Jie Yang

1. Cognitive development during the preschool years plays a foundational role for later academic achievement, socio-emotional competence, and long-term human capital accumulation (Duncan et al. 200...

Maternal mental health is a global concern including in China. However, evidence on early prevention of maternal mental health problems in low- and middle-

This study investigates the association between chronic diseases and depressive inclinations among middle-aged and older adults in rural Northwest China, emphasizing the moderating role of social relationships. Data collected via face-to-face surveys in a cross-sectional design conducted in March 2021, encompassing 395 participants aged 45 and above, were analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. The results indicate that, excluding metabolic diseases (such as dyslipidemia and diabetes), other chronic diseases significantly increase depressive inclinations, particularly eye diseases, chronic lung diseases, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and gastrointestinal diseases. Additionally, a greater number of chronic diseases show a positive association with depressive inclinations. Among social relationships, spousal trust and intergenerational relationship satisfaction were associated with a mitigation of the association between chronic diseases and depressive inclinations, whereas skipped generational caregiving exacerbated this association. Other social relationships, including kinship and friendship network size, neighbor relationships, and villager relationships, exhibited no significant moderating associations. These findings underscore the critical role of positive family relationships and robust social support systems in improving the mental health of rural middle-aged and older adults. They provide practical insights for designing targeted policies and interventions to promote healthy aging and mental well-being in resource-limited rural settings.

Background: Effective use of health services by pregnant and postpartum woman (PPWs) is crucial to maternal and child health. Most maternal deaths are attributed to inadequate maternal health services, especially in rural areas. As a vulnerable group, rural PPWs can effectively prevent and reduce maternal and infant health risk factors through whole-process health management and ensure the health and safety of mothers and infants. Therefore, improving the utilization rate of rural maternal health services is a key issue that needs to be addressed urgently. This study aimed to explore the influence of peer interaction on the utilization of maternal health services in rural areas and the mediating effect of maternal health service knowledge.Methods: Based on cross-sectional data of 821 PPWs in rural northwest China. This study used propensity score matching (PSM) to analyze the effects of peer interaction (PI) on maternal health service utilization, including maternal system management rate (Y1), prenatal screening rate (Y2), and postpartum visit rate (Y3). In addition, the mediating role of maternal health service knowledge between peer interaction and health service utilization was empirically tested.Results: The findings highlight the important role of peer interaction in improving the utilization rate of maternal health services in rural northwest China. The study found that peer interaction significantly improved the maternal system management rate, prenatal screening rate, and postpartum visit rate. At the same time, peer interaction enhances knowledge of maternal health services, which plays a key role in improving maternal health behaviors.Conclusion: Through experience sharing and knowledge exchange among peers, understanding of health services can be enhanced, and positive health behaviors can be promoted. Policymakers and healthcare providers should integrate peer support programs into existing maternal health initiatives and fully use social media and community resources to create interactive platforms for maternal and infant knowledge that combine online and offline. By actively promoting peer interaction and experience sharing, these initiatives can maximize the positive role of peer support, increase the utilization rate of health services, and effectively ensure their safety.

Background: Shifts in women’s maternal roles may contribute to the global low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding. Research Aim: To investigate the association between maternal gender-role ideologies and exclusive breastfeeding in rural China. Methods: Cross-sectional studies were conducted in 10 counties in Shaanxi Province using random sampling in 2021 and 2023. Data on breastfeeding practices, maternal gender-role ideology, and expected educational attainment from 586 rural participants were collected through structured questionnaires. Multivariable regression analysis was employed to explore the association between maternal gender-role ideology and exclusive breastfeeding. Results: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding within 6 months in rural western China was 18.8%. Women with more egalitarian gender-role ideologies were more likely to engage in exclusive breastfeeding ( OR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.04, 1.72]), particularly for female infants ( OR = 1.63, 95% CI [1.09, 2.43]). Furthermore, women with stronger egalitarian gender-role ideologies were found to exhibit a greater propensity for financial investment in their children ( Beta = 0.20, 95% CI [0.01, 0.40]) and hold higher educational expectations for their daughters ( OR = 1.50, 95% CI [1.00, 2.25]). Conclusion: Maternal gender-role ideology positively correlates with exclusive breastfeeding. More policies should be implemented on gender equality in rural China, and cultural perspectives should be incorporated into the analysis of breastfeeding practice.

