Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (809 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Disciplines concerned with the interrelationships of individuals in a social environment including social organizations and institutions. Includes Sociology and Anthropology.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Science, Social; Sciences, Social; Social Science.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Behavioral Sciences; Anthropology, Education, Sociology and Social Phenomena Category
- Narrower topics
- Anthropology; Sociology; Criminology; Demography; Economics; Environment Design; Forecasting; Government; Government Programs; Internationality; Policy; Political Systems; Politics; Private Sector
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 2,893,964 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Social Sciences” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 627,754 of them (21.7%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 884,127 records.
Reviews account for 300,794 records (10.4%) and meta-analyses for 21,753. Randomized controlled trials number 76,877 (2.7%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 755,704 |
| 2000-2009 | 626,379 |
| 2010-2019 | 884,127 |
| 2020 onward | 627,754 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 300,794 | 10.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 21,753 | 0.8% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 76,877 | 2.7% |
Method: PubMed query "Social Sciences"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in psychiatry and psychology
Research on mental health and behaviour relies on questionnaires, interviews and rating scales rather than physical measurements, so how a condition was defined and measured shapes every result. Many studies are observational or small, placebo responses can be large, and findings in one group or culture may not carry over to another. Nothing on this page is advice about diagnosis or treatment; anyone worried about their mental health should talk to a qualified clinician. Check how outcomes were measured, who took part and how long they were followed.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Religious celibacy is linked to marriage and wealth transmission practices across different world religions [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Lifelong religious celibacy may seem to be an evolutionary puzzle.
- Closing excerpt
- Buddhism and Christianity are especially likely to institutionalize celibacy, suggesting that the emergence of celibate religious institutions reflects common responses to similar socio-ecological conditions across cultures.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (148 words)
Lifelong religious celibacy may seem to be an evolutionary puzzle. However, it is possible that where siblings compete for parental resources, families can benefit from having some offspring become celibate monks or nuns. Here, we test whether celibacy is more likely to be found in societies with substantial marriage transactions, lower levels of polygyny, and heritable wealth, especially land. Additionally, we predict male celibacy to be linked to polygyny and bride-wealth, and female celibacy to monogamy or polyandry and to dowry. Using Bayesian phylogenetic multilevel models on a cross-cultural sample of 352 societies, we find that celibacy occurs mainly in monogamous societies with heritable wealth, and male and female celibacy are more common where marriage payments are higher for the celibate sex. Buddhism and Christianity are especially likely to institutionalize celibacy, suggesting that the emergence of celibate religious institutions reflects common responses to similar socio-ecological conditions across cultures.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42957700 · DOI · PMC13720115
Health promotion interventions for ethnic minority populations living with multiple long-term conditions (H-PRIME) in OECD countries: a scoping review [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- People living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC, also called multimorbidity) experience substantial health burden, with those from ethnic minority populations disproportionately affected due to persistent health inequalities.
- Closing excerpt
- There is an urgent need for research in OECD countries embedding a multi-level approach to address gaps in policy-actions.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (260 words)
People living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC, also called multimorbidity) experience substantial health burden, with those from ethnic minority populations disproportionately affected due to persistent health inequalities. This scoping review identified health promotion interventions designed to address MLTC in ethnic minority populations. Five databases and Google Scholar were searched from inception to June 2025 for studies conducted in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries that included ≥50% ethnic minority participants living with MLTC. Health promotion interventions were defined as programmes, activities, or initiatives delivered in any setting that operate at one or more levels (individual, health system, community, societal, and policy), consistent with the five action areas of the Ottawa Charter for Health promotion. Descriptive and qualitative content analysis was undertaken, with interventions mapped against the Ottawa Charter action areas. Twenty-six studies were included in total, with the majority from the United States of America (USA; n = 24, 92%). One study each was conducted in Canada (n = 1, 4%) and Australia (n = 1, 4%). The interventions aligned with four of the five Ottawa Charter action areas: developing personal skills (26, 100%), creating supportive environments (n = 23, 88%), strengthening community action (n = 14, 54%), and reorienting health services (n = 21, 81%). No intervention directly addressed building healthy public policy. Evidence on health promotion interventions for ethnic minority populations with MLTC is currently underdeveloped, concentrated in the USA, with clear gap in policy action. There is an urgent need for research in OECD countries embedding a multi-level approach to address gaps in policy-actions.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42944779 · DOI · PMC13712133
Community Health Worker Interventions Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionChronic diseases disproportionately affect people facing social and economic adversity.
