Search

Using recent survey data from the Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD) on 1,655 married persons born in 1964-1976 in southeastern China and Taiwan, we studied coresidence with elderly parents using a multinomial probit model for coresidence type and an ordered probit model for residential distance. The study yielded four findings: (a) Patrilocal coresidence was more prevalent in Taiwan than in China; (b) matrilocal coresidence was more prevalent in China; (c) practical factors mattered in both places; (d) in Taiwan only, a couple's economic resources facilitated breaking away from patrilocal coresidence. The findings suggest that, although economic development does not necessarily result in less traditional familial culture, personal economic resources may enable individual couples to deviate from tradition. (Contains 1 figure, 3 tables, and 1 note.)

The patriarchal structure of the traditional Chinese family suggests that sons, more than daughters, provide financial support to elderly parents. The norm of receiving support in old age primarily from sons, however, may have been undermined by dramatic demographic, economic, and cultural changes occurring over the last several decades in China, especially in urban areas. We examine gender differences in adult children's financial support to parents using a recent data set ("Study of Family Life in Urban China") collected in 1999 (N = 1,801). The results show that married daughters, especially those living with parents, provide more financial support to parents than married sons do. This significant gender difference can be primarily explained by daughters' resources, such as education and income.

Among 116 Chinese students surveyed at the University of Wisconsin, political attitudes about the Chinese Communist party, ideology, recent party and Chinese-government actions, democracy, and intellectual freedom were related to age and time spent reading the "New York Times" but not to years spent in the United States. (SV)

In the past century, China has undergone rapid and dramatic social and economic changes. This article describes trends in educational assortative marriages of cohorts born in 1906–1995 in China. We measure educational attainment relatively as an individual's percentile position in the education distribution of a 10-year birth cohort and study trends using comparable, easy-to-interpret couple rank-rank correlations. We analyze microdata samples from the 1982, 1990, 2000, and 2010 China censuses and the 2015 1% intercensus survey and nationally representative surveys between 1996 and 2018. We find a large and steady increase in educational assortative marriage over the past century, except among those born in 1946–1965, whose schooling and marriage were impacted by the Cultural Revolution. Our study highlights the critical roles of social, political, and economic contexts in shaping trends in educational assortative marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Understanding the transmission source, pattern, and mechanism of infectious diseases is essential for targeted prevention and control. Though it has been studied for many years, the detailed transmission patterns and drivers for the seasonal influenza epidemics in China remain elusive. Methods In this study, utilizing a suite of epidemiological and genetic approaches, we analyzed the updated province-level weekly influenza surveillance, sequence, climate, and demographic data between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2018 from continental China, to characterize detailed transmission patterns and explore the potential initiating region and drivers of the seasonal influenza epidemics in China. Results An annual cycle for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B and a semi-annual cycle for influenza A(H3N2) were confirmed. Overall, the seasonal influenza A(H3N2) virus caused more infection in China and dominated the summer season in the south. The summer season epidemics in southern China were likely initiated in the "Lingnan" region, which includes the three most southern provinces of Hainan, Guangxi, and Guangdong. Additionally, the regions in the south play more important seeding roles in maintaining the circulation of seasonal influenza in China. Though intense human mobility plays a role in the province-level transmission of influenza epidemics on a temporal scale, climate factors drive the spread of influenza epidemics on both the spatial and temporal scales. Conclusion The surveillance of seasonal influenza in the south, especially the "Lingnan" region in the summer, should be strengthened. More broadly, both the socioeconomic and climate factors contribute to the transmission of seasonal influenza in China. The patterns and mechanisms revealed in this study shed light on the precise forecasting, prevention, and control of seasonal influenza in China and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linking local COVID-19 and population statistics to a U.S.-based survey we recently conducted, we examine the spatial variation in the impact of COVID-19 on Americans' attitudes toward China. The research strategy capitalizes on differential local COVID-19 incidence rates as varying dosages of COVID-19 impact across local contexts in the United States. Our results reveal negative yet heterogeneous effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Americans' attitudes toward China. We find that greater local exposure to COVID-19 is associated with a lower level of trust in Chinese and a less favorable attitude toward China. These findings lend consistent support to behavioral immune system theory by bridging the literature on contextual variations in public attitudes, with broader implications for U.S.-China relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The status exchange hypothesis of union formation has been extensively examined in different societies. In this study, we explore beauty–status exchange in mate selection in China. Based on the 2010–2018 waves of the China Family Panel Studies, we apply a new method that directly estimates the magnitude of exchange by considering beauty – status intermarriage as a treatment. Our results show that in China women exchange attractive appearance for men's higher socioeconomic status, but men's physical attractiveness does not exchange for women's higher socioeconomic status. