Background: Maternity leave, whether paid or unpaid, is a critical resource that can significantly impact maternal well-being and newborn outcomes. However, its availability and utilization among mothers living in poverty remain understudied. Education is widely recognized as a key factor that increases access to both paid and unpaid leave. However, the theory of Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) posits that structural racism, segregation, and labor market discrimination limit the benefits of socioeconomic resources, such as education, for Black and Latino individuals. This suggests that the effects of education on maternity leave may not be uniform across racial and ethnic groups. Objective: This study aimed to examine the MDRs of education on access to unpaid and paid maternity leave among Black and Latino mothers compared to White mothers giving birth while living in poverty. Methods: We utilized baseline data from the Baby’s First Years Study (BFY), a longitudinal investigation of the effects of poverty on child development. The sample consisted of 1,050 mothers living in poverty who had recently given birth. Maternity leave (paid and unpaid) was assessed via self-report, and educational attainment was measured in years of schooling. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and interaction terms were employed to analyze racial and ethnic differences in the relationship between education and access to maternity leave. Results: Educational attainment was positively associated with access to unpaid maternity leave for the overall sample of mothers giving birth in poverty, but this association was weaker for Black and Latino mothers compared to non-Latino White mothers. Education did not significantly increase the likelihood of paid maternity leave, and there were no group differences for this association. Conclusion: This study highlights the urgent needs to address structural racism, labor market discrimination, and residential segregation that diminish the impact of education on living conditions for Black and Latino mothers, compared to non-Latino White mothers, even for those living under poverty. Policymakers and practitioners should develop targeted interventions to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in access to paid and unpaid maternity leave and other critical resources, particularly for new mothers living in poverty. Addressing these inequities is essential for improving maternal and newborn health outcomes and promoting social justice.

Background: The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat exposure is a significant consequence of climate change, with broad public health implications. While many health risks associated with heat exposure are well-documented, less research has focused on its impact on children’s cognitive function. Objectives: This study examines the relationship between extreme heat exposure and various domains of cognitive function in children. Methods: Data were drawn from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Key variables included race/ethnicity, age, gender, family socioeconomic status (SES), heatwave exposure, and multiple cognitive domains: total composite score, fluid composite score, crystallized intelligence, reading ability, picture vocabulary, pattern recognition, card sorting, and list recall. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 11,878 children were included in the analysis. Findings revealed significant associations between extreme heat exposure and lower cognitive performance across multiple domains. The strongest adjusted effects were observed in pattern recognition (B = −0.064, p < 0.001) and reading ability (B = −0.050, p < 0.001), both within the learning domain, as well as total composite cognitive ability (B = −0.067, p < 0.001), fluid composite (B = −0.053, p < 0.001), and crystallized intelligence (B = −0.061, p < 0.001), all within general cognitive ability. Weaker but still significant associations were found for list recall (B = −0.025, p = 0.006) and card sorting (B = −0.043, p < 0.001) within the memory domain, as well as picture vocabulary (B = −0.025, p = 0.008) within general cognitive ability. These associations remained significant after controlling for demographic factors, race/ethnicity, family SES, and neighborhood SES. Conclusions: This study underscores the impact of climate change on cognitive function disparities, particularly in learning and general cognitive ability among children exposed to extreme heat. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the cognitive risks associated with heat exposure in vulnerable populations.

Background: Parental employment is a significant social determinant of children's developmental outcomes, shaping their cognitive and behavioral trajectories. However, the effects of parental employment may not be equally protective across racial groups. The Minority Diminished Returns (MDRs) framework suggests that socioeconomic status (SES) factors, such as employment, yield fewer protective benefits for Black families compared to White families. Objective: This study investigates the diminished returns of parental employment on trauma and associated neurocognitive and behavioral outcomes in children, with a focus on racial variation in these effects. Methods: Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, a large and diverse sample of children was analyzed. We applied MDRs theory and social determinants of health frameworks to examine the association between parental employment, trauma, and children's cognitive and behavioral outcomes. The analysis controlled for family SES, neighborhood factors, and racial group differences. Results: Preliminary findings suggest that while parental employment is generally protective against trauma, the strength of this association is diminished for Black children. Black families with employed parents experience higher levels of trauma and stress compared to their White counterparts, which may contribute to racial disparities in cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Conclusion: Parental employment may not equally buffer against trauma-related risks for Black children, reflecting the broader pattern of diminished returns for racially disadvantaged groups. These findings highlight the need for policies addressing the unequal benefits of SES across racial groups.

Background: Extreme heat exposure is an increasing public health concern, particularly in the context of climate change. Limited research has explored its impact on children's cognitive outcomes. This study investigates the association between extreme heat exposure and cognitive function in 9–10-year-old children, using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Additionally, we assess whether this effect is independent of socio-demographic factors such as race, family socioeconomic status (SES), and neighborhood SES. Methods: Data were drawn from the ABCD study, comprising over 10,000 children aged 9–10 years. Cognitive function was assessed through standardized cognitive tests, while extreme heat exposure was estimated using geographic and climate data. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the direct effects of heat exposure on cognitive outcomes and to account for potential confounding variables, including race, family SES, and neighborhood SES. Results: Black families, low SES households, and children from low SES neighborhoods were disproportionately exposed to extreme heat. Extreme heat exposure was significantly associated with lower cognitive function in children, and this association remained robust even after adjusting for socio-demographic factors. Conclusions: Extreme heat exposure is linked to diminished cognitive function in children, particularly among socio-economically disadvantaged and marginalized populations. Given the increasing frequency of extreme heat events due to climate change, future research should further explore these implications for children’s cognitive outcomes. Policy interventions that improve access to cooling infrastructure, expand green spaces, and prioritize at-risk populations are critical to mitigating the adverse cognitive effects of extreme heat in low SES communities.