, organizational processes, and communication. Using a convergent parallel mixed methods design, quantitative and qualitative data were integrated from two studies conducted before and during pandemic restrictions and after restrictions were lifted. Survey data were collected from 198 families across English-speaking Caribbean nations, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 families from Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Quantitative analyses indicated a significant decline in family resilience during periods of heightened restrictions, followed by a return to pre-pandemic levels. Qualitative findings identified faith, family connectedness, communication, resourcefulness, and a positive outlook as key processes supporting adaptation during the crisis. Overall, results suggest that while family resilience at the population level was strained during the pandemic, it demonstrated recovery over time. Policies and interventions that strengthen communication supports and community- and faith-based resources may enhance family resilience and preparedness for future public health and environmental disruptions in the Caribbean.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010007

Authors: Alexandra J. Reichert Ofelia Salazar Adela Alvarado Erika Huatatoca

Indigenous Kichwa women in the Ecuadorian Amazon experience disproportionately high levels of obstetric violence, yet their experiences remain largely absent from national demographic data. This study aims to measure the prevalence and forms of obstetric violence among Kichwa women while demonstrating the utility of community-designed demographic tools for documenting marginalized reproductive health experiences. We developed a participatory survey in collaboration with Kichwa midwives and women, several of whom are co-authors, and administered 139 structured surveys and 69 ethnographic interviews across 43 Indigenous communities in the Napo province to women who had given birth in a public hospital within the past five years. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to estimate prevalence across domains of obstetric violence, and interviews were thematically analyzed to contextualize these patterns. Findings indicate pervasive obstetric violence, including non-consensual procedures, verbal and psychological abuse, structural barriers to care, and suppression of traditional practices such as midwifery and plant medicine. Over 80% of participants reported at least one non-consensual procedure and at least one form of cultural or epistemic suppression, with most experiencing violence across multiple domains. These results position obstetric violence in the Amazon as a compounded, population-level exposure shaped by structural, environmental, and cultural determinants, underscoring the need for intercultural health reforms and Indigenous-led models of health governance.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010006

Authors: Hilde Caroli Casavola

Italy’s current migrant integration policies show limited effectiveness in fostering genuine social inclusion, particularly for migrant women who face compounded, intersectional discrimination. Although Italy has adopted international frameworks such as CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention, their implementation remains fragmented and weak. The absence of structured, accessible language courses and personalized integration pathways disproportionately affects migrant women, especially those confined to domestic roles or constrained by cultural barriers. The analysis highlights the Migrant and Inclusive Communities (MeCI) project as an example of a successful local initiative that used technology to enhance linguistic and social inclusion. However, its time-limited nature constrained by temporary funding and local commitment reveals broader systemic failures, including the lack of institutionalization of effective practices and excessive reliance on local actors and short-term funding. The article also stresses the importance of recognizing refugee status through a gender-sensitive lens, acknowledging forms of persecution specific to women. Overall, Italy’s integration policies are undermined by the absence of a coherent national strategy, a focus on emergency and security measures, and insufficient long-term planning. The document calls for comprehensive, rights-based, and gender-sensitive policies that prioritize empowerment, participation, and social inclusion.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010005

Authors: David López-Carr Kevin M. Mwenda

As Populations completes its inaugural volume, we pause to reflect on what has been achieved during the journal’s formative year and anticipate the intellectual directions that will shape its next phase [...]

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010004

Authors: Naa Adjeley Mensah

Infertility affects 10–30% of couples globally, with significant psychological and social impacts in sub-Saharan Africa, where fertility is closely tied to identity and social status. To explore how couples’ understanding of infertility causes influences their treatment-seeking behaviours and healthcare decision-making processes in Ghana, this cross-sectional qualitative study used in-depth interviews with 24 married participants (nine dyads and six individuals) experiencing current or past infertility in Greater Accra, Ghana, from August to October 2023. Data were analysed using thematic analysis with NVivo version 15. Couples demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of infertility causes spanning medical, spiritual, cultural, and lifestyle factors, although they lacked knowledge of clinical diagnostic criteria. Three main treatment pathways emerged: medical/orthodox, herbal, and spiritual interventions, pursued either sequentially or concurrently. Decision-making was influenced by internal factors (treatment effectiveness, financial constraints, and safety concerns) and external factors (family influence and peer testimonials). Four distinct navigation strategies were identified: informed notification, trial periods and evaluation, parallel relationship management, and strategic sequencing. Couples experiencing infertility are sophisticated healthcare consumers who skilfully navigate pluralistic healthcare systems through strategic decision-making. Rather than representing non-compliance, their multimodal approaches reflect rational responses to structural constraints and cultural values. Healthcare systems should recognise and accommodate these navigation strategies to improve therapeutic relationships and outcomes.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010003

