Nana Zarnekow

Identification of direct and indirect social network effects in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance in obese human subjects.

Objective The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent different social network mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of obesity and insulin-resistance. Design We used nonparametric and parametric regression models to analyse whether individual BMI and HOMA-IR are determined by social network characteristics. Subjects and Methods A total of 677 probands (EGO) and 3033 social network partners (ALTER) were included in the study. Data gathered from the probands include anthropometric measures, HOMA-IR index, health attitudes, behavioural and socio-economic variables and social network data. Results We found significant treatment effects for ALTERs frequent dieting (p<0.001) and ALTERs health oriented nutritional attitudes (p<0.001) on EGOs BMI, establishing a significant indirect network effect also on EGOs insulin resistance. Most importantly, we also found significant direct social network effects on EGOs insulin resistance, evidenced by an effect of ALTERs frequent dieting (p = 0.033) and ALTERs sport activities (p = 0.041) to decrease EGOs HOMA-IR index independently of EGOs BMI. Conclusions Social network phenomena appear not only to be relevant for the spread of obesity, but also for the spread of insulin resistance as the basis for type 2 diabetes. Attitudes and behaviour of peer groups influence EGOs health status not only via social mechanisms, but also via socio-biological mechanisms, i.e. higher brain areas might be influenced not only by biological signals from the own organism, but also by behaviour and knowledge from different human individuals. Our approach allows the identification of peer group influence controlling for potential homophily even when using cross-sectional observational data.

Construction and application of the Rural Development Index to analysis of rural regions

The main purpose of this research was to construct a multi-dimensional (composite) index measuring the overall level of rural development and quality of life in individual rural regions of a given EU country. In the Rural Development Index (RDI) the rural development domains are represented by hundreds of partial socio-economic, environmental, infrastructural and administrative indicators/variables at NUTS-4 level (e.g. 991 variables/indicators describing various aspects of rural development in Poland; 340 variables/indicators in Slovakia). The weights of economic, social and environmental domains entering the RDI index are derived empirically from the econometrically estimated intra- and inter-regional migration function after selecting the “best” model from various alternative model specifications (e.g. panel estimate logistic regression nested error structure model, spatial effect models, etc.). The RDI is empirically applied to analysis of the main determinants of rural/regional development in individual rural areas in years 2002-2005 in Poland and Slovakia at NUTS-4 level. Due to its comprehensiveness the RDI Index is suitable both to analysis of the overall level of development of rural areas and to an evaluation of the impacts (impact indicator) of RD and structural programmes at regional levels (NUTS 2-5).

Determinants of Individual Quality of Life Ratings in Rural Versus Suburban Regions — A Gender Perspective

It is a common observation in all EU member states that the population of many rural areas is in a continuous and sharp decline, mainly caused by net migration flows from rural to urban areas (European Commission 2008). This results in regional disparities, or rather their intensification, particularly in the case of unequal income opportunities, social environment issues, environmental quality, the availability of infrastructural and social services and recreational and cultural activities. In short, the overall regional quality of life. Against this backdrop it is a key aim of European regional and rural development policy to reduce regional disparities and improve the quality of life in rural regions. Rural development programmes from the most recent period (2007–2013) had the central objective of developing a ‘living countryside’ and helping to maintain and improve the social and economic fabric, particularly in remote rural areas, to counteract depopulation (European Commission 2006).