The role of family absolute and relative income in suicide among Chinese rural young adults: mediation effects of social support and coping strain

Abstract Background suicide is a major public health issue in China. However, research on the impact of absolute and relative economic stats on suicide is scarce among the Chinese population, particularly rural young adults. Using a case-control psychological autopsy study design, we aimed to investigate the effect of family absolute and relative income on suicide among Chinese rural young adults and to further explore the potential mediating mechanism under these associations. Method the information of 393 suicide cases and 416 community living controls were collected for this study. A Binary Choice Model was used to analyze the association between family absolute and relative income and suicide risk, as well as potential mediating factors for these associations. Results a much stronger association was found between relative income and suicide than between absolute income and suicide. Social support was a dominant mediator for the association between family relative income and suicide among both female and male young adults. Coping strain emerged as a mediating factor within the link between absolute income and suicide for males. Conclusions public health interventions to reduce suicide should pay more attention to relative income in addition to absolute income as potential targets for intervention, and how social support and coping strain act as mediating factors.

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Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Following COVID-19 Public Health Measures on People Living With Dementia and Carers

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology ◽

10.1177/0891988721996816 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089198872199681

Author(s):

Kerry Hanna ◽

Clarissa Giebel ◽

Hilary Tetlow ◽

Kym Ward ◽

Justine Shenton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Support Services ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Health Measures ◽

Social Support Services ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

Background: To date, there appears to be no evidence on the longer-term impacts caused by COVID-19 and its related public health restrictions on some of the most vulnerable in our societies. The aim of this research was to explore the change in impact of COVID-19 public health measures on the mental wellbeing of people living with dementia (PLWD) and unpaid carers. Method: Semi-structured, follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with PLWD and unpaid carers between June and July 2020. Participants were asked about their experiences of accessing social support services during the pandemic, and the impact of restrictions on their daily lives. Results: 20 interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed, which produced 3 primary themes concerning emotional responses and impact to mental health and wellbeing during the course of the pandemic: 1) Impact on mental health during lockdown, 2) Changes to mental health following easing of public health, and 3) The long-term effect of public health measures. Conclusions: The findings from this research shed light on the longer-term psychological impacts of the UK Government’s public health measures on PLWD and their carers. The loss of social support services was key in impacting this cohort mentally and emotionally, displaying a need for better psychological support, for both carers and PLWD.

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Reducing Loneliness: The Impact of Mindfulness, Social Cognitions, and Coping

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294121997779 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003329412199777

Author(s):

Robin Besse ◽

Whitney K. Whitaker ◽

Laura A. Brannon

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Social Cognitions ◽

Age Group ◽

Coping Behaviors ◽

Current Health ◽

Current State ◽

And Coping ◽

Study Participants ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

While many facets of loneliness have been explored, research examining the efficacy of loneliness interventions has been overlooked among young adults. The study of loneliness among young adults has become increasingly important considering the current state of isolation and stay-at-home orders issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Preliminary reports suggest an increase in loneliness as a result of the current health pandemic, especially among young adults, who have reported feeling lonelier than any other age group. Such findings warrant the study of ways to help reduce loneliness among young adults. The current study examined the efficacy of strategies that might be used to help young adults manage feelings of loneliness. Two hundred and seventy-eight young adults completed the study. Participants read one of four messages: mindfulness, social cognitions, coping behaviors, or a control. Participants in the mindfulness condition felt better equipped to manage future instances of loneliness and held better attitudes toward this intervention. The current research helps to advance understanding of effective ways of helping young adults cope with loneliness.

