Exposure to Violence in Social Unrest, Resilience, and Mental Health of Older People in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE: Older adults are prone to the negative effects of exposure to violence on their mental health. This study aimed to examine the impact of exposure to violence during social unrest and the role of resilience in the mental health of older people. DESIGN: A total of 1,203 people aged 65 years or older were randomly selected for a telephone survey using the random digit dialing numbering method in Hong Kong. MEASUREMENTS: A 13-item scale was developed to measure exposure to violence. The Chinese versions of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and the Startle, Physiological Arousal, Anger, and Numbness scales for measuring mental health status were adopted in the survey. RESULTS: The results showed that the more frequently older people were exposed to information, the more negative mental health status they had. However, exposure to witnessing and experiencing violence was not significantly associated with mental health status. Older adults' level of resilience had a moderating effect between exposure to information and mental health, whereas the effect of exposure to information on mental health was stronger for respondents with lower resilience. CONCLUSION: This study showed that emotional problems caused by exposure to related information among older people should be properly addressed during massive social unrest and conflict. Their resilience capacity is an important moderating factor. Future interventions and support services should focus on enhancing the resilience of older people to better equip them with overcoming problems related to macro-social issues.

Establishing community mental health facilities: a comparative review of Hong Kong and international jurisdictions.

BACKGROUND: The establishment of mental health facilities in the community has been hindered by opposition from local residents in Hong Kong. Through a comparative review, this study aimed to compare the issues related to the process of establishment of community-based mental health facilities between Hong Kong and selected overseas countries and regions. It will better inform the strategies and best practices that can be adopted for the establishment of mental health facilities in Hong Kong. METHODS: Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO) were used to examine literature on nine jurisdictions in Asia and western societies from 2005 to 2019. In addition, we conducted a number of in-depth interviews with overseas experts to gain in-depth insights and clarify information that was unavailable or unclear. A total of 19,248 articles were identified through the initial search. 71 of them met the inclusion criteria. In addition, 20 articles about the establishment of other types of community facilities or sensitive facilities were identified from supplementary sources. RESULTS: Most Western countries and Singapore have adopted regulations or laws to reduce public discrimination against particular groups, giving them corresponding human rights and legislating to demarcate the use of land in the community. Regions close to Hong Kong emphasize communication with community leaders to obtain support for sensitive services or facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Hong Kong may consider strengthening the land zoning ordinance in relation to community sensitive facilities, as well as increasing communication with the community and considering the possibility of locating facilities in government buildings.

Effectiveness of a peer-based intervention on loneliness and social isolation of older Chinese immigrants in Canada: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Social isolation is a key concern for immigrant older adults. We examined the effectiveness of a peer-based intervention in reducing loneliness, social isolation, and improving psychosocial well-being with a sample of aging Chinese immigrants. METHODS: Sixty community-dwelling older Chinese immigrants aged 65 and older were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group (n = 30 each) in a randomized control parallel trial design. Intervention group participants received an eight-week peer support intervention. Twenty-four volunteers aged 48 to 76 engaged in two-on-one peer support through home visits and telephone calls to provide emotional support, problem-solving support, and community resource sharing. Social workers who are not blinded to the group assignment measured the changes of both the intervention group and the control group participants in a range of psychosocial outcomes including three primary outcomes (loneliness, social support, barriers to social participation) and five secondary outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety, life satisfaction, happiness, and purpose in life). RESULTS: The 30 intervention group participants showed a statistically significant decrease in loneliness and increase in resilience when compared to the 30 control group participants. They reported fewer barriers to social participation, fewer depressive symptoms, increased life satisfaction, and happiness while no such improvements were observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to further examine the use of peer-based interventions for both program effectiveness and delivery efficiency. In the era of population aging and increasing immigration, diverse aging adults can be trained to fill volunteer support roles via peer-based intervention approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN14572069 , Registered 23 December 2019 - Retrospectively registered.

Integrated dual-channel sensing utilizing polarized dissimilation based on photonic spin-orbit interaction.

An integrated dual-channel sensing method utilizing polarized dissimilation is investigated with an appropriately designed plasmonic metasurface. By assembling two different kinds of nano-gold antennas to constitute a periodic array, the phase of diffraction fields contains both spin-dependent geometric phase and resonance-dependent dynamic phase components. Accurate control over the superposition of orthogonal spin components utilizing strong photonic spin-orbit interaction of metasurface leads to dissimilar response of different diffraction orders. The simulation shows that the linear polarization of ±1 diffraction orders rotate in the reverse direction (±19°) with the refractive index variation (1.3-1.5). The sensing method exhibits an extremely high signal-to-noise ratio and stability.

A Quasi-Experimental Study on the Effect of an Outdoor Physical Activity Program on the Well-Being of Older Chinese People in Hong Kong.