Authors: C. Cindy Fan

China has experienced a population decline since 2022, and its total fertility rate has dropped to about 1.0 in 2025. This is despite the lifting of the one-child policy in 2015 and the pivot to the two-child policy and three-child policy in, respectively, 2016 and 2021. Based on a review of recent research, this paper provides an interpretation that the continued fertility decline reflects a perfect storm of socioeconomic and demographic processes, long-term effects of the one-child policy, and unprecedented social changes in Chinese society. Socioeconomic and demographic changes since the 1950s prepared the ground for the “late, sparse, few” policy, resulting in a sharp fertility decline in the 1970s. While the one-child policy that followed did not result in a fertility decline in the 1980s, its effects appear to be long-lasting, including concentrated investment by the “inverted family” in the only child that drives up society-wide childrearing costs. Significant improvement in women’s educational attainment, individualistic orientation that prioritizes personal goals, increased diversity in family structure, such as one-person households, and changing views about getting married and having children have all contributed to continued downward pressure on fertility. These findings hint at the relevance of the concept of the second demographic transition for China and suggest that policy is only effective if it is aligned with what people want.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010002

Authors: Andy Sharma

Recent policy reports and state briefs continue to highlight the trend of out-migration from California. This outflow has been pronounced over the last three years, revealing a substantial net loss (i.e., net migration) of approximately 740,000 residents. However, there has been comparatively less emphasis on new residents moving to California. Over the past decade, California has attracted substantial in-migration from both domestic and international sources with annual inflows often exceeding 300,000 individuals. As such, studying in-migration is noteworthy as it shapes economic, political, and social landscapes. In-migration can alter the demographic profiles of regions, thereby impacting community dynamics, cultural diversity, and the provision of social services. Using pooled data from the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2021 to 2023 and employing a two-way fixed effects regression framework, I study how temporal changes in racial and ethnic composition, age structure, educational attainment, and economic indicators influence in-migration rates per 1000 residents at the public use microdata level (PUMA). The analysis reveals that higher proportions of Asian and Hispanic populations, as well as an increased share of college-educated residents, are positively associated with in-migration. Notably, higher supplemental poverty rates are also associated with greater in-migration, a counterintuitive finding that may reflect mobility toward affordable housing markets. These findings emphasize the importance of recognizing demographic and intra-regional variability, which can aid policymakers and planners in assessing and delivering public services.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations2010001

Authors: Haoyang Zhang A. Nicole Kreisberg

Many states around the world create an unprotected class of migrants by legally categorizing them as “unauthorized”. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the state of knowledge that has resulted from this empirical phenomenon, particularly outside the U.S. and over time. In this article, we map the state of knowledge on unauthorized migration by analyzing the last 30 years of papers published in a leading migration journal. Articles were identified through a comprehensive keyword-based search strategy and analyzed using a computational pipeline that combines natural language processing and large language model-assisted classification. Our findings reveal a persistent empirical emphasis on Mexico–U.S. migration, with economic drivers and disparities, as well as immigration laws and policies, dominating articles’ content. Our analysis also identifies underexplored or peripheral topics, including studies on gender or the environment, highlighting the need for more diversified, cross-national research. Ultimately, by providing a detailed account of our computational mapping approach, we hope this study will serve as a blueprint for future scholars to track how migration research evolves into the future.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1040026

