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July 29, 2024
Each year, hundreds of thousands of people are affected by armed conflict, both directly, through loss of life, or indirectly, through the loss of family members. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, CED – Centre d’Estudies Demogràfics and the University of Washington studied the extent and duration of grief among those who lost immediate family members in high-intensity conflicts. Their finding reveals that for every casualty, multiple loved ones carry the trauma for the rest of their lives. In Syria, for example, each death leaves an average of four relatives - parents and/or children - devastated. Bereavement can persist for decades, hindering reconciliation and potentially escalate future levels of violence. This study underscores the need for timely and effective conflict resolution and dedicated support for mourners. more
July 22, 2024
Single mothers often experience poorer mental health and lower life satisfaction due to increased stress, financial insecurity, and less support in everyday life. A study by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research and Tilburg University reveals that new partnerships can improve the life satisfaction of single mothers, especially through increased financial resources. Long-term partnerships increase ' satisfaction compared to more frequent partner changes, and despite financial advantages, a new partner does not usually bring relief around household chores to the household. more
June 05, 2024
A study by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) shows that, in contrast to Finland, from midlife mothers in Italy and the US work significantly fewer years than fathers, especially if they have two and more children. The researchers highlight that better support and work opportunities for mothers not only improves their retirement security, but also helps stabilize pension systems. more
May 15, 2024
This recent study by Silvia Loi and colleagues examines how life events like job loss and divorce affect the health of immigrants using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel. They find that immigrants experience more rapid declines in health as they age. Moreover, they find that job loss has a stronger and more long-lasting impact on the health of immigrants, especially men. more
March 26, 2024
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) used Facebook data to investigate the influence of cultural similarities on migration flows and found that cultural proximity plays as important a role in the choice of destination country as shared language and history. more
March 15, 2024
The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) has researched parents' support behavior in relation to school grades. The study shows that low-income families support their children equally regardless of grades, while parents from higher income groups tend to give more support to children with lower grades. It also raises the question of whether these patterns contribute to low social mobility, as parents of high-achieving children from lower social classes do not have the same resources and strategies at their disposal as parents of low-achieving children from higher social classes. more
February 06, 2024
In Germany, more people aged 65 and over die from the consequences of a heart attack in rural areas than in cities. Contrary to popular belief, this is probably not due to poorer emergency medical care, but to the fact that more people suffer heart attacks. more
January 08, 2024
The number of relatives that an individual has is expected to decrease by more than 35 percent in the near future. At the same time, the structure of families will change. The number of cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren will decline sharply, while the number of great-grandparents and grandparents will increase significantly. In 1950, a 65-year-old woman had an average of 41 living relatives. By 2095, a woman of the same age will have an average of only 25 living relatives. more
September 07, 2023
Society is aging. What does this mean for health in old age, how is the quality of life evolving, and what are the disparities between different groups of people? Shubhankar Sharma, along with Jo Mhairi Hale, Mikko Myrskylä, and Hill Kulu have published a study that examines gender, racial/ethnic, and educational differences in relation to both mild cognitive impairment or dementia and “activity limitations” in the United States. more
July 18, 2023
Can extending work lives be a solution to the future problems of an aging society? If everyone works longer and retires later, the number of people paying into the pension system will increase. Little is known about working life in Germany. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock and the Federal Institute for Population Research have now conducted a study to examine how the length of work life in Germany has changed and what influence the numerous labor market and pension reforms of recent decades have had. more