- Closing excerpt
- The lack of large, well-powered trials underscores the need for more rigorous research to strengthen the evidence base for CHW-driven SDOH interventions in US health systems.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (250 words)
IntroductionChronic diseases disproportionately affect people facing social and economic adversity. Community health workers (CHWs) are increasingly recognized as a key workforce for addressing social determinants of health (SDOH). However, evidence for the effect of CHW-led interventions on social and clinical outcomes among US adults with chronic disease is limited. This systematic review evaluated the effects of CHW-led interventions on SDOH and health outcomes.MethodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines and a registered Prospero protocol, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase (Ovid) in April 2024 for US-based randomized or quasi-experimental studies involving adults with chronic disease and a patient-facing CHW intervention addressing at least 1 SDOH domain. Eligible studies were required to have a comparator group and report social or health outcomes. We used standardized forms to extract data and assess quality.ResultsWe identified 1,939 records and screened 1,058 abstracts. We reviewed 110 full-text articles; 7 studies met inclusion criteria. All were randomized controlled trials addressing at least 1 SDOH domain. Interventions most commonly targeted health care access, housing stability, or care coordination among adults with diabetes, HIV, asthma, hepatitis C, or hearing loss. CHW interventions demonstrated improvements in several condition-specific clinical outcomes, but overall effects on major clinical indicators were modest and inconsistent.ConclusionCHW-led interventions show promise for addressing social needs and improving engagement in care among adults with chronic disease, but evidence of meaningful clinical benefit is still limited. The lack of large, well-powered trials underscores the need for more rigorous research to strengthen the evidence base for CHW-driven SDOH interventions in US health systems.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42955714 · DOI · PMC13721287
Innovative humanitarian finance: examining the promises and realities of impact bonds in humanitarian and refugee response [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- This article contributes to scholarship on innovative humanitarian finance by examining the application of impact bonds-an outcome-based financing mechanism where investors fund projects upfront and are repaid with interest if they succeed.
- Closing excerpt
- The article therefore underscores the need for a rigorous evaluation of new financing mechanisms before adoption.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (151 words)
This article contributes to scholarship on innovative humanitarian finance by examining the application of impact bonds-an outcome-based financing mechanism where investors fund projects upfront and are repaid with interest if they succeed. Amid consistent funding shortfalls, impact bonds were framed as a radical transformation in how aid can be financed and delivered. By sharing financial risk with investors and linking payment to results, they were meant to attract private capital and enhance aid effectiveness. However, this study reveals a gap between the expectations and realities of impact bonds through case studies of two pilots: the Humanitarian Impact Bond (International Committee of the Red Cross); and the Refugee Impact Bond (Near East Foundation). In practice, impact bonds did not generate additional funds for the humanitarian sector, transfer significant risk to investors, or outperform traditionally financed programmes. The article therefore underscores the need for a rigorous evaluation of new financing mechanisms before adoption.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42946533 · DOI · PMC13713432
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Social determinants of health and epigenetic clocks: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 140 studies [5]
- Research article Strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance in newborns in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Global meta-analysis reveals urban-associated behavioural differences among wild populations [7]
- Research article Sex-related disparities in sepsis in western Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Differences in tuberculosis prevalence by sex in low- and middle-income countries over 1993-2025: A systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
- Research article Cumulative adverse childhood experiences and risk of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis [10]
References
- Šaffa G, Sherbaji S, Mace R. Religious celibacy is linked to marriage and wealth transmission practices across different world religions. . 2026. PMID 42957700 · DOI · PMC13720115
- Ikhile D, Cassambai S, Jeffers S, Randera Z, Patel K, Hayanga B, et al.. Health promotion interventions for ethnic minority populations living with multiple long-term conditions (H-PRIME) in OECD countries: a scoping review. . 2026. PMID 42944779 · DOI · PMC13712133
- Wilder M, Degtyar A, McKay J, Mavuri S, Bolton M, Richardson LD, et al.. Community Health Worker Interventions Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review. . 2026. PMID 42955714 · DOI · PMC13721287
- Zulkaphil L. Innovative humanitarian finance: examining the promises and realities of impact bonds in humanitarian and refugee response. . 2027. PMID 42946533 · DOI · PMC13713432
- Willems YE, Rezaki AD, Aikins M, Bahl A, Wu Q, Belsky DW, et al.. Social determinants of health and epigenetic clocks: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 140 studies. Nat Hum Behav. 2026. PMID 42286117 · DOI · PMC13683040
- Him RL, Sihota D, Harrison L, Dramowski A, Coffin SE, Hamer DH, et al.. Strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance in newborns in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2026. PMID 41856138 · DOI · PMC13000118
- Burkhard TT, Dochtermann NA, Charmantier A. Global meta-analysis reveals urban-associated behavioural differences among wild populations. J Anim Ecol. 2026. PMID 42152172 · DOI · PMC13536287
- Mowafy HL, Garin N, Katsounas A, Castellvi P, Rello J, ESGIE/ESGCIP study group investigators. Sex-related disparities in sepsis in western Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Intern Med. 2026. PMID 42115064 · DOI
- Swartwood NA, Singh N, Mortazavi SA, Can MH, Cui H, Ryuk DK, et al.. Differences in tuberculosis prevalence by sex in low- and middle-income countries over 1993-2025: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Med. 2026. PMID 42172294 · DOI · PMC13225659
- Annor E, Pollak M, Ramasamy D. Cumulative adverse childhood experiences and risk of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2026. PMID 42066531 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
See how EvidenceLib is built. Spotted an error? Email support@evidencehelix.com.
Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.