Authors: Eva Kourova

This review examines how demographic knowledge is framed and reimagined within a Scottish widening access higher education programme. Drawing on my positionality as a former international student and widening access graduate, alongside over 15 years of community-based work with disadvantaged Roma populations, I reflect on how notions of population “need” are often shaped by national policy priorities and narrow imaginaries of populations—typically white, Scottish, and urban. While these narratives reflect lived realities, they risk overlooking multilingual, racialised, and globally mobile populations increasingly present in both the student body and the communities that graduates will serve. Based on my work since 2021 in placement coordination and teaching, I outline how applied changes to placement partnerships, thematic content, and assessment practice can challenge and reframe these dominant narratives. Drawing on Foucault’s concepts of population, discipline, and control, and Esposito’s theorisation of community, immunity, and exclusion, and coupled with anti-oppressive pedagogies, I argue for a reorientation of demographic literacy toward more plural, critically engaged, and globally attuned understandings of population. In reframing demographic literacy as a site of justice, I move it beyond a technical skill of interpreting population data toward a critical practice of interrogating how populations are constructed, which groups are rendered visible or invisible, and how imaginaries of “need” shape inclusion and exclusion in higher education. Such a shift positions international students not only as beneficiaries of widening access but as active population actors whose experiences and knowledges expand the terms of justice and belonging in higher education.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1040025

Authors: Portia Buernarkie Nartey Proscovia Nabunya Peace Mamle Tetteh Fred M. Ssewamala

Despite global progress toward gender parity in education, Ghanaian girls continue to face systemic barriers rooted in entrenched parental gender norms. This paper explores how parental gender norm beliefs and attitudes perpetuate disparities among school-aged, particularly disadvantaging girls in access to and retention in education. Using a desk review methodology, we analyzed peer-reviewed social science and development literature, legal documents, and international reports from organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank to explore the structural and cultural dynamics affecting girls’ education in Ghana. Anchored in Social Impact Theory, Parental Ethnotheories, and Expectation States Theory, the study provides a multi-theoretical lens to understand how gender norms, cultural expectations, and parental beliefs converge to influence educational outcomes for girls. Analysis of sociocultural norms, economic trade-offs, and safety concerns reveals how parents—often guided by love and pragmatism—prioritize sons’ education while withdrawing daughters for caregiving, early marriages, or income-generating labor. The study highlights three critical dimensions: (1) the economic reasoning behind gendered investments in children’s schooling, (2) sociocultural gender norms limiting girls’ retention in school, and (3) the transformative potential of educated women as community leaders challenging these patterns. Evidence shows that educating girls yields broad benefits, from improved health outcomes to economic growth, yet systemic inequities remain. Findings underscore the need for interventions to move beyond school access to address the familial and cultural ecosystems shaping parental decisions. By disrupting entrenched gender norms, Ghana can advance SDGs 4 and 5 and promote long-term societal change.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1040024

Authors: Carla Canelas Miguel Niño-Zarazúa Fiona Samuels

This paper evaluates the Enhancing Mobile Populations’ Access to HIV and AIDS Services, Information and Support (EMPHASIS) programme implemented by CARE International across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Using individual-level data, we estimate the programme’s impact on HIV-related knowledge and preventive behaviours among migrant workers. Results show that participation in EMPHASIS significantly increased correct knowledge of HIV transmission, reduced misconceptions, and improved partner communication. These informational gains translated into higher condom use and fewer unsafe sexual practices, with stronger effects among women. The findings provide evidence that peer-led, information-based interventions can improve health behaviours among mobile populations. Integrating such approaches with gender empowerment and mobile health services offers a promising model for addressing HIV vulnerability in cross-border migration settings.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1040023

Authors: Peter O’Brien

This article examines European policies blocking migration. It outlines a theory of borders and bordering that conceptualizes both as being far more complex and consequential than the mere regulation of conventional national frontiers. Although due attention is paid to efforts at the formal frontiers of Europe, the bulk of the analysis focuses on the effective externalization of Europe’s borders into African and Asian states that European governments pay (in kind or cash) to stop migrants from ever reaching Europe’s shores. The essay goes on to introduce the notion of Anglo-European hegemony to explain why postcolonial states, despite having achieved formal independence from colonial rule, continue to contribute to and even emulate patterns of blocking migration that originate in the Global North. Blocked migration casts doubt on Europe’s democratic credentials—so much so that efforts to reduce, end or evade blocked migration should be reinterpreted as necessary steps in the ongoing decolonization and democratization of European politics.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1040022

