A Comparative Study of Prevalence and Associated Factors of Social Support Among Chinese Shidu Parents and Non-Shidu Parents.

The number of parents in China who have lost their only child, referred to as shidu parents, currently exceeds one million and is increasing by approximately 76,000 annually. Shidu parents face a unique challenge in long-term care, primarily stemming from the sudden and tragic loss of their only child, which leads to a substantial decrease in their social support network. A multi-stage, stratified, and cluster sampling method was employed across various economic belts. Linear regression analysis was utilized to examine factors associated with the social support status of shidu and non-shidu parents. The level of social support decreases as the severity of depression increases. Shidu parents with grandchildren tend to have good social support. The city of Hangzhou exhibits relatively high levels of social support. Married individuals typically report higher levels of social support. It is recommended to prioritize shidu parents without grandchildren as a primary focus for government and societal support. Key recommendations include strengthening social skills training and developing social support networks. Drive economic development, particularly in relatively underdeveloped regions. Strengthen social organizations and community development. Enhancing access to support services, leveraging technology, and encouraging volunteerism for non-married parents.

Osteosarcopenic obesity and its components-osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity-are associated with blood cell count-derived inflammation indices in older Chinese people.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) and its components with complete blood cell count-derived inflammation indices. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data of 648 participants aged ≥60 years (men/women: 232/416, mean age: 67.21 ± 6.40 years) were collected from January 2018 to December 2020. Areal bone mineral density and body fat percentage were used to define osteopenia/osteoporosis and obesity, respectively. The criteria of the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia were used to diagnose sarcopenia. Based on the number of these conditions, participants were divided into four groups: OSO/0, OSO/1, OSO/2, and OSO/3. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify associations between blood cell count-derived inflammation indices and the number of disorders with abnormal body composition. RESULTS: Systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), white blood cells, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), aggregate inflammation systemic index (AISI), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) showed statistically significant differences among the four groups (P < 0.05). Unlike in the OSO/0 group, in all other groups, AISI, SIRI, PLR, and NLR were significantly associated with increased likelihood of having multiple disorders with abnormal body composition after adjustment for confounders (P < 0.0001 for all). However, LMR showed an inverse correlation with the number of these conditions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher SIRI, AISI, NLR, and PLR values and lower LMR values are closely associated with OSO and its individual components-osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity-in older adults, suggesting that the value of these indices in the evaluation of OSO warrants further investigation.

The correlation between quality of life and social support in female nurses.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between quality of life and social support in female nurses. BACKGROUND: Nurses play an important role in providing care and managing patients' health in hospitals. However, limited studies have shown an association between quality of life and social support in female nurses in China. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey. METHODS: To investigate 320 full-time female nurses in different departments at four comprehensive hospitals in Harbin with a cross-sectional correlational design using questionnaires. A demographic data questionnaire, menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire and social support scale were used. RESULTS: The scores on the physical (36·93 ± 17·65) and psychological (17·57 ± 9·45) subscales were higher than those of the vasomotor (4·88 ± 3·48) and sexual (4·53 ± 3·23) subscales of quality of life. The average score of objective support (25·12 ± 4·32) was higher than those of subjective support (9·80 ± 3·04) and utilisation of social support (7·80 ± 1·97). A significant association between quality of life and social support was found (p < 0·01). CONCLUSIONS: Social support influenced quality of life. Social support as a buffer for pressure can influence individual stress perception, help individuals cope with pressure and reduce the negative impact of stress on mental and physical health, thus improving different aspects of health. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Enhancing social support in an active environment would allow female nurses to enjoy a better quality of life in their clinical practice.

The evaluation and enhancement strategies of core competencies for older adult caregivers in integrated medical and older adult care institutions.

The study aimed to understand the main skills of older adult caregivers and find ways to improve these skills. We selected participants using a method called random cluster sampling, where caregivers from 17 different medical and nursing care facilities across seven districts in Hangzhou were chosen. We collected 492 valid questionnaires and conducted interviews with 150 people. To analyze the data, we used T-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to identify what factors affect caregivers' skills. We also performed multiple regression analysis to explore these factors in more depth. The analysis showed that age (p = 0.041), annual income (p < 0.001), and having a training certificate (p < 0.001) significantly influence the skills of older adult caregivers. Specifically, caregivers' age and whether they had a training certificate were linked to how competent they were, with income being a very strong factor. The study highlighted a gap between the caregivers' current skills and the skills needed for high-quality care. This gap shows the need for training programs that are specifically tailored to the caregivers' diverse needs and cultural backgrounds. Medical and eldercare facilities should adjust their work and educational programs accordingly. It's also important to look at how caregivers are paid to make sure their salary reflects their skills and the quality of care they provide. Finally, it's crucial to integrate a comprehensive training program that leads to certification within eldercare organizations.

The association among thriving in life, quality of life, and suicidal ideation in Chinese urban older adults: the moderating effects of attitude toward own aging.

BACKGROUND: As the global trend of population aging intensifies, the health and well-being of the older population has gradually become a focus of attention for the global community. This study assessed the status of thriving in life among Chinese urban older adults and identified its relationship with attitude toward own aging and quality of life (QoL). It also tested whether attitude toward own aging moderates the association between thriving in life and Qol or between thriving in life and suicidal ideation. METHODS: Primary data were collected through a cross-sectional survey among urban older adults from three provinces in China. They were invited to complete an anonymous survey using face-to-face interviews from December 2019 to January 2020. Data from 764 older adults were analyzed. RESULTS: Approximately 44.39% of participants reported positive responses toward the four domains of thriving in life. Thriving in life and attitude toward own aging had a significant association with QoL. Thriving in life was a protective factor for suicidal ideation for older adults. Moreover, attitude toward own aging moderated the association between thriving in life and QoL and that between thriving in life and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese urban older adults were reportedly thriving in life, which contributed to increased QoL and reduced suicidal ideation. Notably, the study revealed that more positive attitudes towards own aging were associated with higher levels of thriving in life, better QoL, and reduced suicidal ideation. Targeted interventions for older adults should be devised to promote thriving in life and prevent negative attitudes of older people towards their own aging, further raising QoL and reducing suicidal ideation.

Gene-environment interaction between adiponectin gene polymorphisms and environmental factors on the risk of diabetic retinopathy.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To evaluate whether the adiponectin gene is associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) risk and interaction with environmental factors modifies the DR risk, and to investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin levels and DR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four adiponectin polymorphisms were evaluated in 372 DR cases and 145 controls. Differences in environmental factors between cases and controls were evaluated by unconditional logistic regression analysis. The model-free multifactor dimensionality reduction method and traditional multiple regression models were applied to explore interactions between the polymorphisms and environmental factors. RESULTS: Using the Bonferroni method, we found no significant associations between four adiponectin polymorphisms and DR susceptibility. Multivariate logistic regression found that physical activity played a protective role in the progress of DR, whereas family history of diabetes (odds ratio 1.75) and insulin therapy (odds ratio 1.78) were associated with an increased risk for DR. The interaction between the C-11377 G (rs266729) polymorphism and insulin therapy might be associated with DR risk. Family history of diabetes combined with insulin therapy also increased the risk of DR. No adiponectin gene polymorphisms influenced the serum adiponectin levels. Serum adiponectin levels did not differ between the DR group and non-DR group. CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was identified between four adiponectin polymorphisms and DR susceptibility after stringent Bonferroni correction. The interaction between C-11377G (rs266729) polymorphism and insulin therapy, as well as the interaction between family history of diabetes and insulin therapy, might be associated with DR susceptibility.