Active participation in physical activity by older people is effective in improving their health. This research aims to examine the positive effects of participation in vigorous outdoor physical activities by older Chinese people in Hong Kong, and whether such effects would vary with socioeconomic background. A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent group design was used. A total of 22 participants were randomly assigned to participate in an outdoor physical activity program. Another 14 participants took part as a control group. The 14-item Self-Image of Aging Scale for Chinese Elders and the four-item self-report Subjective Happiness Scale were used to measure participants' self-image and overall happiness level. All participants completed the assessment before and after the program. Happiness level was enhanced in participants in the experimental group (p = 0.037) and their level of overall mental health also improved (p = 0.031, η2p = 0.129). Demographics did not have any significant effect on well-being outcomes. A structured outdoor physical activity program could be a viable choice for future practice to enhance the mental well-being of older Chinese people.

Perspectives of community processes in establishing community-based mental health services in Hong Kong: a case study.

BACKGROUND: Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) provide district-based community support services for patients discharged from mental health facilities and other residents in Hong Kong. However, selecting locations for these community centres is challenging primarily because of community opposition, which has introduced barriers to responses to service users' interests and the operations of individual centres. This study examines public preferences for conflict resolution options, evaluates the feasibility of different consultation approaches, identifies effective methods for reducing public opposition and recommends possible approaches to public consultation and location selection. METHODS: A total of 74 individual interviews were conducted with key informants, including government personnel, service operators, politicians, resident representatives, community activists and service users. These interviewees were asked about their knowledge, experiences and perspectives of centre location selection processes. RESULTS: Interviews revealed that neighbourhood consultations for establishing community centres for mental wellness are time-consuming and did not yield a consensus of support from residents. In some instances, the government may decide to delay or withdraw location selection plans because of strong public opposition mainly because of bias and misunderstanding towards service users. However, the role of local politicians in mediating neighbourhood opinions and the government's determination in planning location selection are essential for successfully selecting ICCMW locations. CONCLUSION: Government departments should develop stronger collaboration to study target neighbourhoods and lobby stakeholders at earlier stages. Such investigations should involve identifying key stakeholders, the political and social dynamics of controversies and community demographics. A protocol specifying a time frame should be implemented to facilitate smooth and effective public consultation and community mental health service location selection processes.

Promoting Physical Activity among Workers: A Review of Literature and Future Directions on Developing Theory-Based Interventions.

Insufficient physical activity (PA) has been identified as a leading risk factor for premature and all-cause death, as well as non-communicable diseases. Employees, especially those with low occupational PA, are more vulnerable to physical inactivity, and studies in this population are scarce. However, employees may receive benefits for both health and work productivity from PA. Therefore, well-designed behavior change studies to promote PA in employees are urgently needed, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Literature was searched before 30 July 2022, and updated evidence was summarized. This review elaborates on the evidence related to insufficient PA and further provides an overview of theory-based interventions for promoting PA. Evidence indicates that intervention mapping (IM) was a useful tool to develop, implement, and evaluate behavior change interventions. Based on the IM framework, reviewing the theory- and evidence-based change methods and delivery modes, and further identifying the research gaps and limitations of existing interventions could provide promising suggestions and directions for development of well-founded interventions promoting PA among employees. The updated knowledge base for developing future interventions may boost efficacy and provide firm conclusions for researchers in this area.

Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors among Children with Intellectual Disability: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To investigate the prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in Chinese children with intellectual disability, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 558 children with intellectual disability aged 6-18 years in Hong Kong, and 452 (81.0%) with valid data were included in the data analysis. Blood pressure was measured according to a standard protocol. Hypertension was defined using the age-, gender-, and height-specific classification criteria recommended by the 2018 Chinese Guidelines for Children. Multivariate and hierarchical logistic regression was fitted to examine the associations of hypertension with potential risk factors. Overall, 31.4% of the participants were classified as having hypertension. Obese children were more likely to develop hypertension than non-obese children (adjusted OR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.28, 5.99, p = 0.010). A paternal education of college or above and a paternal occupation of clerks, sales representatives, and workers were also associated with an increased risk of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is high among Chinese children with intellectual disability. Obesity was the strongest risk factor. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm our findings. Nevertheless, preventions against obesity are promising to receive doubled benefits in reducing both obesity and hypertension, given its strong relationship with hypertension in this special population.

The Relationships between Parenting Practices and Child Health-Related Behaviors in Children with Intellectual Disability: The Moderating Role of Child Body Weight Status.

This study aimed to examine the associations between parenting practices and child health-related behaviors, and the moderating role of child body weight status in children with intellectual disability (ID). A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of children with ID in Hong Kong; 440 participants were included in this study. All the variables investigated were collected from questionnaires, except body weight status, which was objectively measured. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between parenting practices and children's unhealthy behaviors. Interaction items were added to investigate the moderation effect of child body weight status, adjusting for significant background characteristics. Results showed that the parenting practices of "restricting access to unhealthy food and sedentary behaviors (RA)" (OR range: 0.63-0.64) and "using food or sedentary behaviors as rewards (UR)" (OR range: 1.28-1.60) were significantly associated with some eating behaviors, but not with sedentary behaviors. Body weight status significantly moderated these associations. Only RA showed favorable effects on some eating behaviors in children with overweight and obesity (OR range: 0.17-0.28), whereas the effects of UR differed by body weight status. Future research should focus on developing educational interventions which encourage parents to use practices that are tailored towards children's individual characteristics.