Authors: Ping Chen Yi Li

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in middle and late adulthood, contributing substantially to morbidity, mortality, and reduced quality of life. However, limited research has examined the mechanisms linking genetic predisposition and early protective environments to long-term mental health trajectories. Guided by a life course health development perspective, this study investigated how depression polygenic scores (G) and protective childhood family environments (E) interplay to shape depressive symptom trajectories from mid- to late adulthood. We analyzed longitudinal data of 14 waves from the Health and Retirement Study (1994–2020; N = 4817), estimating linear mixed-effects models of depressive symptoms using the validated CES-D scale. Early protective environments were measured by indicators of family structure stability, non-abusive and substance-free parenting, positive parent–child relationships, and parental support. Results showed that genetic predisposition and protective family environments jointly influence depression trajectories across the life course. Specifically, individuals with both low genetic risk and high environmental protection had the lowest depressive symptoms over time. Importantly, when only one favorable factor was present, protective family environments offered a stronger lifelong benefit than low genetic risk. These findings extend prior research by demonstrating that supportive childhood environments can mitigate genetic vulnerability, shaping healthier long-term mental health trajectories. This work underscores the need for early family-based interventions to reduce depression risk, enhance resilience, and promote longevity.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1030021

Authors: Leora Lawton

Mortality studies comparing married men to never-married or formerly married men have consistently found that married men have a noticeable mortality advantage. This paper takes a novel perspective—examining mortality outcomes from the perspective of married men only and comparing those who coreside with any parents, in-laws, or their spouse only. The analyses use CenSoc data set, consisting of the 1940 Full Count United States Census linked to the Social Security Administration Death Master Files and includes 1.7 million married men between the ages of 21 and 45 years old residing with their spouse, and who died between 1975 and 2005. The results show that married men who live with only a spouse but no parental generations have an older age at death, and being a household head has an additional advantage. Living with either or both of their parents is associated with a reduction in life of 4 months, or 2 months for those who live with their in-laws. The conclusion reached is that longevity is associated with the possible burden of living with one’s parents, coupled with the reasons that may have led to the particular living arrangement. The effect of coresidence is, in turn, filtered through expectations about intergenerational relationships and norms regarding coresidence. The coresidence experience can become part of a trajectory, leading to declines in longevity.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1030020

Authors: Lan Kolano Stella Kim Anna Sanczyk-Cruz Taryn Greene

Providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed afterschool programming is a promising intervention to promote the adjustment, educational achievement, and well-being of newly arrived refugee and immigrant children. Connecting Communities and Multilingual Learners (CCML) is a local nonprofit organization in the Southeastern part of the United States that provides this type of programming to newly arrived families. To better understand their impact on children, CCML aimed to examine its model of programming via a mixed methods, strengths-focused evaluation. Evaluation efforts focused on describing the effects of the program on children at CCML’s flagship site in a robust urban center. Data were collected from students and facilitators at two times (beginning and end of the year) over one academic school year. Results revealed that CCML supported students’ socio-emotional well-being, English language acquisition, and cultural pride in positive and sustaining ways. Evidence from this study suggests that culturally responsive and trauma-informed programs offer promising, adaptable models for addressing the evolving needs of newly arrived refugee and immigrant youth in diverse community contexts.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1030019

Authors: Hal Caswell

Lifetime reproductive output (LRO), also called lifetime reproductive success (LRS) is often described by its mean (total fertility rate or net reproductive rate), but it is in fact highly variable among individuals and often positively skewed. Several approaches exist to calculating the variance and skewness of LRO. These studies have noted that a major factor contributing to skewness is the fraction of the population that dies before reaching a reproductive age or stage. The existence of that fraction means that LRO has a zero-inflated distribution. This paper shows how to calculate that fraction and to fit a zero-inflated Poisson or zero-inflated negative binomial distribution to the LRO. We present a series of applications to populations before and after demographic transitions, to populations with particularly high probabilities of death before reproduction, and a couple of large mammal populations for good measure. The zero-inflated distribution also provides extinction probabilities from a Galton-Watson branching process. We compare the zero-inflated analysis with a recently developed analysis using convolution methods that provides exact distributions of LRO. The agreement is strikingly good.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1030018

Authors: Christopher D. Blake Caroline Kreutzen

Past studies of urbanization in the United States have found that college-educated (power) couples migrate to metropolitan areas at higher rates than both educated single persons and other couples with less education. A common explanation is that power couples receive disproportionately high co-location benefits from cities and therefore migrate to urban areas more than other groups. This study leverages the Public Use Microdata Sets to understand urban residence rates for couples between 2007 and 2022, with a focus on couples attaining degrees beyond the bachelor’s level. The data allows couples to be classified into nine different power status categories based on joint educational attainment, along with categories for their sexual orientation and racial composition. Results from fixed-effects logit models reinforce previous work showing that couples at the highest levels of educational attainment reside in urban areas at higher rates than their otherwise equal peers. Urban residence rates are even stronger for more advanced degree holders generally, though the effect is disproportionately higher for black and Asian couples, while it is disproportionately weaker for some same-sex couples. The added nuance of these results provides important insight into the relationship between urban residency, educational attainment, and demographic characteristics.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1030017

