ESRC Centre for Population Change and Connecting Generations

Image shows International Women's Day card with the words #GiveToGain - Supportive family policies are an investment with collective returns. On the right, there is an image of a multigenerational family eating a meal at a dinner table. Image credit: istock.com/SolStock

When we invest in women’s stability, through #childcare, #housing, workplace #equality, and community care, #families, #communities, and #society all gain.

This #IWD2026, read about CPC-CG research and how policymakers can #GiveToGain with supportive family policies www.cpc.ac.uk/news/latest_...

London contemplates ‘childless’ future as families leave British capital Unaffordable housing and childcare costs are driving young families away. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

🗞️ 🗞️ @bernicerunsonboba.bsky.social, research fellow in @uossocstatdemo.bsky.social @uosmedia.bsky.social, told the report’s authors that people are waiting to have #children because it takes longer “to establish yourself in your #career, to buy a #house, to leave the #parentalhome”. Full story 👇

CPC member @bernicerunsonboba.bsky.social from @uossocstatdemo.bsky.social was one of three experts invited to give evidence to the London Assembly's investigation into the declining number of #children in #London. Read her comments and recommendations in the Committee's report launched today ⤵️

Cover of a London Assembly report titled “A London for every child: Reversing the city’s declining child population”, published March 2026 by the Economy, Culture and Skills Committee. Below the title, a photo shows children climbing and playing on a large wooden adventure play structure made of interlocking logs. The London Assembly logo appears at the bottom.

📑 New @londonassembly.bsky.social report 'A #London for every child: Reversing the city’s declining #child #population' has comments and recommendations from CPC member @bernicerunsonboba.bsky.social from @uossocstatdemo.bsky.social @uosmedia.bsky.social

Full story: www.cpc.ac.uk/news/latest_...

Yesterday @melindacmills.bsky.social delivered the Richard Doll Seminar🎓🎤 about the "Our Future Health" data.

She outlined the exciting prospects of large-scale health data and her analysis of representativeness of the biobank population to a packed room, full of interested questions.

YouTube video by Social Sciences - University of Southampton Studying Social Statistics and Demography at the University of Southampton

🎥 What’s it like to study an MSc with us?

Hear directly from Olivia (MSc Global Health) and Amelia (MSc Social Research Methods with Demography) about their experience in our department, from supportive teaching to community and growing confidence as researchers.

▶️: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfde...

New LCDS Preprint Asks: Has COVID-19 Left a Lasting Scar on Life Expectancy? Five years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an important question remains: was COVID-19 a short-lived mortality shock, or has it more permanently altered life expectancy trajectories? A new p...

Five years after the pandemic began, have countries returned to their pre-COVID life expectancy trajectories?

New research shows 31 of 34 high-income countries still have life expectancy deficits in 2024, suggesting lasting effects on population health.

www.demography.ox.ac.uk/news/new-lcd...

Screenshot from Changing Populations newsletter which has an image showing a woman in bed looking distressed as she tries to sleep while the sun shines onto the bed, with the headline 'Night shift work and sleep'. Article intro text reads: Research by CG Co-Director Professor Melinda Mills MBE has found that night shift work is linked to shorter sleep duration among middle-aged and older adults, with women, parents, and less-educated workers facing the greatest impact. As part of her European Research Council (ERC) CHRONO and Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science (LCDS) work, the research co-authored by Professor Mills draws on data from 217,863 participants in the UK Biobank. Findings show that night shift workers, on average, sleep eight minutes less per night than non-shift workers. While seemingly modest, this reduction compounds over years of work and has profound health implications. The research identifies multiple moderating factors that shape how night shift work affects sleep:

🌃 “ #Sleep is often overlooked in discussions of work and health, yet it's a fundamental way #stress translates into disease," says @melindacmills.bsky.social from @oxforddemsci.bsky.social in the latest Changing Populations.

Read the full story in section 9: sway.cloud.microsoft/WzAYgcw05ELX...

A recent study led by @jo-hale.bsky.social finds causal evidence that reducing social isolation, especially among those living alone, has a protective effect against cognitive decline. The mechanism, however, goes beyond addressing loneliness.

🔗 Learn more: academic.oup.com/psychsocgero...

The Wittgenstein Centre have announced CPC-CG member @ann-berrington.bsky.social as their first #WICConference2026 keynote speaker, exploring how #education, #family trajectories, and life course decisions shape societies and opportunities over time.

