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Two studies were conducted in Hong Kong to validate a brief measure of family resilience based on the three-factor CPR model. The CPR model stipulates that family resilience comprises three major factors: Communication and Connectedness (C), Positive Framing (P), and External Resources (R). Study 1 abbreviated the 16-item Family Resilience Scale (FRS16) into six items (FRS6) with a parent sample in the community (N = 1270). Study 2 tested the validity of the FRS6 with a single parent sample (N = 336). The result of Study 1 suggests a dominant general family resilience factor structure with three distinct subfactors. The highest factor loading items from each of the three subfactors were retained in the six-item FRS6. The resultant FRS6 was internally consistent and related to various correlates in similar or better strengths as compared to the FRS16. The results of a separate sample in Study 2 indicated that the FRS6 demonstrated satisfactory internal reliability and correlated significantly with individual resilience, quality of life, anxiety, and depression in the expected directions. Both studies supported that the FRS6 is a psychometrically sound measure of family resilience and can be used in longitudinal studies that aim to chart the trajectory of family adjustment following life adversities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that the perinatal period is a time of increased risk for pregnant women to manifest mental health problems, the identification of antenatal hypomanic symptoms is particularly important. However, data on antenatal hypomanic symptoms is lacking. The present study was aimed at filling this research gap by investigating the prevalence of hypomanic symptoms, including the "active-elated" and "irritable/risk-taking" sides of hypomanic symptoms at the first trimester, and examining their associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms at the following time points: the first trimester, the second trimester, and up to 6-week postpartum. A prospective longitudinal design with a quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 229 pregnant Chinese women in Hong Kong was assessed. Hypomanic symptoms were assessed with the Hypomania Checklist-32 (HCL-32). Of the sample, 43.6% had elevated levels of hypomanic symptoms in the first trimester. Multiple regression analysis showed that after adjusting for potential confounding factors, irritable/risk-taking symptoms were independently associated with higher anxiety symptoms in the first and second trimesters and in the 6-week postpartum period. Primary healthcare practitioners should be made aware of antenatal hypomanic symptoms in pregnant women to facilitate early identification and intervention for anxiety and depression to improve the well-being of both mothers and infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Addiction‐like eating (AE) is characterized by food cravings and loss of control over excessive food consumption. This study investigated the associations among emotional factors, personality traits, and AE symptoms in Asian young adults. Method: This study included 6,823 Asian university students in South Korea, China, Singapore, Hong Kong/Macao, Japan, and Taiwan. Participants completed the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS) and scales on the Big‐Five personality traits, impulsivity, anxiety, and depression. Results: 6.2% of the participants met the mYFAS (DSM‐IV‐TR) food addiction diagnostic threshold. Participants from South Korea (7.9%) had the highest rate of food addiction, while participants from Japan (5.1%) and Taiwan (4.1%) reported the lowest rates. Emotional factors of anxiety and depression were the most robust correlates of AE symptoms, followed by country/region and personality factors of higher impulsivity, higher extraversion, and lower agreeableness. Personality correlates were region‐specific. Higher impulsivity was a significant correlate for participants from South Korea and Taiwan, higher extraversion for participants from Singapore and Japan, and lower agreeableness for participants from China and Taiwan. Gender was also a significant correlate for participants from South Korea, Hong Kong/Macao, and Taiwan. Discussion: Emotional and personality factors are important correlates of AE symptoms among Asian young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the translated Chinese-Cantonese version of the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised (PRAQ-R) in a sample of pregnant women in Hong Kong, China. It also aims to determine whether pregnancy-related anxiety changes significantly across trimesters and if it is differentiated from general anxiety and depression.Method: This study adopts a prospective longitudinal design with a quantitative approach. A consecutive sample of 186 Chinese pregnant women from hospitals in Hong Kong are assessed using the translated Chinese-Cantonese version of the PRAQ-R and other standardized instruments at three time points during the first to third trimester.Results: A confirmatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure of the Chinese-Cantonese version of the PRAQ-R, including fear of giving birth, fear of bearing a physically or mentally handicapped child, and concern about one's appearance. The internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.88 to 0.91) for all of the items in the PRAQ-R across the three trimesters. The average variance extract (AVE) and composite reliability (CR) for each factor were greater than the recommended level of CR > 0.70 and AVE > 0.50. Multiple regression analyses showed that a combination of general anxiety and depression explained a small proportion of the variance (10-29%) in the PRAQ-R subscales during the three trimesters.Conclusions: The Chinese-Cantonese version of the PRAQ-R has good validity and reliability, and the results provide evidence of its relevance for Chinese pregnant women with pregnancy-related anxiety in Hong Kong. The finding also shows that pregnancy-related anxiety is a relatively distinctive form of anxiety that is different from general anxiety and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although eating disorders in pregnancy have been studied extensively, little research attention has been given to disordered eating. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence and levels of disordered eating in the perinatal period, and to identify risk factors and adverse outcomes of disordered eating during pregnancy. Method: A prospective longitudinal design with a quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 1,470 Chinese pregnant women from hospitals in Hong Kong was assessed using standardized instruments at five time points from the first trimester to 6 months postpartum. Results: The levels of disordered eating changed significantly across trimesters. Higher levels of disordered eating in pregnancy were significantly associated with higher levels of disordered eating at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum, greater anxiety and depressive symptoms, lower 1‐min Apgar scores, and abnormal birth weight. Discussion: The present study pointed to the need for more research and clinical attention to antenatal disordered eating given that it is associated with anxiety, depression, postpartum disordered eating and obstetric outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors investigated the association of perceived parental job insecurity and students’ part-time work quality on work values among 341 Hong Kong Chinese undergraduate students. Correlation and regression results showed that work values were strongly related to students’ part-time work satisfaction and work quality. In particular, regression analyses showed that high job satisfaction and low role conflict in the part-time job were significantly related to high motivation to do good work but low work cynicism, even after demographic information was considered. Layoff of the mother was also found to relate to work cynicism. The importance of student career counseling and organizational practice was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines intentions to take protective action against peer sexual harassment and abuse (PSHA). The theory of planned behavior (TPB) proposes that attitudes about protective action, perceptions of what others would think about doing this (subjective norms), and behavioral control would be important predictors. A total of 1,531 Chinese secondary school students (769 boys and 762 girls) from Hong Kong were surveyed to test this model. Results showed that the TPB model was predictive for girls, but only subjective norms and behavioral control significantly predicted boys' intentions to protect themselves. Results supported the influence of subjective norms and perceived behavioral control on youths' intentions to reject PSHA. These factors may be useful in guiding the development of an educational program for prevention of PSHA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current longitudinal study explored the prevalence and psychosocial factors of disordered eating among new Chinese mothers in Hong Kong. Method: Self-report questionnaires on bulimic symptoms and pregnancy-related factors were collected at both prenatal and postnatal periods from 131 Chinese women. Results: Participants reported significantly more severe disordered eating in the postnatal than in the prenatal period, with percentages being 19.08% and 8.4%, respectively, using the Eating Disorder Inventory-2. Results revealed that prenatal disordered eating, weak maternal-fetal attachment, a low level of instrumental spousal support during pregnancy, postnatal depressive symptoms, and a poor mother-infant relationship were significantly related to disordered eating at 6 months postchildbirth. Conclusion: Findings suggested that the transition to motherhood is a period of stress that may either precipitate or exacerbate disordered eating. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 has been an international public health threat. Quick diagnostic tests and specific treatments for SARS are not yet available; thus, prevention is of paramount importance to contain its global spread. This study aimed to determine factors associating with individuals' practice of the target SARS preventive behavior (facemask wearing).Methods: A total of 1329 adult Chinese residing in Hong Kong were surveyed. The survey instrument included demographic data, measures on the five components of the Health Belief Model, and the practice of the target SARS preventive behavior. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine rates and predictors of facemask wearing.Results: Overall, 61.2% of the respondents reported consistent use of facemasks to prevent SARS. Women, the 50-59 age group, and married respondents were more likely to wear facemasks. Three of the five components of the Health Belief Model, namely, perceived susceptibility, cues to action, and perceived benefits, were significant predictors of facemask-wearing even after considering effects of demographic characteristics.Conclusions: The Health Belief Model is useful in identifying determinants of facemask wearing. Findings have significant implications in enhancing the effectiveness of SARS prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study that determined the rates of proclivity to elder abuse in Hong Kong, China. Theories explaining elder abuse; Proclivity estimates of elder abuse; Predicting proclivity to elder abuse; Limitations of the study.

