Scientific epistemology beliefs and acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A multigroup analysis based on the UTAUT model in Southern China.

Purpose: This study for the first time delves into the intricate relationship between scientific literacy and the acceptance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by employing a multigroup path analysis based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. We adopted Scientific Epistemology Belief (SEB) as an indicator for measuring scientific literacy due to its comprehensive reflection of individuals' understanding of scientific knowledge and knowing. In assessing TCM acceptance, we focused on Chinese parents' receptivity towards pediatric TCM, as it offers a more genuine representation of actual inclinations. Methods: A convenience sample of 1016 Chinese parents in Southern China was assessed using online Likert-scale questionnaires on SEB and UTAUT determinants (including performance expectancy, social influence, risk awareness, and facilitating conditions). A K-means cluster analysis was employed to discern distinct SEB profiles, followed by a multigroup path analysis to ascertain UTAUT model variations across these profiles. Results: Five SEB profiles were identified, namely, intermediate, absolutistic, multiplistic, sophisticated, and evidence-based. Evidence-based believers manifested the highest pediatric TCM acceptance, albeit with elements of blind faith, while multiplistic skeptics, prone to questioning everything, displayed the least acceptance. The absolutistic, intermediate, and sophisticated demonstrated moderate TCM acceptance levels, with the intermediate profile outscoring both absolutistic and sophisticated. These findings highlight that individuals with high scientific literacy do not blindly endorse TCM, nor do those with limited scientific understanding fully appreciate TCM's merits. Conclusion: SEB significantly moderates TCM acceptance factors in the UTAUT model, indicating that extremes in scientific knowledge spectrum result in less balanced TCM perspectives. Our findings pave the way for novel insights into harmonizing modern and traditional medical practices.

Determinants of the intention to use mHealth in the future: Evidence from an intervention study of patients with chronic diseases in Slovenia.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) implementation is crucial for developing sustainable healthcare systems, but it faces the challenge of user acceptance. Extending traditional acceptance models allows for the cognitive, emotional and social aspects of engaging with mHealth to be captured, creating a more comprehensive understanding of users' intentions to use it in the future. User-centred intervention studies based on users' real experiences with mHealth are essential for accurate assessments and for improving upon studies that rely merely on anticipated mHealth use. METHODS: An intervention study was conducted with 103 patients with at least one chronic condition (type 2 diabetes and/or arterial hypertension) who had used an mHealth service for three months. They were recruited through purposive sampling at a community health centre in Slovenia. Path analysis was applied to the survey data collected after a three-month testing period to validate an explanatory model with eight hypotheses. RESULTS: The intensity of mHealth use affected usability, which in turn affected acceptability, the psychosocial impacts of engagement with mHealth and intention for future use. The results showed that the intensity of mHealth use did not affect mHealth acceptability. Likewise, acceptability did not affect the psychosocial impacts of engagement with mHealth or the intention for its future use. Notably, perceptions of the psychosocial impacts of mHealth had no significant effect on the intention for future use. CONCLUSION: Usability and intensity of use play a central role in the post-intervention usage of mHealth, offering valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers involved in the delivery of mHealth-based treatment to patients with chronic diseases.

In what ways does placeness affect people's behavior? Focusing on personal place attachment and public place image as connecting parameter.

Placeness is believed to play a significant role in enhancing the well-being and place-use of individuals, contributing profoundly to how spaces are experienced and interacted with. Despite its perceived importance, there is ongoing debate and insufficient clarity about how exactly placeness influences people's behavior. This study aims to bridge this gap by theorizing and investigating the pathways from placeness to people's behavioral intentions, emphasizing the roles of personal place attachment and public place image as pivotal mediators in this relationship. To explore these dynamics, we conducted a survey in Japan, examining the complex interplay between placeness and behavioral intentions, given their rich cultural heritage and modern urban pressures. We employed the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach for path analysis. The analysis suggests that placeness influences behavioral intention through personal place attachment. While placeness does affect public place image, this public image does not have an impact on behavioral intention. The results demonstrated that an individual's activities, experiences, and cognition of a place are significant factors in creating the intention to engage in word-of-mouth, recommendation, and revisiting behaviors. Policymakers, urban planners, and designers need to understand how to foster people's behavioral intentions when creating a place imbued with placeness.