Find out more @demographyvienna.bsky.social ⬇️

Image shows screenshot from Changing Populations newsletter of two people are embracing closely in front of warmly lit holiday decorations, including blurred golden lights and a decorated Christmas tree. Over the top of the image is a white banner with black text reading: ‘Reducing social isolation protects the brain in later life.’ To the right of the image, a large white text panel contains the following text: ‘CG member Dr Jo Mhairi Hale is the lead author of a newly published study which has found that reducing social isolation protects the brain in later life. The study, published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, found a consistent pattern: higher social isolation causes faster cognitive decline whether or not people identify as lonely. Social isolation is objectively measurable—for example, by availability, membership in community organisations, and religious practice. Loneliness is subjective and defined as feeling isolated from other people (feeling alone). Whilst loneliness and social isolation often go together, in this study, they appear to have independent and opposite associations. Dr Hale, based at the University of St Andrews, alongside researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Germany and University of Texas in the U.S., analysed data from the US Health and Retirement study, a study of 18,953 cognitively functioning adults between 2004 and 2016 who provided interviews. They found that reducing social isolation has a protective effect on cognitive function for all.

In the latest issue of Changing Populations, we report on a study by CG member @jo-hale.bsky.social from @standrewssgsd.bsky.social which has found that reducing social isolation protects the brain in later life.

Head to section 8 to find out more: sway.cloud.microsoft/WzAYgcw05ELX...

Screenshot from the CPC-CG newsletter magazine Changing Populations. Shows people standing in a queue outdoors on a paved pedestrian walkway beside stone buildings. Individuals wear winter clothing and face toward a building entrance in the distance. The image is split, with the left showing the queue and the right showing a large white text box containing printed text. At the top left, over the image, a white banner reads: ‘The global promise of Our Future Health.’ The text on the right side reads: ‘A recently published article co-authored by CG Co-Director Professor Melinda Mills MBE and CG member Dr Stefania Bennisondottir highlights the potential of one of the UK’s new flagship health research programmes, Our Future Health. Published in Nature Genetics, the article by Vincent Sitrudo, Dr Bennisondottir, Professor Augustine Kong, and Professor Mills from the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science (LCDS) at the University of Oxford highlights how Our Future Health’s unprecedented scale and reach across the UK population makes it uniquely placed to overcome long-standing limits in genomic research. Our Future Health is a collaboration between the public, charity and private sectors to build the UK’s largest health research programme, bringing people together to develop new ways to prevent, detect and treat diseases. By combining genetic information with health, lifestyle, and health record data, the resource offers unique new opportunities for discoveries.

"The sheer scale and ambition to reach 5 million people, coupled with #surveys, #health records, #genetics & future multi-omic data is unprecedented."

@melindacmills.bsky.social highlights the potential of Our Future Health in the latest Changing Populations: sway.cloud.microsoft/WzAYgcw05ELX...

📈 Nationally, the proportion of households led by over-65s will increase from 29% to 35% by 2047, according to Telegraph analysis.

CPC-CG Director @janefalkingham.bsky.social and CG Co-Director @melindacmills.bsky.social discuss the complexities of the UK's #ageingpopulation ⬇️ @bspsuk.bsky.social

🚨 A defining moment for global health data.

The termination of the #USAID-supported Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) Program has wide-ranging consequences. We reflect on the collapse and argue what should come next in a new PNAS: doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2…

📊 9,000+ studies

I am really pleased to join the editorial team of the 'European Studies of Population' book series - please do reach out if you are thinking of publishing a book!

Check out these three exciting #PhD studentships in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development, fully funded by the @ukri.org @sgsss.bsky.social

More information here: www.sgsss.ac.uk/studentships...

The Population Post | February 2026 Welcome to The Population Post, a monthly round-up from the ESRC Centre for Population Change and Connecting Generations, featuring just some of our latest research and activities that you may have mi...

📨 If you are a LinkedIn user, make sure you subscribe to our new LinkedIn newsletter 'The Population Post', a monthly round-up of our research and activities: www.linkedin.com/pulse/popula...

You can also follow our page at: www.linkedin.com/company/esrc...

A teal report cover featuring the CPC (Centre for Population Change) logo and the Connecting Generations logo at the top. The title reads: “Understanding intergenerational co-residence in the UK: New insights from the UK Generations and Gender Survey.” A grey footer bar contains “108” on the left, labelled “Working Paper,” and “Nov 2024” on the right.

