Unpaid work – the missing link in the gender gap
Long read: unpaid work may affect health through its impact on employment
Blog
A regular look at research into life in the UK, and how our Study works. To ask a question, or contribute, please email us.
Young people’s aspirations rise with parents’ income
Our capacity to plan for the future shapes our lives, and is affected by family wealth.
How do you build a survey that works?
Peter Lynn, Associate Director of Understanding Society, tackles the question in an article in Nature: Human Behaviour
Is there a trade-off between diversity and social cohesion?
Material deprivation, not social diversity, threatens to stretch and tear the social fabric
Common DNA differences and rare brain conditions
Understanding Society data helps analysis of neurodevelopmental conditions
Work and wellbeing during Covid
Comparing data from France, Germany, Italy and the UK shows that social inequalities typically increased during the pandemic
Survey weights: an explainer
How we counter survey non-response biases
The minimum wage and career progress
If the minimum wage goes up, do people’s chances of moving to a better-paid job go down?
Introducing data description chapters
Making new data visible in Working Papers
No progress: breaking the cycle of long-term insecure work
For millions of workers in the UK, employment in the 21st century is characterised by insecurity.
Women’s health behaviours and mental health in the pandemic
Were there gender differences in Covid’s impact on health behaviours and mental health in the UK?
Housing in the 21st century
Long read: the housing crisis isn’t straightforward – because housing is linked to so many aspects of our lives
The Innovation Panel – a platform for new research
Understanding Society’s ‘test bed’ helps researchers to experiment
Proteins in the blood and mental health
Biological processes linked to poor mental health can help our understanding
Youth clubs could be valuable investments
What are the effects of youth club closures in the UK?
New relationships after a break-up – do women always re-partner less than men?
Previous research has not considered whether this might differ across sexual orientations
Families are changing and need support
Greater family-oriented thinking is needed in policy
Do social policies improve health and reduce inequalities?
Long read: what can longitudinal data tell us about the impact of social policies?
Downward career moves – do they always hurt?
Job satisfaction varies if career includes unemployment
Housing affordability after the crash
Research shows trajectory of affordability after the global financial crisis
Flexible working – good for gender equality at home?
Does flexible working encourage men to do more housework?
Austerity hit young people’s mental health
Regional analysis says north east was worst affected
Housing insecurity worsens sleep and mental health
Urgent investment needed in social and affordable housing
Young people taking longer to leave home and find work and a partner
Major life events delayed for recent generations
Early access to data
One researcher’s perspective on the Data User Group
The ‘Progressive Dilemma’ is illusory
Social diversity does not undermine social cohesion in Britain
‘Hostile environment’ hit minorities’ mental health
Immigration policy and ‘Windrush scandal’ increased Black people’s psychological distress
Understanding online (and offline) society
Can we link social media and survey data?
Pollution, life satisfaction and health
Air pollution lowers life satisfaction and worsens physical health
Do richer and poorer people own equally safe cars?
Linked data on inequalities in traffic accident mortality
Political lessons from Understanding Society
Insights 2024 report identifies messages for parties, campaigners and communities
What influences Londoners’ wellbeing?
Research identifies local and national policy ideas to improve social cohesion