Factors associated with intention of HIV testing among Asian American men: a path analysis.

Research has pointed to myriad cultural and socio-psychological factors associated with HIV testing, such as acculturation, social norms about HIV testing, masculinity, homonegativity, and constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior. However, the interrelationships of these factors on the intentions of HIV testing among the population of Asian American men remains unknown. A dataset of 425 Asian American men in the U.S., collected online with convenience sampling method during 2020-2021, was analyzed to test a conceptual framework that aimed to fill this gap. Results from a path model with two endogenous variables (homonegativity and HIV testing intention) indicated that perceived social norms about HIV testing, attitude about HIV testing, and perceived HIV risk had directandindirect relationships with the intentions of HIV testing in the study population. However, social norms about HIV testing and perceived HIV risk showed stronger direct effects (standardized estimates = 0.37 and 0.34, respectively, p-value < 0.001). Additionally, we found that the relationships of these factors with HIV testing intention were also mediated by homonegativity. Findings from this study advance our understanding of pathways of associations between a host of cultural and socio-psychological factors with HIV testing intention among an understudied population - Asian American men. Our results will help inform the development of future intervention programs to increase HIV testing in this population.

Diet specialization mediates drivers of Cucurbita herbivory in a semi-arid agroecosystem.

Herbivory is a major fitness pressure for plants and a key driver of crop losses in agroecosystems. Dense monocultures are expected to favor specialist herbivorous insects, particularly those who primarily consume crop species; yet, levels and types of herbivory are not uniform within regional cropping systems. It is essential to determine which local and regional ecological factors drive variation in herbivory in order to support functional agroecosystems that rely less on chemical inputs. Crops in the genus Cucurbita host a suite of both generalist and specialist herbivores that inflict significant damage, yet little is known about the relative contribution of these herbivores to variation in herbivory and how local- and landscape-scale Cucurbita resource concentrations, management practices, and natural enemies mediate this relationship. In this study, we tested whether three foundational ecological hypotheses influenced Cucurbita herbivory across 20 pumpkin fields in the semi-arid Southern High Plains Region of Texas. We used generalized linear mixed models and confirmatory path analysis to assess whether the Density-dependent Herbivory Hypothesis, Resource Concentration Hypothesis, or the Natural Enemies Hypothesis, could explain variation in Cucurbita herbivory and insect dynamics in the context of conventional agronomic practices. We found that herbivory increased over time, indicating that herbivores were causing sustained damage throughout the growing season. We also found that fields with higher local Cucurbita resources had lower herbivory, suggesting a resource dilution effect. Natural enemy communities were more abundant and taxonomically rich in sites with greater generalist herbivore abundance, though predator abundance declined over time, indicating that late-season crop fields are most at risk given high herbivory and low natural enemy-based control. Our findings also suggest that while local resource availability may drive the abundance and richness of arthropod communities, additional agronomic and phenological information is needed to anticipate herbivory risk in an agriculturally dominated landscape.

The relationship between attachment, primary emotions and positive/negative spirituality: a path analysis.

Objective: The present study investigates what may influence individuals to experience their religiosity/spirituality as either subjectively positive [religious or spiritual (r/s) wellbeing] or as negative (r/s struggles). Drawing on existing literature attachment insecurity and the seven primary emotions as outlined by Jaak Panksepp in Affective Neuroscience are identified as likely influences. Methods: The final sample consisted of 340 participants (age: M = 36, SD = 14.2; 68.5% = female), among which 65% self-identified as religious/spiritual. A path analysis was conducted to test a proposed mediation model in which the expected effects of primary emotions (B-ANPS) on r/s wellbeing (MI-RSWB) and r/s struggles (RSSS) were mediated through attachment insecurity (ECR-RD8). Results: The data indicated that attachment insecurity fully mediated the relationships between the primary emotions SADNESS and LUST with r/s struggles. Furthermore, the primary emotions FEAR and ANGER displayed small direct effects on both r/s struggles and r/s wellbeing. Overall, the model, which demonstrated excellent model fit, was able to explain 30% of the variance of r/s struggles, 24% of attachment insecurity and 5% of r/s wellbeing. Conclusions: The findings suggest that primary emotions such as SADNESS and LUST substantially explain r/s struggles and that these relationships seem to be mediated through attachment. Moreover, r/s struggles seem to be qualitatively distinct from r/s wellbeing. Finally, a moderate link between LUST and attachment suggests that sexuality plays a significant role in (adult) attachment processes.

