Current Research
Online Social Networks and Health Behavior
Online social networks are popular among many groups of the population. Over a period of 2011 to 2013, the number of Facebook-User monthly increased from 700 on 1.200 million people worldwide. 70 % of German Youth in the age till 18 are active in Facebook every day or weekly. However, the friendship structuring network has not only positive effects. “Facebook-Use makes enviously and dissatisfied”, a result of a current study of the Humboldt´s University and the University of Technology of Darmstadt. In cooperation with the Institute of Information Systems of the FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg we investigate the relation between virtual integration (Facebook-Activities) and health behavior (e.g. the wish to reduce body weight). Topical results will be presented at the ESRA conference 2015 in Reykjavik.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Peter Kriwy
Which negative ties are not mentioned in quanitative research?
In cooperation with colleagues of the Tühnen-Institute of Rural Studies and the University of Rostock, we are analysing the qualitative and quantitative network data collected during the Projekt ‘aspects of poverty in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’ (Germany) (2013-2015). It was funded by the AWO Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Arbeiterwohlfahrt Bundesverband e.V. / Workers' Welfare Federal Association). The dataset shows differences recording to the reference on negative ties between the qualitative and the quantitative part. Our analysis is focusing on the question ‘which negative ties have not been mentioned in quantitative research and which reasons can be derived?’. Thus we are going to formulate implications for the measurement of negative ties.
Contact: Philip Adebahr
The social acceptance of ‘fat-shaming‘
The term ‘fat shaming’ describes acts of private or public criticizing and offending overweight and obese people to make them feel ashamed of their weight and eating behaviour. The reason for this is the belief, that shame will make the overweight change their way of eating and living to lose weight. However many studies prove negative effects of perceived stigma and discrimination mental health and eating behaviours of overweight people. Individuals who experienced stigma and discrimination because of their weight are at higher risk of being or becoming overweight or obese. In spite of that evidence ‘fat shaming’ is still accepted for instance online and in the media. Overweight people are mostly associated with negative attributes or used as a target for ridicule and mockery. Also overweight characters are usually underrepresented in the media. There are extensive online communities that practice different forms of ‘fat shaming’. But also in areas such as employment, education and health care overweight people are systematically underprivileged.
We conduct a vignette study to examine whether and by whom the stigmatization of the overweight, so called ‘fat shaming’, is tolerated and accepted. The dependant variable is the acceptance of ‘fat shaming’ (10-step scale). It ranges from very low to very high acceptance of the situation described in the respective vignette. The characteristics of the person practicing ‘fat shaming’ as well as the characteristics of the overweight person vary randomly. To guarantee a consistent understanding of the extent of body weight,each vignetteis supplemented with silhouettes of different body sizes. Data will be analysed using multilevel analysis including cross-level effects. Data were collected in the month of June 2016. First results will be available for the Conference.
Contact: Philip Adebahr
Regional Health Disparities
Investigating regional effects on health, the international state of research has already developed a wide variety of research activities. The number of international publications has strongly increased and features a clear upward trend. Nevertheless, especially in Germany the data basis is not satisfactory for small-scale analyses. For example, the association between regional income inequality and health can be examined only insufficiently for now. The application or inquiry of suitable bases is the planning stage. A recent publication is listed here:
Gross, Christiane; Kriwy, Peter (2013): The influence of regional social inequality and labour market characteristics on health. IN: Comparative Population Studies 38(3): 769-794.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Peter Kriwy