... CPC also interviewed young adults living at home for the UK Generations and Gender Survey

Responses suggest that while economic reasons are most common, a significant minority are happy living with parent(s) and not ready to move out
www.cpc.ac.uk/res/docs/WP1... @uossocstatdemo.bsky.social 🧵🛑

Labour market insecurity and parental co-residence in the United Kingdom: heterogeneities by parental class and age Abstract. Amidst young adults’ increasing labour market insecurity and rates of parental co-residence, this article examines how unemployment and underexpl

... Research by CPC-CG members @ann-berrington.bsky.social and @vincentrramos.bsky.social finds that #unemployment, underemployment and #temporarywork are all linked to higher parental co-residence, but that this is especially true among advantaged young adults in their early and mid-20s 🧵⤵️

Young less likely to work if they live with parents, says jobs tsar Alan Milburn raises fears over the House of Mum and Dad as the number of those aged 16-24 who are not in work, education or training nears a million

Speaking to Times Radio yesterday, Alan Milburn, chair of a government review into causes of youth #unemployment & inactivity, warns there is “a generation of young people who are out of the #labourmarket, not able to live independently and who are becoming more or less reliant on their parents” 🧵⤵️

New research shows high temperatures affect sex ratios at birth | 'Temperature and sex ratios at birth', a new study led by researchers at the Department of Sociology at the University of Oxford and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

NEW: Oxford researchers have found that higher temperatures can shift the sex ratio at birth.

Temperatures above 20°C are consistently linked to fewer boys being born across multiple regions - with implications for population health and gender balance.

Read more from @sociologyoxford.bsky.social ⬇️

Oxford researchers launch smartphone-based ‘epigames’ for pandemic preparedness Researchers from the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science (LCDS), Oxford Population Health at the University of Oxford, working with colleagues from the Pandemic Sciences Institute and internatio...

An experimental approach to pandemic preparedness:

A new @nathealth.nature.com article introduces “Epigames” smartphone-based simulations that model pandemic outbreaks and behavioural responses in real time. 📱🦠

Read more:
www.demography.ox.ac.uk/news/oxford-...

🕐 Come along TODAY at 1pm (UK time) to hear @bperelli-harris.bsky.social discuss forced #displacement in #Ukraine. All welcome - register to join us online: www.cpc.ac.uk/activities/e... @uossocstatdemo.bsky.social @populationeu.bsky.social @bspsuk.bsky.social

Image shows young couple considering their bills in a domestic kitchen setting with the headline ‘Falling fertility rates’. Article introduction text reads: When data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed a continued fall in fertility rates across England and Wales, CPC and CG members were called upon to provide expert comment. The ONS Births in England and Wales: 2024 release reported a total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.41 children per woman, a marginal drop from 1.42 in 2023. This is the lowest figure on record for the third year running. While most regions saw further decline, the West Midlands and London recorded slight increases, the first since 2021, with TFRs rising to 1.59 and 1.35 respectively. The release also showed that the standardised mean age at childbirth rose again in 2024, reaching 31.0 for mothers and 33.9 for fathers. London had the highest average maternal age at 32.5. The sharpest decline in age-specific fertility was among 25 to 29-year-olds...

📉 When ONS data confirmed a fall in #fertility rates in England & Wales, CPC-CG members provided expert comment, with @janefalkingham.bsky.social describing it as "a really transitional moment" in @theguardian.com

Read a round-up on p.4 of Changing Populations:
sway.cloud.microsoft/WzAYgcw05ELX...

Image shows people walking to work in business attire with the headline ‘Gender pay gap underestimated’. Intro text to the article appears alongside the image and reads: CG member Dr Carl Singleton is co-author of a study that has revealed the UK’s gender pay gap may be larger than official estimates because the data is not weighted to account for jobs in small, young, and private sector firms. Dr Singleton from the University of Stirling worked with colleagues from University College London (UCL), Bayes Business School, and the University of the West of England to review the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is used to calculate the UK gender pay gap. The ASHE is used by the Low Pay Commission to monitor the impact of the minimum wage and by the Office for the Pay Review Bodies to inform public sector pay settlements. It is also used by the World Economic Forum for international comparisons.

💼 In the latest Changing Populations, we report on a study by CG member @singletonecon.bsky.social that revealed the UK's #genderpaygap may be larger than official estimates - with far-reaching implications for workers' pay.

