Papers by anastasia kostaki
European Journal Of Public Health, 2018
This article presents the MIGHEAL study, which was developed in parallel with the European Social... more This article presents the MIGHEAL study, which was developed in parallel with the European Social Survey (ESS) Round 7 (2014). Conducted in Greece in 2016 by the National Centre for Social Research, the study was specifically designed to further our understanding of how health varies by social status, focusing particularly on migrant status. In the current article, we report results on health status (non-communicable diseases, self-reported health and depressive symptoms) and health determinants (risky health behaviours, social determinants and access to health care) in Greece, among migrants and native-born. Estimates for the Greek overall population are compared with the European ones (using the ESS 2014 data) and discussed with reference to the ongoing economic and social crisis in Greece. The study provides evidence of social inequalities in health, complementing the pan-European documentation, and supports prior research, which has identified negative health consequences of the crisis.
Chemotherapy, 2015
Access to full text and tables of contents, including tentative ones for forthcoming issues: www.... more Access to full text and tables of contents, including tentative ones for forthcoming issues: www.karger.com/che_issues 119 Suppressive Effect of Matrine on Tumor Invasion in N-Butyl-N-(4-Hydroxybutyl)Nitrosamine-Induced Urinary Bladder Carcinogenesis
Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, 2010
This paper examines the fertility of female migrants in Germany. After introducing major hypothes... more This paper examines the fertility of female migrants in Germany. After introducing major hypotheses on migrant fertility we give an overview on German datasets that are available for migrant fertility research. Finally, descriptive and multivariate analyses based on the "Sample Survey of Selected Migrant Groups in Germany (RAM)" are presented. Migrant fertility in Germany differs according to the country of origin: among major migrant groups analysed, Turkish women show the highest and Polish women the lowest fertility level. Multivariate analysis shows that the existence of children born in the country of origin has a strong increasing effect on migrant fertility. Besides, migrant women with German partners have a lower fertility than women with non-German partners. Furthermore, the fertility of Muslim women is elevated when compared with other religious groups. In contrast, emotional ties with the country of origin and the level of native and German language skills show no influence on migrants' fertility.
Demographic Research a free, expedited, online journal of peer-reviewed research and commentary i... more Demographic Research a free, expedited, online journal of peer-reviewed research and commentary in the population sciences published by the
Communications in Statistics: Case Studies, Data Analysis and Applications, 2021
Objective: To evaluate the association of physical fitness (PF) and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) wi... more Objective: To evaluate the association of physical fitness (PF) and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) with heart rate recovery time (ΔHRR) in Chilean school aged children. Methods: Cross-sectional study in 478 6-9 years old children participants. We measured weight, height and abdominal circumference. Fitness was measured using the 6MWT, grip strength and leap forward without impulse tests; PF z-scores were 2 calculated. Heart rate (HR) was monitored and recorded during the 6MWT. ΔHRR was calculated as the difference between HR before and one minute after test; blood glucose, insulin, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were measured. Waist circumference, CMR-z and HOMA were calculated. Results: Absolute ΔHRR and CMR-z measures in normal weight children were lower than in obese children (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). In obese children, ΔHRR was also associated with grip strength/weight (r =-0.6, p < 0.01) and PF-z (r =-0.6, p = 0.04). Insulin and HOMA were significantly related to ΔHRR (r = 0.3, p < 0.001), especially in overweight and obese children. ΔHRR values were not associated with CMR-z. Conclusions: A significant relationship between ΔHRR with fitness and insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese school children was found. We consider that these results support the need to measure these variables in overweight and obese children, in order to strengthen the need for early prevention.