Authors: Simon Szreter

The article addresses the question of the relative importance of human population size and growth in relation to the environmental problems of planetary heating and biodiversity loss in the current, Anthropocene era. To what extent could policies to encourage lower fertility be justified, while observing that this subject is an inherently contested one. It is proposed that a helpful distinction can be made between specific threats to habitats and biodiversity, as opposed to those related to global energy use and warming. Pressures of over-population can be important in relation to the former. But with regard to the latter—rising per capita energy usage—reduced fertility has historically been positively, not negatively correlated. A case can be made that the high-fertility nations of sub-Saharan Africa could benefit from culturally respectful fertility reduction policies. However, where planetary heating is concerned, it is the hydrocarbon-based, per capita energy-consumption patterns of already low-fertility populations on the other five inhabited continents that is rather more critical. While it will be helpful to stabilise global human population, this cannot be viewed as a solution to the climate crisis problem of this century. That requires relentless focus on reducing hydrocarbon use and confronting the rising inequality since c.1980 that has been exacerbating competitive materialist consumerism. This involves the ideological negotiation of values to promote a culture change that understands and politically embraces a new economics of both human and planetary balance, equity, and distribution. Students of populations can contribute by re-assessing what can be the appropriate demographic units and measures for policies engaging with the challenges of the Anthropocene.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1030016

Authors: Zhenxiang Chen

Understanding the reintegration of returning rural migrants in China is crucial due to the large scale of return migration and its associated challenges. While existing research has largely focused on economic reintegration, this study broadens the scope to include social, cultural, and civic dimensions. Using data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) 2016 and employing multilevel ordered logistic regression, the research uncovers the following key patterns: (i) Determinants differ largely across dimensions; (ii) The roles of the same determinants can also differ significantly across dimensions; and (iii) There are significant community-level variations across dimensions. The findings emphasize that success in one dimension, such as economic reintegration, does not necessarily translate into success in others. Moreover, complex interconnections between dimensions reveal positive, negative, and non-linear relationships, underscoring the multidimensional nature of reintegration. These insights highlight the importance of considering multiple dimensions to fully understand the reintegration processes of returning migrants.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1030015

Authors: Farida N. YADA Candace S. Brown Larissa R. Brunner Huber Comfort Z. Olorunsaiye Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukhaga Tehia Starker Glass

Approximately 10% of the US Black diaspora were born either in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) or Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), projected to account for a third of the Black US diaspora by 2060. Yet, details on foreign-born Black women’s labor and delivery (L&D) characteristics, such as the type of birth attendant, remain scarce. We used the National Center for Health Statistics 2016 to 2020 Natality data (n = 2,041,880). The associations between detailed maternal nativity (DMN) and the type of attendant at birth (i.e., physician, certified nurse-midwife (CNM), certified professional midwife (CPM)) among US-born, LAC-born, and SSA-born Black women were examined using multivariate multinomial regression. The study revealed that LAC-born women were more likely to have a CNM during birth than US-born Black women, but Haitian-born and Jamaican-born women had lower odds of having a certified professional midwife (CPM) at birth. When compared to US-born Black women, Cameroonian-born women had decreased odds of having either a CNM or CPM during birth. Findings suggest that DMN could be an indicator of cultural preferences in maternity care. There is a need for further investigation beyond DMN and comprehensive data collection methods for future research to understand the specific needs and preferences of different ethnocultural groups to improve maternity care and prevent adverse maternal health outcomes.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1030014

