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Previous studies revealed that experiences of stigma might negatively affect health service utilization (HSU) among young rural-to-urban migrants. Existing literature also suggested social factors including social capital might mediate such negative effect. However, data are limited regarding the mediation role of social capital among this vulnerable population. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the associations among experiences of stigma, social capital, and HSU among young rural-to-urban migrants in China. A sample of 641 young rural-to-urban migrants was recruited through a venue-based sampling approach in Beijing, China. Participants were assessed on sociodemographic characteristics, experiences of stigma, and social capital in their urban communities. Self-reported frequency of physical examinations (regularly, irregularly, none) was used as an indicator of HSU. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to examine the direct effect of stigma on HSU as well as the mediation effect of social capital. Among the 641 young rural-to-urban migrants, 32.3% (195/603) reported never having physical examinations while 50.6% (305/603) reported having them irregularly. The final model showed a goodness of fit (χ2/df = 1.7, CFI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.03, WRMR = 0.74). Results of SEM revealed that both of the direct and indirect paths from experiences of stigma on HSU were statistically significant. There was a partial mediation effect of social capital on the association between experiences of stigma and HSU (delta z score = −5.49, p < 0.01). Rural-to-urban migrants had a low rate of regular HSU. Experiences of stigma were associated with decreased likelihood of HSU. Social capital in the urban communities could mediate the negative effect of stigma on HSU and played a mediation role between experiences of stigma and HSU. Therefore, to increase HSU among migrants, targeted interventions to reduce stigma and increase social capital at the migration destinations are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the mechanisms of how experiences of stigma affect suicidal behaviors through depression and substance use among migrant workers in China. A sample of 641 young rural-to-urban migrants was recruited in Beijing, China. Participants were assessed on their sociodemographic characteristics, suicidal behaviors, experiences of stigma, depression, and substance use. Path analysis was used to examine the relationship between experiences of stigma and suicidal behaviors as well as the mechanistic roles of depression and substance use. The path model showed a good model fit. While the direct path from experiences of stigma to suicidal behaviors was not significant, the indirect paths between these two concepts were significant. Experiences of stigma were positively associated with both depression and substance use, which in turn were positively related to suicidal behaviors. The chain effect from experiences of stigma, depression, substance use to suicidal behaviors was also significant. To prevent and reduce suicidal behaviors among migrant workers, targeted interventions focusing on reducing experiences of stigma and improving mental and behavioral health are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has demonstrated that subjective socio‐economic status (SES) and school social capital are associated with a wide range of socio‐emotional outcomes for children. Less is known about whether subjective SES is linked to overall child development and whether school social capital is a mediator in developing countries. The current study aimed to examine the association between subjective SES and positive youth development (PYD) among young adolescents in China, explore whether student–teacher relationships and student–student relationships mediated this association, and test whether there were gender differences in these associations. The analytical sample included a total of 1011 seventh‐graders (mean age = 13.24, SD =.69; 53.70% boys) recruited from Beijing and Anhui Provinces. The results showed that subjective SES was positively and significantly associated with PYD and that student–teacher relationships and student–student relationships played independent and joint mediating roles in the link between the two constructs. In addition, girls benefited more than boys from having closer relationships with teachers. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting school social capital in reducing PYD disparities across subjective SES levels, and suggest that school should be an effective venue for interventions to promote PYD among young adolescents in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current study evaluated the preliminary efficacy of a pilot trial of a resilience‐based intervention programme designed to decrease depression symptoms and improve protective factors (e.g. personal assets, social resources, cultural adaptation self‐efficacy, interpreting adversity, and self‐esteem) among rural‐to‐urban migrant children in China. Methods: Participants were 285 fourth and fifth graders from two migrant children schools in Beijing. One school was cluster‐randomly assigned as the intervention group (n = 127) and the other was assigned as the wait‐list control group (n = 158). Data were collected at baseline and post‐intervention with a follow‐up rate of 96.8 per cent. Results: Multivariate analyses found significantly greater increases in social resources, cultural adaptation self‐efficacy, and making positive sense of adversity in the intervention group than in the control group. In the intervention group, migrant children who had moved more often reported a higher increase in personal assets than those who had fewer mobility experience. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the resilience‐based intervention can be efficacious in improving resilience among migrant children in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systemic framework of resilience and dyadic perspective of couple coping suggests that HIV-discordant couples may show heterogeneous profiles of dyadic adjustment, shaped by contextual risks and resources. This study aimed to identify heterogeneous profiles of dyadic adjustment and thus investigate the expression of resilience among 159 heterosexual HIV-discordant couples in rural China. We hypothesized that the couples could be grouped into distinct profiles: both members showing poor well-being, both members showing good well-being, and discrepant well-being across the two members. A latent profile analysis classified the couples into three subgroups based on well-being, which was measured using the World Health Organization Well-Being Index. As expected, one subgroup, labeled Maladapted Couples (n = 58, 36.5%), reported poor well-being in both