Communications in Statistics - Theory and Methods, 2017
This work examines the mortality characteristics of the population of Greece for the years 1961 t... more This work examines the mortality characteristics of the population of Greece for the years 1961 to 2014. The time period considered is of special interest for the modern demographic history of the country, since it is characterized by enormous developments on economic, political and social grounds. The life tables of the male and female population of Greece were constructed and several mortality indicators like life expectancy at chosen ages were calculated. For the purpose of analysis a statistical technique for smoothing the age-specific death rates in order to estimate the theoretical age-specific probabilities of dying was developed. This technique consists of a combination of the nine-parameter version of Heligman-Pollard formula proposed by Kostaki
Population Review, 2017
Most research on the relationship between economic conditions and fertility has shown that fertil... more Most research on the relationship between economic conditions and fertility has shown that fertility has a procyclical relationship with economic growth. We examine this relationship by investigating the implications of the current economic crisis on fertility in Greece. Given the brief time period since the start of the economic crisis in Greece (a potential methodological limitation), we examine the evolution of fertility from 1960 to 2015, using empirical data provided by the Hellenic Statistical Authority and paying special attention to changes during the crisis years. Using these data, age-specific fertility rates by order of birth, total annual fertility rate, and mean age of mothers at childbearing differentiated by birth order are calculated. Our analysis shows that in the 2000s TFR increased as a result of the recuperation of births that were postponed during the late 1980s and the 1990s, and then TFR decreased, especially for first and second order TFR. We attribute the recent fall of TFR to the simultaneous fall of fertility rates of women younger than 30 years. It appears, therefore, that the crisis interrupted the recuperation of births that began in the early 2000s and halted fertility increases among younger ages. Recent changes in fertility are indicative of an accelerated decline of the complete fertility of women born after 1980, mainly because the recession was initiated during a time when the mean age of childbearing was very high (30 years for the first child). These facts do not allow for optimism concerning the reversal of fertility rates of younger generations who are probably going to spend a significant part of their reproductive life under crisis conditions.
European journal of orthodontics, Dec 25, 2015
Morphological indicators within the cranium for prediction of mandibular growth patterns as repor... more Morphological indicators within the cranium for prediction of mandibular growth patterns as reported by Bjork are: (1) inclination of the condylar head (ICH), (2) curvature of mandibular canal (CMC), (3) shape of the lower border of the mandible and specifically depth of the antegonial notch (AN), (4) inclination of the symphysis (ISY), (5) interincisal angle (IIA), (6) intermolar angle (IMA), and (7) lower anterior face height (LAFH). The purpose of this study was to examine the association of these indicators as they relate to extreme skeletal patterns observed in skeletally mature subjects. The pre-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 395 post-growth subjects were randomly selected from the archives of a university orthodontic department. These were divided in three groups according to their MP-SN angle [normal: 28-36degrees (G1), hypodivergent: ≤26degrees (G2), hyperdivergent: ≥38degrees (G3)]. It was found that only LAFH was correlated to age across all groups. Howeve...
Journal of Population Research, 2005
In the graduation of the age-specific mortality pattern, recent emphasis has been placed on the u... more In the graduation of the age-specific mortality pattern, recent emphasis has been placed on the use of kernel regression estimators. Three such estimators are the Nadaraya-Watson, Gasser-Muller and kernel weighted local linear estimators. This paper discusses the theoretical background of each estimator and evaluates their accuracy in graduating age-specific mortality using data for France, Japan and Sweden. For comparison, we
This study explores the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population in Greece ... more This study explores the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population in Greece during the general lockdown period. Specifically, depression, anxiety and stress scores, as well as the factors associated with vulnerability to developing mental health conditions during this period, were investigated. A total of 911 adults participated in an online survey by completing a self-reporting questionnaire that included demographic questions, DASS-42 items (anxiety, stress and depression scales) and other questions related to personal experience. Regression modelling uncovered a significant relationship between gender and DASS scores, with women having significantly higher scores than men for all mental health problems. Participants aged 20–39 years were especially vulnerable to experiencing poor mental health. Unemployed participants reported having worse mental health than others. Having more perceived psychosocial support during the pandemic was associated with lower overa...
This paper compares and assesses the income inequality between five European countries in the mid... more This paper compares and assesses the income inequality between five European countries in the mid 1990’s, employing the non-parametric technique of kernel density estimation. The countries used in this inequality exercise were Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland and the UK, and the analysis was based on comparative data and variables provided by the PACO project. Kernel density estimates were found particular revealing for comparing the shape of income distributions between populations, and for mapping the impact that differences in income polarisation and concentration in various subgroups have on the overall income distribution of a country. Acknowledgements: We are grateful to the CEPS/INSTEAD, Luxembourg and the DIW, Germany for providing and allowing the use of the PACO data. Address for correspondence: Christos Papatheodorou, Institute of Social Policy, National Centre for Social Research, 14-18 Messogeion Av., GR-11527, Athens, Greece. Email: [email protected] Anastasia Kost...