Authors: Pritika Narayan Iva Vakalalabure Andrea Teng Robert Didham

Accurate population counts and the identification of granularity within aggregated groups are essential for informing funding formulas and health policies, an issue of global significance. Relying solely on aggregated ethnicity-based population counts has limited utility for ethnic minority groups. Accurate and relevant population counts are critical for monitoring and improving outcomes related to health, social welfare, and education. This paper examines additional dimensions of identity to provide a revised estimate of the total population count for Peoples of Fiji (PF) living in Aotearoa. Customised data tables from the Census of Population and Dwellings, provided by Statistics New Zealand, were analysed using ethnicity and additional recorded characteristics, such as country of birth, and parents’ ethnicity, to obtain more accurate counts for the major ethnic groups from Fiji living in Aotearoa. Our analysis revealed that almost 50,000 Fijian Indians were misclassified. Utilizing additional variables, we estimate the revised count for the Fijian Indian ethnic group alone exceeds 70,000 and the PF total count exceeds 2% of Aotearoa’s current population. We highlight significant variations in ethnicity coding for PF and their implications for health monitoring and risk assessment, data quality, and interpretation. We make key recommendations to improve granular reporting for minority migrant groups in Aotearoa.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1020013

Authors: Irena Kogan Jana Kuhlemann Amrei Perleth

Partner selection is a complex process shaped by structural, social, and personal factors. For refugees and forced migrants, displacement and adaptation add further challenges, with families—even from far away—playing a crucial role in shaping expectations and influencing partnership decisions. This influence can be direct—through arranged marriages or introductions—or indirect, by setting expectations based on ethnicity, religion, or social status. Family endorsement is often crucial in reinforcing ethnic, religious, or language group continuity and community acceptance. This study examines the role of family in partner selection among refugees who arrived in Germany largely during the 2015–2016 period, a group characterized by a high proportion of unmarried men with limited family support. This group is compared to the German resident population, both with and without a migration background. For the descriptive analyses, we draw on two data sources: the PARFORM dataset, collected in 2022–2023, which covers male Syrian and Afghan refugees who arrived between 2014 and 2018; and the ninth wave of the CILS4EU-DE, collected in 2022. The multivariate analyses rely exclusively on the PARFORM dataset and utilize linear probability models with selection correction. We contribute to the literature in three key ways: identifying mechanisms of family influence despite physical distance; introducing a multidimensional framework to measure partnership outcomes based on ethnic, religious, and linguistic endogamy; and providing new insights into the underexplored partnership formation of this refugee cohort.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1020012

Authors: Sarah Anne Reynolds Ryan Edwards Jacqueline M. Torres

Although the relationship between grandparent and grandchild is often unique due to the supportive and foundational roles grandparents can have in the lives of young or youthful grandchildren, the extent of grandparent–grandchild coresidence globally is under-researched. We harmonized household roster survey data on grandchild coresidence using population-based data on adults 55+ years across 24 countries. Grandchild coresidence rates ranged from 41.1% in Mexico to 0.1% in Sweden. Across contexts, grandchild coresidence was more common among women (compared to men), non-partnered individuals (compared to partnered individuals), those who reported difficulty with activities of daily living (compared to those without such difficulties), and those with education levels below the median (compared to those above the median). Logit regressions indicated gaps in rates of grandchild coresidence by partner status, ADL status, and education were generally not driven by income or other socio-demographic variables. Coresidence with adult grandchildren was not uncommon in most countries with non-negligible rates of grandchild coresidence. In about 25% of households of middle-aged and older adults coresiding with grandchildren, grandchildren ages 0–5 years were present. Future research should consider the meaning of grandparent–grandchild coresidence for the health outcomes of middle-aged and older adults globally, particularly when grandparents are not caregivers of grandchildren.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1020011

Authors: Josephine Aikpitanyi Marlène Guillon

Despite ongoing efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria, the uptake of skilled birth attendance remains persistently low, especially in rural areas. While structural and socio–demographic barriers have been widely studied, less attention has been paid to psychological determinants of maternal healthcare-seeking behavior in low-resource settings. This study explores how the locus of control influences the use of skilled birth care among postpartum women in rural Edo State, Nigeria, and whether neuroticism serves as a mediating factor in this relationship. We draw on data from a cross-sectional survey involving 1411 women aged 15–45 who had given birth within the two years preceding the study. Participants were recruited from 20 randomly selected communities across two rural Local Government Areas. Data were collected using structured interviews that included validated measures of locus of control, neuroticism, and self-reported use of skilled birth care. We applied the Baron and Kenny mediation framework using linear and logistic regression models with standardized coefficients, adjusting for education, household wealth, and women’s decision-making autonomy. The findings show that women with a more external locus of control were significantly less likely to utilize skilled birth care (p < 0.01), and that neuroticism partially mediated this effect. Higher levels of neuroticism were associated with a reduced likelihood of engaging with skilled maternity care services. These results highlight the importance of psychological traits in shaping maternal health behaviors. Integrating psychosocial interventions, such as emotional support, cognitive reframing, and community health education, into maternal healthcare programs may improve service uptake in marginalized rural populations.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1020010