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the traditional marriage exchange pattern of "wife's beauty matching with husband's talent" mainly persists among women with lower levels of education and from families of lower socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the debate over the significance of family's monetary versus non-monetary resources for children's achievement and development, within the context of contemporary China. We use data from the 2010 baseline survey of the China Family Panel Study to examine the relevance of several proposed determinants in Chinese children's cognitive achievement. Our findings suggest that: (1) family income is significantly associated with children's achievement, but family's assets and direct measures of monetary resources are found to have little effect; (2) non-monetary resources, particularly parenting, are of great importance to children's achievement; (3) parenting practices do not vary greatly by family's economic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This longitudinal study of mortality among the elderly (65 and over) in China used a large representative sample to examine the association between mortality and three different socio-economic status (SES) indicators—education, economic independence, and household income per head. The results, while varying depending on the measures used, show that there is strong evidence of a negative association between SES and overall mortality. A cause-specific analysis shows that SES is more strongly related to the reduction of mortality from more preventable causes, such as circulatory disease and respiratory disease, than from less preventable causes such as cancer. We also investigated the effects of three sets of factors that may mediate the observed SES–mortality relationship: support networks, health-related behaviours, and access to health care. The results show that for both overall and cause-specific mortality, access to health care is the most important of the three. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The Tianshuihai lead–zinc deposit, located in the Karakorum Mountains, Xinjiang Province, NW China, was discovered in 2011. The ore bodies occur within the clastic rocks in the lower part of the Cretaceous Tielongtan Group. The main ore body of the mineral deposit is 450m in length, 5.24–47.5m in thickness and 201m in depth. It strikes NE and dips SE at about 50°, which is consistent with the occurrence of its surrounding rock layers. This lead–zinc deposit with an average Pb grade of 6.65% (ranging from 0.5% to 58.5%) has potential for becoming a large-scale deposit. The discovery of this deposit is a result of a stepwise multi-scale geochemical mapping program including an original geochemical exploration with very low density (1 point/16km2), followed by general exploration (4 points/km2), then mineral prospecting (125 points/km2), and finally with drilling verification. As a consequence, this is a successful case of multi-scale geochemical mapping for exploration of metallic mineral resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Capitalizing on longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study investigates the effect of land expropriation on local political trust in China. Results from individual fixed-effects models reveal that first-time land expropriation lowered farmers' trust in local cadres. Moreover, we find two mechanisms underlying the relationship between land expropriation and local political trust: subjective quality of life and negative cadre–public interactions. Specifically, land expropriation reduced farmers' life satisfaction, subjective social status, and confidence about the future and increased their chances of having conflicts with officials and experiencing government inefficiency, thereby diminishing farmers' trust in local cadres. In addition, auxiliary analysis based on data from the Chinese Household Income Project (CHIP) 2013 suggests that entitling land-expropriated farmers to upgraded pension insurance improved their happiness. Our findings confirm an adverse effect of land expropriation on local political trust and generate some policy implications. • Land expropriation led to a reduction in Chinese farmers' trust in local officials. • Subjective quality of life and negative cadre–public interactions were mediators. • Entitling land-expropriated farmers to upgraded pension insurance improved their happiness. • Our findings provide some policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We examine how the relationship between development and inequality at the societal level is perceived and evaluated by ordinary Chinese people. We hypothesize that because the Chinese have recently experienced rapid increases in both economic growth and social inequality, they tend to view economic development as a driving force of social inequality. To address this question, we conducted a social survey in 2006 in six Chinese provinces (n =4898). The survey data reveal that a large proportion of Chinese people have internalized a causal model in which they project high levels of inequality onto countries they view as more developed and low levels of inequality onto countries they see as less developed. However, results also show that a smaller proportion of Chinese believe in a negative relationship between development and inequality. Hence, the study reveals heterogeneity among ordinary Chinese in their perceptions of the causal relationship between development and inequality. Surprisingly, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics provide no explanatory power in explaining this heterogeneity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using recent survey data from the Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD) on 1,655 married persons born in 1964-1976 in southeastern China and Taiwan, we studied coresidence with elderly parents using a multinomial probit model for coresidence type and an ordered probit model for residential distance. The study yielded four findings: (a) Patrilocal coresidence was more prevalent in Taiwan than in China; (b) matrilocal coresidence was more prevalent in China; (c) practical factors mattered in both places; (d) in Taiwan only, a couple's economic resources facilitated breaking away from patrilocal coresidence. The findings suggest that, although economic development does not necessarily result in less traditional familial culture, personal economic resources may enable individual couples to deviate from tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This case-control study assessed the psychological status of COVID-19 patients. • It showed that COVID-19 patients had higher prevalence of mental problems, such as anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and insomnia compared to controls. • Our findings highlighted the urgent need for psychological assistance for COVID-19 patients. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused widespread panic due to its highly infectious and pandemic transmission. We aimed to evaluate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on infected subjects in China. This case-control, survey-based study assessed the psychological status of COVID-19 patients and non-infected controls from February 10 to March 18, 2020, in China. Sex, age, education years, marital status, jobs, annual household income, living status, and geographic origin were matched between the two groups. The main outcome measures included anxiety, depression, insomnia, help-seeking behaviors, and treatment for mental problems. A total of 326 patients and 1304 (1:4 ratio) matched non-infected controls were enrolled. Compared with controls, patients had higher scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (all p <0.01). Patients had higher rate of any mental problems (62.6% vs 42.5%, p <0.01), anxiety (27.3% vs 12.2%, p <0.01), depression (26.7% vs 14.6%, p <0.01), suicidal ideation (16.0% vs 10.7%, p <0.01), and insomnia (57.7% vs 36.7%, p <0.01). Among the subjects with mental problems, the proportion of seeking help (15.2% vs 6.9%, p <0.01) and receiving treatment (11.3% vs 4.3%, p <0.01) was higher in patients than controls. Our study showed a higher prevalence of mental problems in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, suggesting a great psychological impact of COVID-19 infection. Our findings highlighted the urgent need for psychological assistance for COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China had made dramatic health gains before its economic reform that began in 1978 produced rapid economic growth in the ensuing years. Since the economic reform, China's income inequality has substantially increased, and health gains have stagnated. This article investigates the extent to which China's health stagnation may be attributable to the rise in income inequality in China. By simulating the improvement in life expectancy that could have resulted if, ceteris paribus , income inequality had stayed constant at the lowest level after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, we find that the sharply increasing income inequality in China has contributed to life loss in China's population, about 0.6 years for men and 0.4 years for women. These findings suggest that redistribution of income from rich to poor may be one of the most important policy levers for improving population health in China. • We test whether rising income inequality over recent decades was partly responsible for China's health stagnation. • Rising income inequality has contributed to life loss in China's population, about 0.6 years for men and 0.4 years for women. • Redistribution of income from rich to poor may be one of the most important policy levers for improving population health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Epidemiologic data on female sexual dysfunction in China are sparse. Aim To assess the prevalence of risk of female sexual dysfunction in mainland China and its regional and sociodemographic variations and physiologic, pathologic, and behavioral risk factors. Methods A survey of the general female population was conducted in mainland China from February 2014 through January 2016. Women were randomly selected using multistage, stratified, cluster sampling. The prevalence rate of sexual dysfunction, as measured by the Female Sexual Function Index and a score lower than 23.45 as the cutoff threshold, was determined. Multivariate logistical regression models were used to examine the effects of sociodemographic, physiologic, pathologic, and behavioral factors on women’s risk of experiencing sexual dysfunction and domain-specific sexual problems. Outcomes The questionnaire on sexual dysfunction was completed by 25,446 women 20 to 70 years old. Results The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women 20 to 70 years old in mainland China was estimated at 29.7% (99% CI = 28.9–30.4), with large regional variations. The prevalence rates of potential domain-specific sexual problems were 21.6% (99% CI = 20.9–22.2) for low desire, 21.5 (99% CI = 20.8–22.2) for arousal disorder, 18.9% (99% CI = 18.3–19.6) for lubrication disorder, 27.9% (99% CI = 27.2–28.7) for orgasm disorder, and 14.1% (99% CI = 13.6–14.7) for sexual pain. Higher educational attainment and urban residency were associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction. Women of ethnic minorities (or non-Han ethnicity) had fewer reports of sexual dysfunction than women of Han ethnicity (odds ratio = 0.67, 99% CI = 0.47–0.97). Diabetes, cancers, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pelvic organ prolapse significantly increased the reports of sexual dysfunction. Clinical Translation This survey provided the prevalence and risk factors of female sexual dysfunction in China, information that could be useful for potential prevention and clinical treatment. Strengths and Limitations This is the first large-scale, nationally based epidemiologic study of female sexual dysfunction in mainland China. The limitations of the study design included an overpowered study caused by the large sample, the under-representation of younger and unmarried women, and no information on the women’s partners, their values and knowledge, and detailed medical conditions. Conclusions The prevalence rate of female sexual dysfunction in mainland China was modest overall, although variations existed across regions and social groups. Zhang C, Tong J, Zhu L, et al. A Population-Based Epidemiologic Study of Female Sexual Dysfunction Risk in Mainland China: Prevalence and Predictors. J Sex Med 2017;14:1348–1356. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]