The two recent population censuses in Greece clearly show that during the last two decades, Greec... more The two recent population censuses in Greece clearly show that during the last two decades, Greece is shifting from a traditional emigration country to an immigration one. The considerable alteration of the migration profile of Greece led to a significant amount of literature referring to the social, economic and demographic dimensions of this phenomenon. However, in all these analyses the spatial dimension of the implications of immigration on the size and the structure of the population in a lower geographical level is lacking. The immigrant population is neither uniformly nor is it even proportionally distributed in comparison to the native one. In addition, it exhibits a significantly different demographic profile than the native population. Therefore, the examination of the impact of immigration in a low spatial scale might be useful in finding structures that is impossible to observe otherwise. This work, mainly based on the exploitation of the last census micro data concernin...
The Springer Series on Demographic Methods and Population Analysis
Journal of Income Distribution®
This paper compares and assesses the income inequality between five European countries in the mid... more This paper compares and assesses the income inequality between five European countries in the mid 1990’s, employing the non-parametric technique of kernel density estimation. The countries used in this inequality exercise were Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland and the United Kingdom, and the analysis was based on comparative data and variables provided by the PACO project. Kernel density estimates were found particularly revealing for comparing the shape of income distributions between populations, and for mapping the impact that differences in income polarization and concentration in various subgroups have on the overall income distribution of a country.
Journal Of Refugee Studies
This study identifies factors that affect safety, health and trauma among refugees and asylum see... more This study identifies factors that affect safety, health and trauma among refugees and asylum seekers newly arrived and accommodated in Greece. The data of this study was collected from the REHEAL (Refugees’ Healing) project—a population-based survey conducted in six Greek refugee camps during the summer of 2016. We specified two binary logistic-regression models—one for safety and a second for health—as well as a multiple linear-regression model for the trauma score. Safety, health and trauma among refugees appear to be attributable to both pre- and post-displacement factors. The analysis shows that the mental and physical wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers is strongly affected by post-displacement factors and, more specifically, by exposure to stressors in host countries, such as poor living conditions, limited access to health-care services and uncertainty about the future.
Communications in Statistics: Case Studies, Data Analysis and Applications
Abstract It is fairly well established that empirical age-specific mortality data are often chara... more Abstract It is fairly well established that empirical age-specific mortality data are often characterized by a number of limitations and deficiencies the most common of which is a pronounced tendency in age declaration to “round-off” to certain preferred digits. Another typical limitation of such data is that in many times they are only available aggregated in five-year age groups and/or they are incomplete. In addition to these problems, special limitations related to the efficiency and stability of the empirical death data also arise when these data refer to small populations. In such cases, the age-specific death rates are inefficient estimators of the corresponding death probabilities as a result of the highest impact of randomness. However, for many purposes in both demographic analysis and actuarial practice, there is a need for both reliable and analytical estimation of age-specific mortality patterns. This article provides a review of the typical problems and limitations affecting mortality data of small populations, discusses their consequences in estimating age-specific mortality patterns, and also proposes ways to deal with them. In that, a theoretically consistent though computationally simplest technique for minimizing random variations in age-specific death counts is proposed and demonstrated using empirical death counts of some chosen small populations.