Spatiotemporal drivers of Nature's contributions to people: A county-level study.

Nature's contributions to people (NCP) encompass both the beneficial and detrimental effects of living nature on human quality of life, including regulatory, material, and non-material contributions. Globally, vital NCPs have been deteriorating, accelerated by changes in both natural and anthropogenic drivers over recent decades. Despite the often inevitable trade-offs between NCPs due to their spatially and temporally uneven distributions, few studies have quantitatively assessed the impacts of different drivers on the spatial and temporal changes in multiple NCPs and their interrelationships. Here we evaluate the effects of precipitation, temperature, population, gross domestic product, vegetation restoration, and urban expansion on four key regulatory NCPs-habitat maintenance, climate regulation, water quantity regulation, and soil protection-in Nei Mongol at the county level. We observe increasing trends in climate regulation and soil protection from 2000 to 2019, contrasted with declining trends in habitat maintenance and water quantity regulation. We have identified the dominant positive and negative drivers influencing each NCP across individual counties, finding that natural drivers predominantly overpowered anthropogenic drivers. Furthermore, we discover significant spatial disparities in the trade-off or synergy relationships between NCPs across the counties. Our findings illustrate how the impacts of various drivers on NCPs and their interrelationships can be quantitatively evaluated, offering significant potential for application in various spatial scales. With an understanding of trade-offs and scale effects, these insights are expected to support and inform policymaking at both county and provincial levels.

Determinants of sedentary behavior in community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes based on the behavioral change wheel: a path analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior (SB) is deeply ingrained in the daily lives of community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the specific underlying mechanisms of the determinants associated with SB remain elusive. We aimed to explore the determinants of SB based on the behavior change wheel framework as well as a literature review. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 489 community-dwelling older adults with T2DM in Jinan City, Shandong Province, China. Convenience sampling was used to select participants from relevant communities. This study used the Measure of Older Adults' Sedentary Time-T2DM, the Abbreviated-Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, the Lubben Social Network Scale 6, the Subjective Social Norms Questionnaire for Sedentary Behavior, the Functional Activities Questionnaire, the Numerical Rating Scale, the Short Physical Performance Battery, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Text to assess the levels of and the determinants of SB. Descriptive statistical analysis and path analysis were conducted to analyze and interpret the data. RESULTS: Pain, cognitive function, social isolation, and social support had direct and indirect effects on SB in community-dwelling older adults with T2DM (total effects: ß = 0.426, ß = -0.171, ß = -0.209, and ß = -0.128, respectively), and physical function, walking environment, and social function had direct effects on patients' SB (total effects: ß = -0.180, ß = -0.163, and ß = 0.127, respectively). All the above pathways were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The path analysis showed that the model had acceptable fit indices: RMSEA = 0.014, χ 2/df = 1.100, GFI = 0.999, AGFI = 0.980, NFI = 0.997, RFI = 0.954, IFI = 1.000, TLI = 0.996, CFI = 1.000. CONCLUSION: Capability (physical function, pain, and cognitive function), opportunity (social isolation, walking environment, and social support), and motivation (social function) were effective predictors of SB in community-dwelling older adults with T2DM. Deeper knowledge regarding these associations may help healthcare providers design targeted intervention strategies to decrease levels of SB in this specific population.