This study examined the mental health outcomes of job stress among Chinese teachers in Hong Kong. A total of 269 Chinese teachers participated in Study 1 which provided cross- sectional data regarding the associations among stress resource factors, bumout, and negative mental health. Study 2 was a six-month longitudinal study which aimed to establish the direction of the associations among the hypothesized variables across two time points with a separate sample of 61 Chinese secondary school teachers. Results of the structural equation modelling analyses on the cross-sectional data at Tl showed that stress resource factors of self-efficacy and proactive attitude were negatively related to burnout, which in turn had a direct effect on negative mental health. Stress resource factors were also directly linked to mental health status of teachers. Results of similar analyses on the longitudinal data at T2 further indicated that burnout at Tl had a direct impact on burnout at T2, which in turn had a direct effect on negative mental health at T2. Findings and limitations of the study were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the prevalence of elder abuse of Chinese in Hong Kong and also assessed its impact on their psychological functioning. A total of 355 (120 males, 235 females) elderly Chinese residing in Hong Kong responded to a questionnaire administered individually. Results indicated prevalence rates of 2% for physical abuse and 20.8% for verbal abuse. These rates were higher than those reported by a telephone survey of similar respondents. Rates did not differ significantly for men and women. Data from the General Health Questionnaire showed that abused elders, as compared with nonabused elders, scored significantly higher on overall psychological distress. Abused participants were also significantly more dependent on their caregivers than nonabused participants. This difference did not, however, predict the level of psychological distress after accounting for physical abuse and verbal abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the impact of job characteristics on psychological distress of Chinese single working women in Hong Kong. Role of job satisfaction in the job characteristic-distress relation; Emphasis on the physical job demand-control interaction effect on mental distress; Focus on job satisfaction as a mediating factor between job characteristics and mental distress.

Examines the impact of work- and academic-related sexual harassment on women in Hong Kong, China. Questionnaires assessing sexual harassment incidents experienced by self; Perceived prevalence of sexual harassment in the organization, job or study satisfaction and organizational commitment.

A survey study conducted among 226 Chinese voluntary workers in Hong Kong showed that satisfaction with voluntary work, integration into the voluntary institution, and burnout syndromes contributed to volunteers' expected duration of service. Regression analyses also showed that different sets of variables predicted different spans of expected duration of service. Work satisfaction was the most salient predictor for expected duration of service from six months to ten years. Lack of personal accomplishment predicted expected duration of service for six to twelve months, whereas emotional exhaustion and depersonalization influenced volunteers' expectation to continue in the service for five to ten years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy is a time of increasing vulnerability to the development of body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression. The present study aims to examine associations of body dissatisfaction with anxiety and depression at the following points: 6 months before pregnancy (retrospective report); in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy; and up to 6 weeks postpartum.Methods: A prospective longitudinal design with a quantitative approach was adopted. A consecutive sample of 1,371 Chinese pregnant women in Hong Kong was assessed using standardized instruments at four time points.Results: A mixed-effects model with repeated measures revealed that body dissatisfaction and depression symptoms changed across different stages of pregnancy. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that, after adjusting for the identified risk factors, body dissatisfaction before and during pregnancy were positively associated with antenatal anxiety and depression symptoms. Concurrent body dissatisfaction was positively associated with postpartum depression symptoms.Limitations: There was a high attrition rate in the follow-up assessments. Antenatal anxiety symptoms were assessed using the scale for general anxiety, which may not adequately capture the experience of anxiety among pregnant women.Conclusions: Primary healthcare practitioners should be made aware of body dissatisfaction among pregnant women in order to facilitate early intervention for anxiety and depression, because untreated psychological disturbance during pregnancy may persist into the postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]