European Journal of Public Health
Background: Recent evidence indicates to the alarming increase of depression, especially in South... more Background: Recent evidence indicates to the alarming increase of depression, especially in Southern European countries. According to the literature, depressive symptoms are strongly associated with socioeconomic factors, while the prevalence of depression significantly differs by gender. Several scholars point out that many of the risk factors for self-reported depression increase during an economic crisis. These studies, however, mostly overlook the fact that the impact of these factors may vary between natives and migrants. Methods: Using data from the MIGHEAL study, we examine the variation of self-reported depression by migrant status and gender in Greece during the crisis. We also investigate the association of socioeconomic status, family-related factors, social trust and perceived discrimination with self-reported depression. Separate multiple linear regression models are fitted across three examined groups (Greeks, Albanians and migrants from other countries) as well as for Greek males and females. Results: Our findings indicate the mixture of the determinants of self-reported depression by both migrant status and gender. Women report higher rates of self-reported depression than men, as do natives compared to migrants, while getting older is associated with higher levels of depression in both genders and all three citizenship groups. Further, higher socioeconomic position is associated with lower levels of depression, especially in the case of Greek males, while financial strain appears to be a significant determinant of self-reported depression for both native and migrant populations. Conclusions: Our analysis does not confirm previous evidence that migrants are at an increased risk for depression. Age, gender, perceived discrimination and subjective general health appear to be more decisive determinants of self-reported depression than migrant background. Low socioeconomic status seems to be a risk factor for depression only in the case of Greeks.
European Journal of Public Health
Background: With the current study, we aim to explore the extent that migrants report higher rate... more Background: With the current study, we aim to explore the extent that migrants report higher rates of depressive symptoms than non-migrant populations in light of gender, childhood experiences, socioeconomic factors and social support across European countries that have been differentially influenced by the economic crisis. Methods: Using data from the seventh round of the European Social Survey and the Greek MIGHEAL survey, we compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms among migrants and non-migrants aged 25-65 years old across 21 countries. Results: Our findings show that migrants report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms in seven of the examined countries, while in Greece and in the UK, they report significantly lower levels compared with nonmigrant populations. The current climate of socioeconomic instability does not seem to necessarily associate with increased rates of depressive symptoms across countries neither it affects migrants and non-migrants in a similar way. Financial strain, childhood experiences of economic hardship and domestic conflict, female gender, as well as experiences of perceived discrimination appear to associate with increased levels of depressive symptoms among both migrant and non-migrant populations, while social trust and living with children have a protective impact. Still, much variation exists in the range of these associations between migrants and non-migrants and across countries. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the impact of migration status on depressive symptoms is subject to additional determinants of mental health as well as to contextual factors.
Background: Recent evidence indicates to the alarming increase of depression, especially in South... more Background: Recent evidence indicates to the alarming increase of depression, especially in Southern European countries. According to the literature, depressive symptoms are strongly associated with socioeconomic factors, while the prevalence of depression significantly differs by gender. Several scholars point out that many of the risk factors for self-reported depression increase during an economic crisis. These studies, however, mostly overlook the fact that the impact of these factors may vary between natives and migrants. Methods: Using data from the MIGHEAL study, we examine the variation of self-reported depression by migrant status and gender in Greece during the crisis. We also investigate the association of socioeconomic status, family-related factors, social trust and perceived discrimination with self-reported depression. Separate multiple linear regression models are fitted across three examined groups (Greeks, Albanians and migrants from other countries) as well as for Greek males and females. Results: Our findings indicate the mixture of the determinants of self-reported depression by both migrant status and gender. Women report higher rates of self-reported depression than men, as do natives compared to migrants, while getting older is associated with higher levels of depression in both genders and all three citizenship groups. Further, higher socioeconomic position is associated with lower levels of depression, especially in the case of Greek males, while financial strain appears to be a significant determinant of self-reported depression for both native and migrant populations. Conclusions: Our analysis does not confirm previous evidence that migrants are at an increased risk for depression. Age, gender, perceived discrimination and subjective general health appear to be more decisive determinants of self-reported depression than migrant background. Low socioeconomic status seems to be a risk factor for depression only in the case of Greeks.
International Journal of Population Studies
The graduation of age-specific demographic rates is a subject of special interest in many dis-cip... more The graduation of age-specific demographic rates is a subject of special interest in many dis-ciplines as demography, biostatistics, actuarial practice, and social planning. For estimating the unknown age-specific probabilities of the various demographic phenomena, some graduation technique must be applied to the corresponding empirical rates, under the assumption that the true probabilities follow a smooth pattern through age. The classical way for graduating demographic rates is parametric modelling. However, for graduation purposes, nonparametric techniques can also be adapted. This work provides an adaptation, and an evaluation of kernels and Support Vector Machines (SVM) in the context of graduation of demographic rates.
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Papers by anastasia kostaki