Using cardiorespiratory fitness to operationalize vitality: a path analysis on the hierarchical structure of intrinsic capacity.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of consensus about the operationalization of vitality, which is one of the intrinsic capacity (IC) domains. In particular, no study has investigated whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can be considered a vitality indicator. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether vitality is the upstream domain of IC, and establish the validity of CRF as a vitality indicator, using maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) as a representative. METHODS: 561 older adults from a longitudinal cohort study were included. Variables under consideration were VO2 max, other IC domains, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and handgrip strength, which was considered an already validated indicator of vitality. Using handgrip strength as the reference point, path analyses were performed to examine whether VO2 max followed a similar hierarchical structure in predicting change in IADL difficulty through other IC domains. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 75.5 years. The path model in which vitality was measured by VO2 max demonstrated adequate fit, which was similar to the model in which vitality was measured by handgrip strength. Regarding the path coefficients, the model using VO2 max demonstrated significant total and indirect effects. Notably, the indirect effect was due to the locomotor domain (standardized coefficient = -0.148, p < .001), but not the cognitive or psychological domain. CONCLUSION: Vitality is the upstream domain of IC. VO2 max can be considered an indicator to operationalize the vitality concept.

Association between blood groups and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Blood group is a potential genetic element in coronary artery disease. Nevertheless, the relationship between different ABO blood groups and myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) is poorly understood. This study verified whether ABO blood group is a potential MINS influencing factor. This retrospective cohort study included 1201 patients who underwent elective non-cardiac surgery and a mandatory troponin test on postoperative days 1 and 2 from 2019 to 2020 at a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. The primary outcome was associations between ABO blood groups and MINS, assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic-regression analyses. Path analysis was used to investigate direct and indirect effects between blood group and MINS. MINS incidence (102/1201, 8.5%) was higher in blood-type B patients than in non-B patients [blood-type B: 44/400 (11.0%) vs. non-B: 58/801 (7.2%); adjusted odds ratio = 1.57 (1.03-2.38); p = 0.036]. In the confounding factor model, preoperative hypertension and coronary artery disease medical history were associated with MINS risk [adjusted odds ratio: 2.00 (1.30-3.06), p = 0.002; 2.81 (1.71-4.61), p < 0.001, respectively]. Path analysis did not uncover any mediating role for hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease between blood type and MINS. Therefore, blood-type B is associated with higher MINS risk; potential mediators of this association need to be investigated.

Do digital health information searches of individuals with chronic diseases affect health literacy and patient empowerment? A path analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the relationship between chronically ill patients' behaviors in acquiring and verifying health information from a digital environment with health literacy and patient empowerment using a structural equation modeling approach. METHODS: This study was carried out in a public hospital in Turkey between February and May 2023. The study consisted of 365 participants and used descriptive and correlation-based designs for statistical analyses. It also executed computations for descriptive statistics and correlations to carry out a path analysis to assess model fitness and to identify direct and indirect effects. RESULTS: This study identified that Web 1.0 and health information acquisition and digital verification variables statistically and significantly affected access to information, understanding information, appraisal (valuing)/evaluation, and application/use variables. The study also found that access to information variables was statistically significant on identity/identicalness, self-control, decision-making, and recognition and comprehension. The tested model fit the data well and adequately explained the direct effects of the variables. CONCLUSION: The study concluded by suggestively improving the chronically ill patients' media or digital literacy levels through special training to stimulate their internet use effectively.

Effects of Peer Victimization in Childhood and Trait Anxiety on Job Stress in Adulthood.

Background: The experience of peer victimization in childhood increases the risk of developing anxiety disorders and depression, risk of suicide, as well as sensitivity to stress, in adulthood. Various personality traits are known to be associated with these effects. However, the influence of trait anxiety on job stress has not yet been reported. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the experience of peer victimization in childhood and trait anxiety influence job stress in adulthood. Methods: A questionnaire survey, including State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Childhood Victimization Rating Scale, and Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, was administered to 566 adult workers. The interrelationship between multiple variables was analyzed by multiple regression analysis and path analysis. Results: In the path model, childhood peer victimization had a positive direct effect on trait anxiety and the psychological and physical stress response (PPSR). Trait anxiety had a positive direct effect on job stressors and PPSR, and job stressors had a positive direct effect on PPSR. Regarding indirect effects, childhood peer victimization had a significant adverse effect on job stressors and PPSR via trait anxiety. Conclusion: Our results showed that childhood peer victimization has a negative impact on job stress in adulthood, which is influenced by trait anxiety. Interventions to address peer victimization in childhood and trait anxiety may reduce job stress in adulthood, and thus contribute to improved occupational mental health and productivity in the workplace.

