Lingyao Meng

Social capital is one key determinant of older adults' mental health, yet its link with various demographic variables and anxiety among older adults in China remains underreported. This study investigated whether there is an interactive effect of social capital and demographic factors on anxiety among Chinese older adults. A sample of 5115 Chinese older adults (≥60 years old) was extracted from cross-sectional survey data in the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Health and Longevity Study (CLHLS). Data on demographic characteristics, social capital, and anxiety were collected. Binary logistic regression models and a classification and regression tree model (CART) were performed to assess the association between social capital and anxiety. The finding of this study showed that the prevalence of anxiety among Chinese older adults was 13.04% (667/5115), subjects who were female (OR = 1.649; 95% CI: 1.336-2.036), with medium-level of annual family income (OR = 0.598; 95% CI: 0.476-0.751), with reporting 1-2 diseases (OR = 1.743; 95% CI: 1.322-2.298), with medium-level of interpersonal trust (OR = 0.668; 95% CI: 0.533-0.837), social participation (OR = 0.521; 95% CI: 0.390-0.696), social support (OR = 0.431; 95% CI: 0.264-0.703) were at a lesser risk of developing anxiety. We also noted the interactive relationship of social capital associated with anxiety, which indicated that special attention and efforts should be paid to older adults who were females, with lower interpersonal trust, annual family income, and lower social participation to maintain sound mental status. Our findings indicate that social capital is associated with anxiety in Chinese older adults. This implies that social capital, especially in terms of gender, annual family income, interpersonal trust, and social participation may be significant for alleviating anxiety in later life.

In the backdrop of the ongoing global digital revolution in education, the digital literacy of teachers stands out as a pivotal determinant within the educational milieu. This study aims to explore the current status and associated factors of digital literacy among academic nurse educators. A cross-sectional design study utilizing an online questionnaire platform (Wenjuanxing) to collect data from August to October 2023. A total of 157 academic nurse educators members from 10 nursing colleges and universities across 5 provinces in China participated in the study. The digital literacy level of academic nurse educators was evaluated using the self-developed Teacher Digital Literacy Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to examine the factors associated with the digital literacy of academic nurse educators. The average digital literacy score was 125.27 ± 11.41, with the average scores for five dimensions from high to low by rank as follows: digital application (46.73 ± 5.38), digital social responsibility (27.22 ± 3.94), digital awareness (20.28 ± 3.17), professional development (19.88 ± 2.76), and digital technology knowledge and skills (11.16 ± 2.03). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age, years of teaching experience, awareness of digital advancements, and use of digital technologies (e.g. ChatGPT) (all p < 0.001) were significantly associated with the level of digital literacy among academic nurse educators. Our findings suggest a need to design tailored digital education programs that address different age groups. For younger academic nurse educators, the focus should be on how to incorporate digital technology into their teaching practices to enhance educational diversity. For older academic nurse educators, training should prioritize building confidence in using digital tools and developing foundational digital skills to ensure they can effectively integrate technology into their instructional approaches. Therefore, supporting their needs and enhancing teaching competence towards sustainable nursing digital literacy.

Purpose: The cases of workplace violence (WPV) experienced by nurses and nursing students in recent years has become alarming high. However, managing and developing WPV competence among nursing students remain underreported. Therefore, this study investigated the current status of management of workplace violence competence (MWVC) and identify associated factors affecting their MWVC among nursing interns. Participants and Methods: A total of 817 nursing interns from six tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province, China, participated in this study in July 2023. Data were collected via online survey questionnaires using the Management of Workplace Violence Competence Scale (MWVCS), the Patient Risk Identification Ability Assessment Questionnaire, and the Professional Identity Questionnaire for Nursing Students (PIQNS). Results: Among participants, 91.1% were female (n=744), 68.1% (n=556) were between 21 to 23 years old, and 54.1% (n=442) obtained a bachelor’s degree. The score of management of workplace violence competence was 123.25 (SD=11.06). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the diploma degree (B=3.152, p< 0.001, 95% CI: 2.087– 4.217), witnessed a workplace violence incident in a hospital (B=4.274, p< 0.001, 95% CI: 3.164– 5.384), trained in WPV prevention skills (B=7.196, p< 0.001, 95% CI: 6.007– 8.386), patient risk identification ability (B=1.006, p< 0.001, 95% CI: 1.163– 0.893), and professional identity (B=0.693, p< 0.001, 95% CI: 0.571– 0.815) were the associated factors of MWVC among nursing interns. Conclusion: The MWVC among nursing interns was at an intermediate level. To enhance MWVC, it is recommended to strengthen WPV prevention and management training, particularly for interns with diploma degrees, no experience witnessing WPV incidents, no prior training in WPV prevention skill, and lower levels of patient risk identification ability and professional identity. Our findings may guide the establishment of focused training programs and support measures to improve interns’ capacity to manage WPV, increasing their professional growth and mental health while giving significant insights and intervention techniques for nursing educators and managers.

The psychological condition of community-dwelling older adults is a global concern under coronavirus disease 2019. Loneliness is the key risk factor for depression among community-dwelling older adults. This study aims to explore the role of social support as a mediating factor in the relationship between depression and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China, from June to December 2021. The sample consisted of 570 community-dwelling adults aged over 60 years. Data were collected through a general information questionnaire, the Social Support Rating Scale, the University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Survey, Depression Scale. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences PROCESS macro was used to examine the mediating effect of social support between loneliness and depression. This study found that depression was negatively associated with social support (r = −0.381, P < .001), but it was positively correlated with loneliness (r = 0.403, P < .001); loneliness was a predictor of depression (B = 0.333, P < .001). In addition, social support significantly mediated the relationship between loneliness and depression, with an indirect effect of 0.239 (95% Bootstrap CI −0.264 to −0.510), the overall effect value for depression was 0.572, accounting for 56.3% of the total variance in depression within this model. In conclusion, the findings suggest that social support plays a mediating role between depression and loneliness in older adults. This implies that interventions aimed at reducing loneliness and enhancing social support have the potential to alleviate depressive symptoms among this population. By addressing these factors, healthcare professionals and caregivers can promote the mental well-being of older adults and contribute to improved overall quality of life.

Purpose: COVID-19 posed a threat to the public’s physical and mental health, and under outbreak control, the opportunities to go outside of the elderly have been reduced and making it more difficult to access health information and detrimental to their health management. This study aims to assess the current status of health information literacy (HIL) among older adults in the community in the context of COVID-19 and to identify its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to July, 2021, for which 617 community elderly members were recruited in Chenzhou, China. Data were collected through a general information questionnaire, The Chinese residents’ HIL self-rated scale and a reliability evaluation form. Results: The average score of HIL was 75.87 ± 9.85, and after processed by the 100-point system, we found 84.12% (519/617) of the participants scored less than 60 points, which indicates that the overall level of HIL among the community elderly is low. Multiple linear regression showed that age, gender, education, annual family Income, living arrangement, and chronic disease status (β = – 0.341, – 0.296, 0.384, 0.327, 0.296, 0.356, respectively; all P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the level of HIL found among the community elderly, out of which education was the most important associated factor. Conclusion: The overall HIL level among the community elderly was low in Central China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results further prove the need for tailor-made health education programs for this group, with particular attention paid to the low-educated and low-income among them. Those measures must highlight on three aspects of health information search, evaluation, and application skills to offer useful experiences that improve the HIL level of the elderly and strengthen their ability to cope with emerging public health events.