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The present study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) among university students living in Hong Kong to assess weight and body image concerns. A convenience sample of 787 students (63.5% females; 24.5% overweight) were recruited online. The factor structure of the scale was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Multigroup CFA was used to assess measurement invariance across gender and weight categories. The unidimensional structure of the scale was confirmed (χ2 = 78.046, CFI = 0.996). Factor loading ranged from 0.536 to 0.902, and internal consistency was good (α =.93, ω =.95). The scale was measurement invariant across gender and weight status using both metric and scalar invariance methods (−0.004<ΔCFI<-0.002). The scale can help to identify barriers of weight concerns regarding physical activity engagement which would help in the development of preventive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a hypothesized link between family conflict and school bullying perpetration, previous findings on the direct association have been inconsistent. It has been argued that affiliation with delinquent peers may be a potential psychosocial mechanism mediating the relationships between family conflict and school perpetration. However, such a proposition has not been examined employing longitudinal panel data. Using longitudinal panel data (two waves with a 9-month interval) from Hong Kong collected from 424 lower secondary students (grades 7–9), this study examined how affiliation with delinquent peers mediates the relationships between family conflict and adolescent school perpetration. The results of the half-longitudinal mediation model indicated no significant link between family conflict at T1 and school bullying perpetration at T2. However, family conflict at T1 was indirectly linked to school bullying perpetration at T2 through affiliation with delinquent peers. The findings imply that affiliation with delinquent peers mediates the association between family conflict and adolescent school bullying perpetration. The findings provide insights into the future development of policies and interventions to reduce school bullying perpetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has suggested that psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, and somatization) is associated with student victimization by teachers. The direction and causality of this relationship have not yet been empirically supported. This study examined longitudinal associations between adolescent psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and somatization) and student victimization by teachers among 419 adolescents in grades 7–9 of secondary schools in Hong Kong. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted to collect student self-reported information about their experiences of victimization by teachers and their psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and somatization, at two time points separated by a 9-month interval. A cross-lagged panel analysis provided evidence for the contribution of depression, anxiety, and somatization to later victimization by teachers. These findings were also relevant for male and female adolescents. The findings suggest that psychological distress, such as depression, anxiety, and somatization, is a risk factor predicting student victimization by teachers rather than the consequences of exposure to teacher violence. The results support the importance of reducing adolescent depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms in future intervention programs to prevent them from being victimized by teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived social support is found to be a mediator in the association between stress and mental illness. However, even though academic stress is a prevalent source of stress among adolescents, there are no studies examining how social support mediates the relationship between academic stress and mental distress and which social support theory can better explain the mediating relationship. In addition, although previous theories have argued that different sources of perceived social support have different impacts on the development of mental distress, no studies have examined these pathways of association in the context of academic stress. This study investigates the mediating role of perceived social support and elucidate the different functions of various sources of support in the context of academic stress. This study also examines how gender influences the associations between academic stress, different sources of perceived social support and mental distress 1,804 students from eight secondary schools in Hong Kong participated in this study. The results suggest that perceived peer and teacher support have mediating effects on the association between academic stress and mental distress, while perceived parental support is not a mediator of that association. In addition, findings also indicate that female students experiencing academic stress are more likely to suffer from various forms of mental distress. These results support both the social support mobilization model and the stress support matching theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how social support mediates the association between sexual orientation victimization and depression among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths in an Asian context (i.e., Hong Kong). Data were obtained through convenience sampling and snowball sampling of responses from 153 gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths aged 18–26, using an online, anonymous, and self-administered questionnaire. Structural equation modeling provided a good fit for the sample as a whole. The findings show that depression levels are not significantly associated with sexual orientation victimization in a direct way. Instead, depression levels are significantly and indirectly associated with sexual orientation victimization as mediated through the perception of social support. The findings suggest, furthermore, that social support plays an important mediating role in the association between sexual orientation victimization and depression among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths in Hong Kong. Promoting various sources of social support may be a core element of future policies and intervention programs for protecting lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth victims against depression and other psychologically negative outcomes of sexual orientation victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using cross-societal probability data consisting of 2582 adolescents from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan, this research investigated the prevalence or rates of cyberbullying and explored the similarities and differences in ranking orders of cyberbullying and victimisation behaviour and in associations of gender and grade level with cyberbullying among these three societies. The results revealed that cyberbullying is prevalent and online curses/insults/humiliation was the most frequent form of cyberbullying. The ranking orders of behaviour showed more discordance than concordance across societies. Males are more likely to report perpetration. No gender differences were found in victimisation. Grade-level differences in cyberbullying were shown to be weak or insignificant across societies. This study implies that the prevalence and behavioural ranking orders of cyberbullying vary, but the associations of gender and grade level with cyberbullying are similar across these diverse Chinese societies. Potential policy interventions regarding cyberbullying in Chinese societies were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the similarities and differences between three distinct Chinese societies (Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China) regarding the contribution of gender and grade level to school violence, the ranking orders of perpetration and victimization behavior, and the correlates of school nonattendance due to violence. A cross-national random sample of 2,582 junior high school students was obtained. The results of Rasch analyzes revealed that verbal violence is most frequent. Male students are most likely to be aggressive and victimized. Grade-level differences in school violence were shown to be weak or insignificant. School nonattendance is generally associated with being kicked, punched, socially excluded, blackmailed, threatened, or sexually kissed without consent. The results were similar across societies. The findings imply that the contextual differences between Chinese societies may not account for different effects of gender and grade level on school violence, behavioral patterns of school violence, and correlates of school nonattendance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many developed countries or regions, wide income disparities increase the difficulty in reducing poverty. In their day‐to‐day lives, poor people often feel less accepted by the society. The failures in communicating with social groups and receiving social support lead to negative consequences on individual well‐being and higher level of social exclusion. Based on the debate upon alternative approaches to conceptualizing and operationalizing poverty, this study attempts to verify a mediation model with data from a household survey (N = 1,202) in Hong Kong. The results of structural equation modelling reveal that deprivation is a more powerful indicator than income poverty for specifying the negative relations of poverty with interpersonal communication, social support, and social acceptance; the negative impact of deprivation on social acceptance can be reduced by two significant mediators of interpersonal communication and social support. The results are discussed in terms of directions for future research and policy and welfare intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a large-scale dataset from Hong Kong, this study describes the prevalence of cyberbullying and examines how gender and grade level relate to cyberbullying among secondary school students in Hong Kong. Participants were 1,855 students from secondary schools (Forms 1 to 7). Students were given an anonymous questionnaire that included a scale for reporting their experiences of cyberbullying. Responses indicated that 17.8% of students reported cyberbullying and 30.9% experienced at least one type of cyberbullying in the past three months. Curses, insults, and humiliation were the most common types of cyberbullying. Males reported higher rates of bullying and victimization than did females. The overall rates of bullying and victimization peaked in Forms 2 or 3 and in Form 6. Cyberbullying among secondary students in Hong Kong is a serious problem that needs immediate attention. Potential intervention programs should target males and students in Forms 2, 3, and 6. Programs should mainly aim to reduce online curses, insults, and humiliation by students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Human complement C4 is complex, with multiple layers