The temporal variation of CH4 emissions embodied in Chinese supply chains, 2000-2020.

Although the issue of embodied pollutants in China's supply chains has garnered increasing attention, the dynamic changes occurring within them are unclear. Several existing studies analyze one-year or short-term data in supply chain. China's overall CH4 emissions have risen from 41.1 Tg in 2000 to 60 Tg in 2020, so conducting long-term analyses can yield a deeper understanding of the dynamic changes across the entire supply chain from production to consumption. This study uses the environmentally extended input-output analysis (EEIOA) and structural path analysis (SPA) methods to investigate the dynamic variation of China's embodied CH4 emissions in 20 industry sectors from 2000 to 2020, aiming to determine the key supply chain and key sectors. The results reveal that from the final demand perspective, consumption, investment and export drove 52.1%, 32%, and 15.9% of embodied CH4 emissions in 2020. The sector with the highest embodied CH4 emissions has changed from "Agriculture" in 2000 to "Construction" in 2010 to "Other service and activities" in 2020. The top listed supply chain path of embodied CH4 emissions has also evolved (starting from production to consumption) from "Agriculture → Rural consumption" in 2000 to "Agriculture → Food and tobacco → Urban consumption" in 2010 to "Agriculture → Urban consumption" in 2020. Notably, the high-ranked path, "Agriculture → Food and tobacco → Rural consumption", shows that the embodied CH4 emission flowing between agriculture and the food industry cannot be ignored. The supply chain path "Coal Mining → Nonmetal Mineral Products → Construction → Capital Formation" has risen from 17th in 2000 to 3rd in 2020. Thus, it is necessary to control CH4 emissions from sectors upstream, which are predominantly influenced by the construction industry, and a coordinated effort between sectors is also required to effectively reduce emissions. By 2020, the CH4 emissions driven by urban consumption were 3.1 times that of rural consumption. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of China's supply chain over the past two decades. In particular, it suggests policy interventions by controlling critical supply chain paths and key sectors associated with embodied CH4 emission, thereby facilitating the coordinated reduction of anthropogenic CH4 emissions.

Protaetia brevitarsis larvae produce frass that can be used as an additive to immobilize Cd and improve fertility in alkaline soils.

Bioconversion of agricultural waste by Protaetia brevitarsis larvae (PBL) holds significant promise for producing high-quality frass organic amendments. However, the effects and mechanisms of PBL frass on Cd immobilization in an alkaline environment remain poorly understood. In this study, three types of frass, namely maize straw frass (MF), rice straw frass (RF), and sawdust frass (SF), were produced by feeding PBL. The Cd immobilization efficiencies of three frass in alkaline solutions and soils were investigated through batch sorption and incubation experiments, and spectroscopic techniques were employed to elucidate the sorption mechanisms of Cd onto different frass at the molecular level. The results showed that MF proved to be an efficient sorbent for Cd in alkaline solutions (176.67-227.27 mg g-1). X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy indicated that Cd immobilization in frass is primarily attributed to the association with organic matter (OM-Cd, 78-90%). And MF had more oxygen-containing functional groups than the other frass. In weakly alkaline soils, MF application (0.5-1.5%) significantly decreased Cd bioavailability (5.65-18.48%) and concurrently improved soil nutrients (2.21-56.79%). Redundancy analysis (RDA) unveiled that pH, CEC, and available P were important factors controlling Cd fractions. Path analysis demonstrated that MF application affected Cd bioavailability directly and indirectly by influencing soil chemical properties and nutrients. In summary, MF, the product of PBL-mediated conversion maize straw, demonstrated promise as an effective organic amendment for Cd immobilization and fertility improvement in alkaline soils.