people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and the seronegative spouse. The second subgroup, labeled Resilient Couples (n = 50, 31.4%), was characterized by relatively good well-being in both partners. In the third subgroup, labeled Maladapted PLWHA and Resilient Spouses (n = 51, 32.1%), the PLWHA showed poor well-being, while the seronegative spouses demonstrated good well-being. The identified subgroups were validated against external well-being measures, including depression and self-rated health measures. Exploratory analyses identified distinct patterns of contextual risks (including HIV stigma and financial difficulties) and resource factors (including individual resources and relational resources) across the subgroups. These findings underscore the heterogeneity of adjustment among heterosexual HIV-discordant couples in rural China and suggest the potential usefulness of services tailored to specific subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The plight of left‐behind children affected by parental migration has aroused widespread public concern in China. However, limited research has been conducted on the positive aspects of the development (e.g., subjective well‐being) among left‐behind children. Recently, a new means to investigating the mechanisms of positive development in left‐behind children emerged from the positive youth development (PYD) approach. Grounded in the framework of PYD, this study was designed to examine how ecological assets (i.e., neighbourhood social cohesion and trusting relationships with caregivers) and individual strength (i.e., resilience) predict subjective well‐being among left‐behind children. Methods: Altogether, 1,449 left‐behind children (50.70% boys; Mage = 12.11 years, SD = 1.84) were recruited to complete questionnaires designed to assess perceived neighbourhood social cohesion, trusting relationships with caregivers, resilience, and subjective well‐being. Results: The results show that neighbourhood social cohesion and trusting relationships with caregivers positively predicted left‐behind children's subjective well‐being. Moreover, structural equation modelling results reveal that resilience partially mediated the effect of neighbourhood social cohesion and trusting relationships with caregivers on subjective well‐being. Conclusions: In this research, we identified key contextual and personal enablers for subjective well‐being among left‐behind children. The results provide some important implications regarding the manner in which subjective well‐being can be promoted among left‐behind children by increasing neighbourhood and family ecological assets and enhancing resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) constitute a newly emerged high-risk group in China, little research outside Western countries is available on effective intervention programs to enhance their well-being. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a group intervention program designed to improve the well-being and adaptive coping strategies of 60 HIV-infected MSM in Beijing, China, randomly assigned either to the intervention group for participation in four weekly sessions or to the control group for placement on a waiting list. They all completed measurements at pre- and postintervention. Compared with the control group, the intervention group reported significantly increased problem-focused coping strategies and levels of posttraumatic growth (PTG) as well as decreased symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the completion of the intervention. In addition, mediation analysis showed that changes in problem-focused coping strategies mediated the intervention effect on increases in PTG; however, the mediating effect of coping strategies on the association of intervention and PTSD was not significant. This study provides empirical evidence for conducting psychological intervention to promote the well-being of HIV-infected MSM. The findings also elucidate the mechanism through which intervention improved PTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People who believe that their socioeconomic status (SES) can be changed—with growth mindset or incremental implicit theory of SES—tend to have better psychological well‐being. Nevertheless, it remains unclear on why growth mindset of SES benefits well‐being. The present research aims to answer this question by investigating the longitudinal associations between mindset of SES and well‐being (i.e. depression and anxiety) and a potential mechanism (i.e. self‐esteem). We recruited 600 adults in Guangzhou, China, as participants in this study. Participants completed a list of questionnaires containing measures of mindset of SES, self‐esteem, depression, and anxiety at three time points over the course of 18 months. The cross‐lagged panel model showed that individuals holding a growth mindset of SES reported significantly lower depression and anxiety 1 year later, but the effect was not sustained later. More importantly, self‐esteem accounted for the associations of mindset of SES with both depression and anxiety, such that individuals with growth mindset of SES had higher self‐esteem, and in turn, demonstrated lower depression and anxiety over 18 months. These findings deepen the understanding of the salutary effects of implicit theories of SES on psychological well‐being. Implications for future research and mindset‐related interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affect is believed to be one of the most prominent proximal psychological pathway through which more distal psychosocial factors influence physiology and ultimately health. The current study examines the relative contributions of trait affect and state affect to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity, with particular focus on cortisol slope, in children affected by parental HIV/AIDS. A sample of 645 children (8–15 years old) affected by parental HIV/AIDS in rural China completed a multiple-day naturalistic salivary cortisol protocol. Trait and state affect, demographics, and psychosocial covariates were assessed via self-report. Hierarchical linear modeling was used for estimating the effects of trait affect and state affect on cortisol slope. Confidence intervals for indirect effects were estimated using the Monte Carlo method. Our results indicated that both trait and state negative affect (NA) predicted flatter (less “healthy”) diurnal cortisol slopes. Subsequent analyses revealed that children’s state NA mediated the effect of their trait NA on diurnal cortisol slope. The same relationships did not emerge for trait and state positive affect. These findings provide a rationale for future interventions that target NA as a modifiable antecedent of compromised health-related endocrine processes among children affected by parental HIV/AIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]