Objective We examined the associations between material hardship and health outcomes in early adulthood, and the extent to which these associations are mediated by perceived stress. Methods We used Wave I & IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a nationally representative survey of young adults aged 18 to 34 years old ( N =13,313). Multivariate logistic regression and decomposition methods were used to evaluate the associations between types and depth of material hardship (food, bill-paying and health resource hardship) and health outcomes (self-rated health, depression, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts) in early adulthood, and the extent to which these associations were mediated by perceived stress. Results The adjusted odds of fair or poor health status, depression, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts were higher among individuals with material hardship than counterparts without. A considerable proportion of the association between material hardship and health outcomes was attributable to perceived stress. Conclusions Material hardship is associated with adverse health outcomes in early adulthood, and these relationships are robust after accounting for various sociodemographic characteristics and family background. Perceived stress accounted for a sizable portion of the effects of material hardship on health. Public Health Implications Efforts to promote health equity in young adults should focus on material hardship and associated stressful conditions.

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Introduction. The solution to the problem of ensuring demographic growth is one of the most pressing issues of the state policy. In 2007, Russia’s demographic policy was supplemented by new measures to stimulate the birth rate. The objective of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of the demographic policy programs aimed at supporting families and natality using the case studies of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan. Materials and Methods. To identify the impact of measures to stimulate the birth rate, the method of regression analysis was used; time series based on age-specific birth rates for each age group were presented. Results. The data obtained showed that the steady trend of increasing the total fertility rate in Russia and Tatarstan since 2007 was almost completely related to the meas- ures under consideration, whereas the number of births was affected by many other factors. According to the results of the study, the impact of measures to increase the birth rate in the Republic of Tatarstan is slightly higher than in Russia as a whole. Discussion and Conclusions. State support measures reduce the costs associated with the birth of a child and can encourage women to have children, which con- firms the hypothesis of the positive impact of the state fertility policy. For a more accurate assessment of the effectiveness of the demographic policy measures, it is advisable to take into account the changing social and economic conditions of life in a region, as well as the consequences of the earlier or present-day demographic policy measures. The results of the study are of practical importance and may be used in the development of demographic policies in the country and in the region.

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Introduction. Women’s activity in the labor market, reluctance to interrupt their careers and face the problem of lowering income from work are the factors that impede the increase in birth rates and affect the reproductive behavior of women. Under the influence of ideological attitudes and material factors, women are faced with the need to assume a huge share of family responsibilities and maintain a balance between work and family. The objective of this study is to analyze women’s satisfaction with and demand for the existing state support in the Republic of Tatarstan targeted at creating conditions for combining household work and paid jobs. Materials and Methods. The study was based on the results of the applied sociological study ‘Labor activity in the structure of reproductive and parental strategies of a modern woman in the Republic of Tatarstan’. The method of comparative analysis of the microdata obtained was used to assess the extent to which of women with children are satisfied with their position in the context of the conflict of family and employment in the situation of the existing family and demographic policies in the opposition of ‘city – village’. Results. The study has confirmed the hypothesis about a significant role of the system of preschool institutions in making it possible for women to achieve a balance between paid work and motherhood, while the degree of success depends on the type of settlement. New approaches to supporting families with children have been proposed. According to the authors, the main components of state policies to ensure the balance of life and work for women with children should include the practice of flexible forms of employment, making it possible to combine participation in the labor market with motherhood, as well as access to quality childcare services. Discussion and Conclusion. The results obtained made it possible to conclude that, regardless of the type of settlement, the financial position of households and the housing conditions, as well as the state of health, to a greater extent prevent women in the Republic of Tatarstan from having the desired number of children. The materials of the article may be useful to the authorities when developing programs to optimize the regional process of regulating employment of women.