Labor linkages and flow paths of industry in China.

As economic power increases and market patterns adapt, labor becomes an increasingly significant factor of production. However, there is a dearth of discourse regarding the structural changes that have occurred in the correlation of the labor force across industries, as well as a visual representation of the labor force's movement across industries. To quantify and analyze the correlation effect with greater precision, it is necessary to establish an input-output model as the foundation of analysis, comparing the changes in the total output of the economic system prior to and subsequent to the exclusion using the vertical integration algorithm. By decomposing the path structure, the average propagation distance of the labor force population's demand for each industry can be determined. By employing labor force population data from the corresponding years and China's input-output tables published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS) from 2005 to 2020, this study conducts a quantitative analysis of the correlation effect between labor force population and the trend of its transfer across 19 industries. The findings indicate that the correlation effect between labor force and population is most pronounced in the manufacturing sector. Furthermore, the construction sector faces an especially critical requirement for labor force personnel from other industries. The article culminates with a recommendation that the government enhance its macro-control endeavors to address labor market risk shocks and take an active stance in response to labor market fluctuations.

Impacts of different slash disposals on soil and water erosion of high-intensity management Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla plantation.

Background: The slash disposal-burning forest-in high-intensity management Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla plantation has accelerated soil degradation. Statement of the problem: Slash disposals is a contributing factor, but its specific role in the correlation between rainfall-runoff and soil erosion remains elusive. Objectives: his study investigated the characteristics of rainfall-runoff and soil erosion resistance in different methods of slash disposals in plantation. Methods: Three methods of slash disposal, namely burning forest (BF), moving away (MA), and spreading evenly (SE), were established. A field simulation experiment of rainfall was conducted, and path analysis was used. Results: The findings revealed that the water holding, infiltrating properties and the time the rainfall-runoff generated of SE were increased by approximately 10∼20 %, 100 %, and 80 %, respectively, compared with BF and MA. Water loss, soil loss and nutrient loss were significantly reduced by 62.23 % and 61.56 %, 69.06 % and 49.55 %, and 58.8 % and 65.42 % in SE and BF compared to MA. Path analysis suggested that different from BF and MA, the correlation between soil water properties and rainfall-runoff factors in SE was weakened, simultaneously considering the result that SE had the lower proportions of silt for sediment component (75.31 %), it stabilized the soil structure. Conclusions and prospect: Consequently, SE mitigated the erosion force by reducing rainfall-runoff and enhancing the anti-erosion of soil through improved water properties, making it a viable slash disposal. This work provides a detailed description of the soil erosion characteristics of plantation, including water, soil, and nutrient losses caused by rainfall-runoff, as well as the soil anti-erosion due to different slash disposals. These findings offer valuable insights for the management of high-intensity Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla plantations.

Examining the Relation Between Early Violence Exposure and Firearm-Related Experiences in Emerging Adulthood: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Firearms are a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Early exposure to violence, as a victim or witness, is associated with increased risk of firearm-related experiences, including carrying and threatening others with a gun. These experiences, in turn, increase the risk of both fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries. Using an ethnically diverse sample of emerging adults, we build on prior research by examining the link between early violence exposure at multiple contexts of the social-ecological model and multiple firearm-related experiences (i.e., firearm-threatening victimization, firearm-threatening perpetration, and firearm carriage). We analyzed data from a 10-year longitudinal study of 1042 youth in the Southern United States. Experiencing childhood physical abuse was associated with both firearm-threatening victimization and perpetration in emerging adulthood. Additionally, exposure to neighborhood and interparental violence were linked to threatening others with firearms and carrying firearms, respectively. Counter to expectations, bullying victimization did not emerge as a predictor of any firearm-related experiences. Findings highlight the importance of cross-cutting violence prevention efforts to prevent high-risk firearm-related behaviors among emerging adults. Programs for children and adolescents that address these types of violence exposure should highlight coping skills and sources of positive social support to bolster protective factors against firearm-related outcomes.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptomology as measured by PCL-5 and its relationships to resilience, hostility and stress among paramedics and social professionals.