Authors: Esther M. Friedman Jessie Wang Margaret M. Weden Mary E. Slaughter Regina A. Shih Carolyn M. Rutter

This study predicts how sociodemographic trends—smaller family sizes, increased longevity, and marital patterns—could affect family care for people with dementia through 2060. By coupling dementia information from the Health and Retirement Study with a well-established kinship microsimulation model, we analyze the impact of demographic changes on the future care landscape, focusing on changes in race and gender differences in two key areas: (1) the availability of family caregivers for people with dementia, and (2) the likelihood of having a family member with dementia, among those without dementia. Our model projections suggest that future dementia cohorts will be more likely to have a living spouse than the current ones, with diminishing gender disparities due to increased male longevity. However, racial disparities will persist, particularly for Black women. The likelihood of older adults lacking spouses, children, and siblings will increase, but remain low. For potential caregivers, we predict an increased likelihood and longer duration of exposure to family members with dementia in future birth cohorts, particularly for Black individuals, potentially placing more people at risk of the adverse health and well-being outcomes associated with caregiving.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1020009

Authors: Carlo Maccheroni Nadia Mignolli Roberta Pace Giuseppe Venere

The accelerated growth of older adults (the over-65s) in Italy fits within the context of the complex, hybrid nature of the pension system and the welfare benefits financed by tax revenues, which often overlap. As a result, older adults are experiencing growing inequalities in living and health conditions across the three Italian macro-areas (the North, Centre, and South and Islands), as well as between genders. This study aims to examine the sustained growth of older adults in Italy, with a particular emphasis on their most vulnerable segment—i.e., the over-85s. Drawing on mortality trends and the consequent increases in life expectancy at advanced ages, through indicators of mortality and life expectancy, the analysis explores how variations in the structure and distribution of pension benefits have produced significant territorial disparities. These disparities have, in turn, contributed to widening inequalities in household living conditions, especially regarding access to social assistance and long-term care services.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1020008

Authors: Leora E. Lawton

Although other studies have utilized demographic variables to characterize pet owners, this study incorporates a demographic framework that considers different family structures—couples and singles, with or without children—to better understand the place of pets within families. This article explores the extent to which pets fit into families in either substitute or complementary family roles, whether the inclusion of pets in families is subject to resource constraints or cultural proclivities. Data are from the 2023 Pew Research Social Trends study, a nationally representative telephone survey of 5073 respondents, analyzed using bivariate and multinomial models. Results indicate that couples without children are just as likely to be a dog-only household as are the traditional pet-owning families of couples with young children. They are also more likely to have cats, with or without dogs, compared to couples with young children. Homeownership makes pets, especially dogs, more feasible for families. The results suggest that pets are considered as substitutes and/or complements for other family members. Pets may be more affordable and attainable substitutes and/or complements for human family members, provided there are both human and spatial resources, filling a niche created by changes in family formation patterns, while providing affection, companionship and a sense of home.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1020007

Authors: Paulin Straughan Yi Wen Tan Zidane Tiew Zeyu Zheng Rachel Ngu Wei Tin Hiah

Ageing in place is the ability to remain in one’s community, where living conditions foster a sense of attachment that enhances holistic well-being. To facilitate this, both the built and social environments within which the home is nested must be conducive to successful ageing. This paper deconstructs the merits of ageing in place, specifically how attachment to the lived environment contributes to holistic well-being. We analysed data from 6020 participants in the Singapore Life Panel® using path models, where we examined three dimensions of ageing in place: place identity, continuity, and social inclusion. Five path analyses show that two dimensions of ageing in place mediated the relationship between well-being and factors such as social isolation, number of close neighbours, social support, and satisfaction with amenities, but not living arrangements. Social inclusion consistently showed no significant relationship with well-being across all models. These findings suggest that the quality of social connections, rather than physical living arrangements, is important for well-being, and that social inclusion needs to be more appropriately contextualised. Our study contributes to policy discussions on how supporting older adults to age in place can enhance their overall well-being.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1010006