Background: Interpersonal characteristics of gifted adolescents is important because of the potential influence on individuals’ psychological health and future professional success. Understanding the interpersonal characteristics requires valid and reliable measures. This study attempted to explicitly describe the application of Rasch analysis in the validation and development process of an existing measure of interpersonal skills among gifted adolescent in Ohio.Methods: We extensively evaluated the psychometric properties of the 40-item scale measuring the interpersonal competence of adolescents among the gifted population in Ohio (N = 127) using Rasch analysis. Multiple aspects of reliability and validity were tested including dimensionality, rating scale functioning, and fit statistics.Results: The internal consistency reliability of the scale was confirmed with an adequate fit to the Rasch model. However, the scale demonstrates relatively poor performance in terms of unidimensionality with our sample. Also, the rating scale categories were confusing given that our sample could not effectively distinguish some adjacent categories. Corresponding refinements have been made and the revised scale formed a meaningful linear progression with improved performance on unidimensionality, rating scale functioning, and fit statistics.Conclusion: The study provided evidence that the construct of interpersonal skills is measurable. Based upon the original Interpersonal Competence Questionnaires consists of 40 items, the author extracted and piloted a refined measure consisting of 31 items that performed a meaningful, theoretically consistent linear progression measure that could be used to measure the level of interpersonal skills of gifted children.

Hong Kong Med J 2022;28:Epub 7 Dec 2022 https://doi.org/10.12809/hkmj219875 © Hong Kong Academy of Medicine.

Background: China suffers from a low exclusive breastfeeding rate. Though it has been proofed that paternal support benefits breastfeeding a lot, the correlation between father’s co-residence and exclusive breastfeeding in China remain undiscovered. This study is to provide population-based evidence for the association of paternal co-residence on exclusive breastfeeding in rural western China. We also attempt to detect how the process works by examining the correlation between the father’s co-residence and breastfeeding family support as well as maternal decision-making power. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 nationally-designated poverty-stricken counties in the Qinba Mountains area in 2019. Data on breastfeeding practices, the status of fathers co-residence, breastfeeding family support, and maternal decision-making power were collected via structured questionnaires from 452 caregivers-infant pairs. Multivariate regressions were conducted to explore the correlation between paternal co-residence and exclusive breastfeeding. Results: The exclusive breastfeeding (0–6 months) rate was 16% in rural western China. Fathers’ co-residence was associated with a lower exclusive breastfeeding rate (OR = 0.413, 95% CI = 0.227–0.750, P = 0.004) and the rate did not improve when the father was the secondary caregiver. Even ruling out support from grandmothers, the association was still negative. Paternal co-residence did not improve maternal perceived breastfeeding family support, neither practically nor emotionally (β =0.109, P = 0.105; β =0.011,P = 0.791, respectively) and it reduced maternal decision-making power (β = − 0.196, P = 0.007). Conclusions: Fathers’ co-residence is negatively associated with the exclusive breastfeeding rates in rural western China. More skill-based practical and emotional strategies should be considered on father’s education to help them better involvement and show more respect to mothers’ decisions.

This study explored how maternal and infant illness correlated with the risk of postpartum depression in the Chinese Qinba Mountains region. In total, 131 villages comprising 435 families with infants (≤6 months old) were randomly sampled. We collected data on maternal and infant illnesses and maternal health knowledge level. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 was used to measure the risk of postpartum depression. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression for the analysis. Infant overall health status was a risk factor for postpartum depression (odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) = 1.10~3.28), whereas maternal overall health status was not correlated with postpartum depression (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 0.55~3.39). For specific illnesses, infants experiencing over two common illnesses in the past two weeks (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.13~3.45) and mothers experiencing over two common pains within two weeks after delivery (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.02~3.08) were risk factors for postpartum depression, whereas infants with mild and severe stunted growth, maternal C-section, and postpartum body mass index (normal or overweight) were not correlated with it (all p > 0.050). Maternal health knowledge was an important moderator of maternal and infant illnesses on the risk of postpartum depression. In conclusion, maternal and infant illness were essential factors for the risk of postpartum depression in a poor rural region in western China, which may be mainly affected by the feeling of uncertainty of illness. Improved maternal and infant health and enhanced maternal health knowledge might alleviate the risk of postpartum depression.