MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit

Screens at mealtimes and in children’s bedrooms linked to weight gain

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 16:22:00 GMT

Study suggests promoting mealtimes in a screen-free dining area and removing screens from bedrooms may help combat childhood obesity.

Success at SPARC for Children Create

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 09:06:00 GMT

The Children Create project team presented at the Scottish Physical Activity Research Conference in Edinburgh on 6th November, where Dr Paul McCrorie was awarded best oral presentation.

Physical activity interventions should start earlier in childhood

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 08:58:00 GMT

New research involving the SPHSU, has found that children are spending less time being physically active, with a greater decline among girls compared with boys.

What does the mental wellbeing of people in Scottish prisons look like?

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 10:02:00 BST

A new study led by the SPHSU alongside colleagues from ISD Scotland, is the first to describe the mental wellbeing of people in prison in Scotland.

Understanding young people's condom and contraception use

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 12:05:00 BST

New project seeks to understand factors influencing young people’s acquisition and use of condoms and contraception.

Unit co-signs letter calling for restrictions on unhealthy food promotions

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 13:27:00 BST

Scottish Obesity Alliance calls on the First Minister to introduce regulation to restrict price promotions to curb obesity crisis.

Children Create - physical activity project

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 16:14:00 BST

Communicating physical activity-related evidence to children and teachers.

Read our summer 2019 newsletter

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 11:41:00 BST

Our latest newsletter is out now.

White Scots have poorer health than many other ethnic groups

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 11:40:00 BST

A new study has found that White Scottish people are more likely to rate their health as bad and experience higher socioeconomic inequalities in health than many other ethnic groups.

Children from deprived areas six times more exposed to tobacco retail

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 14:58:00 BST

Children from the most income deprived areas experienced similar exposure to tobacco retailing in one day as children from the least income deprived areas experience in one week.

How intimate are Generation Z young teenagers?

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 12:02:00 BST

Fewer than one in 30 14-year-olds in the UK have had sexual intercourse or oral sex – less than previous studies may have suggested.

Research Culture Award for Dr Amy Nimegeer

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 09:41:00 BST

Dr Amy Nimegeer is one of four University of Glasgow researchers to be awarded the first ever Research Culture Award.

Unit shares in funding for leading disease prevention projects

Wed, 08 May 2019 14:09:00 BST

Two Unit projects have gained awards in the first ever round of funding by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP).

Prison tobacco ban significantly reduces second-hand smoke

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 14:27:00 BST

Levels of second-hand smoke in Scotland's prisons fell by more than 80% in the week after smoking was banned.

What challenges do young people face when looking for sexual health information online?

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 11:03:00 GMT

A new study provides insights into some of the key barriers and challenges faced by young people in accessing and engaging with sexual health information online.

Scant evidence that e-cigarette growth linked to ‘renormalisation’ of teen smoking

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 09:07:00 BST

There is little evidence that the rapid growth of largely unregulated e-cigarettes between 2011 and 2015 was associated with the ‘renormalisation’ of smoking among teens, reveals research published in Tobacco Control.

Living in a stressful neighbourhood is biologically ageing

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 11:43:00 BST

Living in a stressful neighbourhood is related to ageing faster, according to new research using telomeres as a marker for biological ageing. Telomeres are part of people’s DNA which give a measure of ‘miles on the clock,’ or biological age.

Sexual satisfaction among older people about more than just health

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:56:00 GMT

Health care workers need to take a holistic approach that considers lifestyles and needs when discussing sexual problems with older people.

What is 'on the ground' in a city linked to levels of inequality in life satisfaction

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 16:22:00 GMT

Cities which have a balance between facilities, housing and natural green spaces have a smaller gap in life satisfaction between richer and poorer residents, according to new research.

Funding secured for fourth wave of the internationally-renowned National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 13:48:00 GMT

The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles begins its fourth study on sexual health and well-being in Britain, led by researchers from UCL in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of Glasgow and NatCen Social Research.

Restrictive migration policies contributing to poor migrant health in high-income countries

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 15:20:00 GMT

Restrictive entry and integration policies are having an adverse effect on the health of migrants in high-income countries, according to the most comprehensive assessment of the impact of general migration policies on migrant health, published in The Lancet Global Health journal.

Inequality of life expectancy in Scotland

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 08:37:00 GMT

A new study has found that, despite reductions in premature death rates in Scotland over the last 30 years, rates in the most deprived areas in 2011 remained higher than in the least deprived areas in 1981.

ARISE hub – Accountability in urban health

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 11:06:00 GMT

The Unit is collaborating with global universities and organisations on ARISE: Accountability and Responsiveness in Informal Settlements for Equity, the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Hub.

Does provision of nearby physical activity facilities mean people exercise more?

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 15:21:00 GMT

A new study has found that working adults’ exercise frequency was higher where they lived and worked in closer proximity to private sports halls, gyms and swimming pools, compared with public facilities. Many more physical activity facilities were accessible near people’s workplaces compared with their homes.

SHINE website launches

Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:00:00 GMT

SHINE website launches