Authors: Philippe Wanner Lorenzo Piccoli

The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap in mortality between different population groups. While socioeconomic status has been shown to be an important determinant of mortality, the relationship between migration status and mortality risk remains unclear. The objective of this paper is to explain whether and why foreign populations had a higher risk of mortality than Swiss nationals during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland. We use original linked data to measure the risk of COVID-19 mortality for different groups of foreigners, compared to Swiss nationals, using logistic regression. We find that the risk of death from COVID-19 in 2020 was significantly higher for some groups of foreign nationals—but not all groups—compared to Swiss nationals. Increased mortality is observed among foreign communities who have been living in Switzerland for more than 20 years, notably, Italians, people of Balkan origin, and Latin Americans. For these three communities, we suggest that high mortality is due to a combination of overexposure, for socioeconomic reasons, and reduced access to health systems. These findings contribute to the understanding of migrant health disparities during pandemics and inform future public health interventions.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1010005

Authors: Jeffrey E. Harris

I rely on the key concepts of diffusion and percolation to characterize the sequential but overlapping phases of the spread of infection through entire populations during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from Los Angeles County demonstrate an extended initial diffusion phase propelled by radial geographic spread, followed by percolation within hotspots fueled by the presence of multigenerational households. Data from New York City, by contrast, reveal rapid initial diffusion along a unique, extensive subway network. Subsequent percolation within multiple hotspots, similarly powered by a high density of multigenerational households, exerted a positive feedback effect that further enhanced diffusion. Data from Florida counties support the generality of the phenomenon of viral transmission from more mobile, younger individuals to less mobile, older individuals. Data from the South Brooklyn hotspot reveal the limitations of some forms of government regulation in controlling mobility patterns that were critical to the continued percolation of the viral infection. Data from a COVID-19 outbreak at the University of Wisconsin—Madison demonstrate the critical role of a cluster of off-campus bars as an attractor for the continued percolation of infection. The evidence also demonstrates the efficacy of quarantine as a control strategy when the hotspot is contained and well identified.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1010004

Authors: Zoya Gubernskaya Dalton Conley

This study uses data from the 2006–2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) genetic sample (N = 11,667) to explore the “immigrant health paradox” from a novel perspective by examining the nativity differences in genetic predisposition to health-related outcomes. Polygenic indices (PGIs) were used to evaluate whether older non-Hispanic white foreign-born individuals have genotypes that predispose them to better health profiles compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. The results show an immigrant advantage with respect to genetic predisposition to cognitive function, BMI, and smoking frequency. There are no significant differences in genetic predisposition to height, smoking initiation, and depression. Including respective PGIs in multinomial regression models partially explains an immigrant advantage with respect to cognitive function and obesity. The findings are consistent with the “healthy immigrant effect” or selective migration of individuals with a favorable genetic predisposition to health as one of the explanations of the immigrant health paradox.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1010003

Authors: Nicolas A. Menzies

For the United States, detailed estimates of the number of resident migrants and the rates of migrant arrival are valuable for understanding population dynamics and for determining the impact of economic and political changes that influence migration. The goal of this analysis was to derive estimates of the U.S. foreign-born population and how this population has changed in recent years, as well as estimates of recent and historical immigration volumes. Using data from large population surveys (the 2000 U.S. decennial census and 2001–2019 American Community Survey (ACS)), a Bayesian evidence synthesis was conducted to pool survey data across years while accounting for various biases and logical constraints that apply to these data. This analysis produced highly disaggregated estimates of the foreign-born population residing in the United States over the period 2000–2019, as well as estimates of immigration volume for 1950–2019. These population estimates demonstrated high in- and out-of-sample predictive performance, with substantially greater precision than that for raw survey estimates. Estimated immigration flows tracked other available time series, although with higher precision and with the potential to include undocumented immigration not represented in other immigration data. This study documents immigration from 100 countries of origin into the United States and demonstrates how the results of repeated cross-sectional population surveys can be used to infer migration dynamics that are difficult to measure directly.

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1010002

Authors: David Lopez-Carr

With great excitement and pride, I introduce the inaugural issue of Populations, a new research journal dedicated to advancing our understanding of population dynamics and its interactions with socio-economic, political, and environmental processes [...]

Populations doi: 10.3390/populations1010001

Authors: Colin Wee

Population research is an evergreen topic of interest for governments across the world and accurate measurement of the demographic, environmental, and economic variables associated with a region’s population is invaluable in terms of informing governmental decision-making, planning, and policy [...]