MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit

Covid-19 vaccine protection wanes after three months, study suggests

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 13:27:00 GMT

The protection offered by the Oxford-Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine declines after three months of receiving two doses.

How did lockdown affect people’s sex lives in Britain?

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 16:38:00 GMT

Younger people and those not living with a partner reported the greatest changes in their sex lives during lockdown.

Widening inequalities in Scottish children’s physical activity

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 14:58:00 GMT

Deprivation-based inequalities in physical activity between Scotland’s children were already growing before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research.

New framework on complex interventions to improve health

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 09:47:00 BST

The Medical Research Council (MRC) / National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) complex intervention research framework has been published today.

Care experienced children have poorer health outcomes

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 16:49:00 BST

Care experienced children in Scotland have poorer health and higher average rates of mortality when compared to children in the general population, according to a new study.

Equally Safe at School

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 15:38:00 BST

The SPHSU has collaborated with Rape Crisis Scotland to develop Equally Safe at School (ESAS), a whole school approach to responding to gender-based violence.

Impact of COVID-19 on social relationships and health

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 16:11:00 BST

New briefing summarises how social relationships were disrupted by the pandemic.

Third Social Systems Recovery Report (SSR) Environment and Spaces Group Report published today

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 05:00:00 BST

New report published describes COVID-19 green and open space use in Scotland in the Spring of 2021.

New research examines the sources of evidence in e-cigarette policy recommendations

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:42:00 BST

New research finds that the evidence which drives public health policy on e-cigarettes often has potentially worrying conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical, e-cigarette and tobacco industries

New rehab programme for people with multiple long-term conditions

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 14:11:00 BST

Researchers in Leicester and the University of Glasgow are developing a new programme to provide exercise-based rehabilitation to people living with multiple long-term health conditions.

Home carers' mental health worsened during lockdown

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 10:31:00 BST

A new study has found the mental health of home-carers deteriorated more during lockdown than non-carers.

Systems Science in Public Health Podcast Episode 3

Thu, 06 May 2021 12:36:00 BST

In this episode, Petra Meier speaks to Robin Purshouse, who is a Professor of Decision Sciences at the University of Sheffield.

New study to examine impact of Universal Credit on mental health and wellbeing

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 09:47:00 BST

A new study led by the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit will be the first to comprehensively evaluate the impacts and costs of Universal Credit on mental health and health inequalities.

New NIHR-funded project explores how administrative data can be used to improve health in Scotland

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:08:00 BST

A new project led by Dr Emily Tweed and Prof Peter Craig will explore cross-sectoral administrative data and linkage with a focus on socioeconomic and other inequalities, intending to address barriers to, and strengthen, the use of such data in public health practice and research.

Systems Science in Public Health Podcast Episode 2

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:36:00 GMT

In this episode, Petra Meier speaks to Brian Castellani who is a Professor of Sociology at Durham University.

Vaccine hesitancy more likely in young people, women and some ethnic groups

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 11:57:00 GMT

Young people, women and some ethnic groups, including black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups, are less likely to take-up a COVID-19 vaccine when offered, according to new research.

Second Social Systems Recovery (SSR) - Environments and Spaces Group Report published today

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 16:05:00 GMT

New report published describes green and open space use in Scotland in the Autumn of 2020.

Lockdowns and restrictions reduced time spent in green space and sustained inequalities

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:44:00 GMT

New research finds that there has been a sharp decrease in time spent visiting green spaces following original lockdown restrictions. Inequalities in green space use were also sustained, and may even have been exacerbated, as a result of restrictions of movement in the UK due to the pandemic.

Minimum unit pricing for alcohol targets men’s drinking habits more effectively than women’s

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:21:00 GMT

Alcohol pricing policies – such as duty increases and minimum unit pricing – appear to be more effective at reducing consumption and harm for men than women, according to a new study.

New ‘Systems Science in Public Health’ podcast series launched

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 12:36:00 GMT

In this new podcast series, the host Petra Meier will be catching up with scientists, thinkers, policymakers and practitioners who work in this space.

New COVID-19 engagement tool

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 15:28:00 GMT

Explore how the Covid-19 response has influenced health and wellbeing across society.

Understanding the individual's response to Minimum Unit Pricing of alcohol

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 12:41:00 GMT

New study of factors that influence an individual's drinking, their switching to other substances and/or their seeking treatment, in the context of MUP.