▶️ Full story in section 6: sway.cloud.microsoft/WzAYgcw05ELX... @ukri.org

Image shows front cover of BMJ Public Health journal article: 'Reaching consensus on the definition of modifiable determinants of health: a Delphi study' Abstract: Introduction The term ‘modifiable risk factor’ and similar variations of the expression are common across health literature. Despite this, there is no universal definition for what would be modifiable when considering the factors that increase risk of ill health or enable good health and well-being. We conducted a Delphi study aiming to reach consensus among interdisciplinary experts on the definition and conceptualisation of what would be considered ‘modifiable’ as health determinants. Methods The Delphi statements were based on initial criteria conceptualised by the research team and published in an opinion article. 103 experts from a range of interdisciplinary backgrounds were invited to participate in the Delphi. The statements were adjusted based on the results of the first round and circulated to participants in a second round. Results 33 experts completed the first round. 4 out of 10 statements achieved consensus (≥70%). 30/33 (90%) of experts completed the second round, and a further one out of three statements achieved consensus. Combining results from both rounds, we have reached this definition: ‘A modifiable health determinant must be potentially changeable through direct and/or indirect interventions at the individual or population levels, and it must be possible to quantify or describe such change in some way. Whether a health determinant is modifiable is context- and systemdependent (including the social, economic, political, commercial and environmental contexts); therefore, transparent consideration of a context-dependent definition is recommended in research design and reporting’. Conclusions This study offers a consensus-based view on what can be considered ‘modifiable’. Having a common understanding of the term facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration in health research and transl…

📑 New article, co-authored by CPC-CG member @ann-berrington.bsky.social, is now published in BMJ #PublicHealth, describing reaching a consensus on how to define modifiable determinants of health

Read at bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/4/1/... @uossocstatdemo.bsky.social @unisouthampton.bsky.social

How age-diverse are Scotland's neighbourhoods? Colleagues at @cpc-cg.bsky.social, led by Rachel Wilkie, find that age segregation is highest in urban areas and lowest in remote small towns. Read more about how this diversity has changed — and why it matters: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Jakub Bijak joins the LCDS as Professor of Demographic Science We’re very excited to announce that Professor Jakub Bijak joins the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science (LCDS) as Professor of Demographic Science — in a joint appointment with Reuben College, U...

We are so very excited to announce that Professor Jakub Bijak has joined our centre.

Bayesian Statistics for Demography and Immigration Modelling at the Centre have just received a massive boost.

www.demography.ox.ac.uk/news/jakub-b...

YouTube video by Centre for Population Change Connecting Gens Rachel Wilkie discusses population ageing and age mixing on BBC Radio Scotland Lunchtime Live

📻 Listen to lead author Rachel Wilkie discuss the findings from 'Changing #geographies of #ageing and age mixing across urban–rural areas in #Scotland, 2011–2022' on BBC Radio Scotland earlier this week ⬇️ @alicebutlerwarke.bsky.social @jo-hale.bsky.social @ukri.org @standrewssgsd.bsky.social

Image shows front cover of Population, Space and Place journal article with text: The Changing Geographies of Ageing and Age Mixing Across Urban–Rural Areas in Scotland, 2011–2022 Rachel Z. Wilkie, Nissa Finney, Alice Butler-Warke, Qiong He, Elspeth Graham, Jo Mhairi Hale ABSTRACT Like other high-income countries, Scotland is experiencing rapid population ageing, with evidence of spatial polarisation of age groups. This study uses the Scottish Censuses of 2011 and 2022 to understand patterns and trends in the geographies of ageing and age mixing. With attention to urban-rural differences, we examined, at the Data Zone (neighbourhood) level, spatial age segregation and age mixing using the Dissimilarity Index, cumulative proportion calculations, Simpson's Diversity Index and Global and Local Moran's I. This paper contributes new findings on the spatial and temporal patterns of ageing and age mixing in Scotland, with relevance for broader debates on health and social care provision, housing accessibility and equity, and population sustainability. First, it illustrates the stark sub-national variation in geographies of age segregation; second, it demonstrates the value of an analytical and interpretive framework using concepts of urban hierarchy; third, it causes us to rethink typical understandings of ageing and the urban hierarchy. In particular, the analyses reveal high age segregation and low age diversity in urban areas together with the potential polarisation of older- and younger-age areas in some parts of cities; stable age mixing in rural areas (but with decreasing age diversity); and accessible (town and rural) neighbourhoods exhibiting both increasing age segregation and diversity and acting as the lynchpin for understanding the local dynamics of age mixing over the last decade. Attention to spatial nuance also reveals that change in age diversity is spatially clustered. The paper raises questions about the demographic dynamics and social meaning implied by …

The #ESRC -funded Connecting Generations 'Community resilience and social coherence' project team used the 2011 and 2022 #Scottish #Censuses to understand patterns in #ageing and age mixing #geographies.

@ukri.org @bspsuk.bsky.social @popgeog-rgsibg.bsky.social @rgs.org @phrg-standrews.bsky.social