of diversity. The aims of this study were to elucidate the copy number variations (CNVs) of C4A and C4B in relation to disease risk in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to compare the basis of race-specific C4A deficiency between East Asians and individuals of European descent. Methods The East Asian study population included 999 SLE patients and 1,347 healthy subjects. Variations in gene copy numbers (GCNs) of total C4, C4A, and C4B, as well as C4-Long and C4-Short genes, were determined and validated using independent genotyping technologies. Genomic regions with C4B96 were investigated to determine the basis of the most basic C4B protein occurring concurrently with C4A deficiency. Results In East Asians, high GCNs of total C4 and C4A were strongly protective against SLE, whereas low and medium GCNs of total C4 and C4A, and the absence of C4-Short genes, were risk factors for SLE. Homozygous C4A deficiency was infrequent in East Asian subjects, but had an odds ratio (OR) of 12.4 ( P = 0.0015) for SLE disease susceptibility. Low serum complement levels were strongly associated with low GCNs of total C4 (OR 3.19, P = 7.3 × 10−7) and C4B (OR 2.53, P = 2.5 × 10−5). Patients with low serum complement levels had high frequencies of anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (OR 4.96, P = 9.7 × 10−17), hemolytic anemia (OR 3.89, P = 3.6 × 10−10), and renal disease (OR 2.18, P = 8.5 × 10−6). The monomodular -Short haplotype found to be prevalent in European Americans with C4A deficiency, which was in linkage disequilibrium with HLA- DRB1*0301, was scarce in East Asians. Instead, most East Asian subjects with C4A deficiency were found to have a recombinant haplotype with bimodular C4-Long and C4- Short genes, encoding C4B1 and C4B96, which was linked to HLA-DRB1*1501. DNA sequencing revealed an E920K polymorphism in C4B96. Conclusion C4 CNVs and deficiency of C4A both play an important role in the risk and manifestations of SLE in East Asian and European populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediments transport is a common phenomenon in natural rivers, which directly drives change in turbidity. High turbidity caused by sediments transport in streams usually leads to water quality degradation and ecological problems. Bad water quality can make trouble in irrigating nearby farmlands and aquatic animals cannot tolerate in high turbidity environment. High turbidity condition occurs during rainfall events at most time. Thus, characterizing the features of turbidity changes versus rainfall and topographical patterns could shed light on the mechanism of turbidity changes, which can provide important information on catchment management. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the turbidity changes as affected by rainfall events and terrain distinctions. Field experiments were conducted to monitor turbidity and water level with various terrain characteristics and different intensity of rainfall events at five locations of Lai Chi Wo catchment in Hong Kong, China. Turbidity sensors are installed in these five stations with values recorded every five minutes. At the same time, water level values can be obtained from corresponding sensors of all stations. We made the analysis of the strong rainfall events in rainy seasons during these two years. Preliminary results showed the fifteen minutes rainfall intensity correlated best with turbidity increasing rate in the downstream area of the catchment. It is related to the time for soils rushing into the river from upstream to downstream area. Solids settling phenomena was obviously observed in the downstream area where terrain is flat. That causes the station downstream farmlands area do not have high turbidity as expected. Mechanism behind the relationship between turbidity in river and rainfall intensity is affected by various factors. Our study is to reveal the mechanism from one aspect. Moreover, methodology adopted in the study can be applied into other conditions with turbidity changes to solve the local environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study investigated the effect of various sources of social support (i.e., parental support, teacher support, and peer support) on the level of depression, and the mediating effect of self-esteem and self-efficacy in the relationship between various sources of social support and the level of depression among Chinese adolescents. It also attempted to explore whether or not the relationships among social support, self-esteem, self-efficacy and depression would differ between students in upper primary school (Grades 4 to 6) and those in lower secondary school (Grades 7 to 9). Method The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. Using a three-stage cluster sampling method, 1507 students from primary schools (Grades 4 to 6) and secondary schools (Grades 7 to 9) in Hong Kong were recruited and given a structured questionnaire. Results The results of a structural equation analysis indicated that both parental and peer support are directly and indirectly related to the level of depression. The indirect effect of social support on depression is via the mediating effect of self-esteem. However, self-efficacy does not mediate the relationship between social support and depression. Similar findings were found for both 4th to 6th graders in primary schools and 7th to 9th graders in secondary schools. Conclusion The findings suggest that enhancing self-esteem should be emphasized in depression prevention/intervention for Chinese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]