This survey study aimed to contribute to the extensive debate on the dimensionality of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5) questionnaire by examining the psychometric properties and construct validity of its Hungarian version and relying on the inspection of a conceptual network of related variables, that is, perceived stress, hostility, and resilience. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) and path analysis were applied on data collected from 177 paramedics and 66 professionals from the social field (58.4% male; Mage = 43.5 ± 9.96 years). Despite the acceptable fit indices gained with CFA when testing the original four-factor DSM-5 model of PCL-5, strong associations (r = 0.69-0.90) between subscales were found. Thus, ESEM was applied and as a result a new, three-factor version of the DSM-5 model of PCL-5 was proposed due to significant crossloadings that was theoretically also supported. The Reexperiencing and Avoidance subscales were merged and named Difficulty with Assimilation of Experience (DAE). In the path analysis only two of the tested associations were not significant using the new factor structure, in which stress fully mediated the relationship between resilience and DAE, and resilience and Hyperarousal. Overall, the hypothesised pathways between variables fit the collected data well. (weighted least squares mean-and variance-adjusted χ2 = 503.750 (df = 270), comparative fit index = 0.948, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.939, root mean square error of approximation (90% confidence interval) = 0.064 (0.055-0.073), weighted root mean square residual = 1.024). Our analysis of the Hungarian version of PCL-5 contributes to the testing of a DSM-5-based questionnaire measuring posttraumatic stress disorder symptomology.

Factors affecting nurses' compassion fatigue: A path analysis study.

BACKGROUND: Nurses often experience compassion fatigue as a result of exposure to chronic work-related stress. It is thought that nurses' mindfulness levels and patience attitudes might be effective on compassion fatigue. AIM: Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to examine the relationship between nurses' compassion fatigue, mindfulness levels and patience levels. METHODS: The study was carried out in a descriptive and relation-seeking type and was completed with the participation of 469 nurses. Data Form of Demographic and Professional Characteristics, Compassion Fatigue-Short Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and The Patience Scale were used as data collection tools. FINDINGS: As a result of the research, it was determined that there was a relationship between the mindfulness and patience levels of nurses and compassion fatigue. As the mindfulness and patience levels of nurses increase, compassion fatigue decreases (p < 0.05). As the mindfulness levels of the nurses increase, their patience levels increase as well (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Accordingly, it is recommended to increase the level of patience and reduce compassion fatigue by applying interventions that will increase the mindfulness levels of nurses.

Violence Exposure and Disability in Colombian Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: the Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Violence is an important public health problem and one of the main causes of deaths worldwide. The mental health consequences of surviving intimate partner violence (IPV) include depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Previous studies have identified that there is a relationship between depression and level of disability in female survivors of IPV. Estimating the direct, indirect or total effect of an exposure on an outcome makes it possible to identify mediating effects between a group of variables. Detecting mediation effects is useful for identifying casual pathways that generate a final outcome and provides a rationale for designing interventions to target the mediator, which in turn positively affects the outcome. The objective was to identify the mediating role of depressive symptoms on the relationship between IPV and disability. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 94 women over the age of 18 who were survivors of IPV by men. They were recruited from two public hospitals in Cali and Tuluá in southwest Colombia. An analysis of casual relationships was performed using structural equation modelling that was made up of: four exogenous observed variables (age, current relationship status [in a relationship or single], level of schooling, and history of an impairment), intermediate endogenous variables (violence and depressive symptoms), and the main endogenous variable (disability). The analyses were carried out in Stata14.2. RESULTS: The direct effect of IPV severity on the level of disability was not statistically significant (ß=0.09; P=0.63). However, the indirect effect of IPV severity on disability mediated by depressive symptoms was (ß=0.39; P<0.01). The total effect of IPV severity on the level of disability was even greater (ß=0.48; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study found a complete mediating role of depressive symptoms on the relationship between the severity of IPV and the level of disability for the female participants in this study. The results of this research contribute to defining strategies to prevent and address intimate partner violence, depressive symptoms and disability in this population.