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Do millennials value travel time differently because of productive multitasking? A revealed-preference study of Northern California commuters

Transportation ◽

10.1007/s11116-020-10148-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aliaksandr Malokin ◽

Giovanni Circella ◽

Patricia L. Mokhtarian

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Travel Time ◽

Choice Model ◽

Mode Choice ◽

Revealed Preference ◽

Northern California ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

The Impact

AbstractMillennials, the demographic cohort born in the last two decades of the twentieth century, are reported to adopt information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their everyday lives, including travel, to a greater extent than older generations. As ICT-driven travel-based multitasking influences travelers’ experience and satisfaction in various ways, millennials are expected to be affected at a greater scale. Still, to our knowledge, no previous studies have specifically focused on the impact of travel multitasking on travel behavior and the value of travel time (VOTT) of young adults. To address this gap, we use an original dataset collected among Northern California commuters (N = 2216) to analyze the magnitude and significance of individual and household-level factors affecting commute mode choice. We estimate a revealed-preference mode choice model and investigate the differences between millennials and older adults in the sample. Additionally, we conduct a sensitivity analysis to explore how incorporation of explanatory factors such as attitudes and propensity to multitask while traveling in mode choice models affects coefficient estimates, VOTT, and willingness to pay to use a laptop on the commute. Compared to non-millennials, the mode choice of millennials is found to be less affected by socio-economic characteristics and more strongly influenced by the activities performed while traveling. Young adults are found to have lower VOTT than older adults for both in-vehicle (15.0% less) and out-of-vehicle travel time (15.7% less), and higher willingness to pay (in time or money) to use a laptop, even after controlling for demographic traits, personal attitudes, and the propensity to multitask. This study contributes to better understanding the commuting behavior of millennials, and the factors affecting it, a topic of interest to transportation researchers, planners, and practitioners.

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Impact of the Umoyo mother-infant pair model on HIV-positive mothers’ social support, perceived stigma and 12-month retention of their HIV-exposed infants in PMTCT Care: Evidence from a cluster randomised control trial in Zambia

10.21203/rs.2.1864/v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Sydney Chauwa Phiri ◽

Sandra Mudhune ◽

Margaret L Prust ◽

Prudence Haimbe ◽

Hilda Shakwelele ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Health System ◽

T Test ◽

Perceived Stigma ◽

Hiv Exposed Infants ◽

Pair Model ◽

Hiv Exposed ◽

The Impact ◽

Infant Pair

Abstract Background Public health systems in resource-constrained settings have a critical role to play in the elimination of HIV transmission but are often financially constrained. This study is an evaluation of a mother-infant-pair model called “Umoyo”, which was designed to be low cost and scalable in a public health system. Facilities with the Umoyo model dedicate a clinic day to provide services to only HIV-exposed-infants (HEIs) and their mothers. Such models are in operation with reported success in Zambia but have not been rigorously tested. This work establishes whether the Umoyo model would improve 12-month retention of HEIs. Methods A cluster randomized trial including 28 facilities was conducted across two provinces of Zambia to investigate the impact on 12-month retention of HEIs in care. These facilities were offering prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services and supported by the same implementing partner. Randomization was achieved by use of the covariate constrained optimization technique. Secondary outcomes included the impact of Umoyo clinics on social support and perceived HIV stigma among mothers. For each of the outcomes, a difference-in-difference analysis was conducted at the facility level using the unweighted t-test. Results From 13 control (12-month retention at endline: 45%) and 11 intervention facilities (12-month retention at endline: 33%), it was found that Umoyo clinics had no impact on 12-month retention of HEIs in the t-test (-11%; 99% CI: -40.1%, 17.2%). Regarding social support and stigma, the un-weighted t-test showed no impact though sensitivity tests showed that Umoyo had an impact on increasing social support (0.31; 99% CI: 0.08, 0.54) and reducing perceived stigma from health care workers (-0.27: 99% CI: -0.46, -0.08). Conclusion The Umoyo approach of having a dedicated clinic day for HEIs and their mothers did not improve retention of HEIs though there are indications that it can increase social support among mothers and reduce stigma. Without further support to the underlying health system, based on the evidence generated through this evaluation, the Umoyo clinic day approach on its own is not considered an effective intervention to increase retention of HIV-exposed infants.

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The impact of income inequality on individual and societal health: absolute income, relative income and statistical artefacts

Health Economics ◽

10.1002/hec.613 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 357-361 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

John Wildman

Keyword(s):

Income Inequality ◽

Relative Income ◽

Absolute Income ◽

Societal Health ◽

The Impact

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Communicating Public Health Advice After a Chemical Spill: Results From National Surveys in the United Kingdom and Poland

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1001/dmp.2012.56 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 65-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Julia M. Pearce ◽

G. James Rubin ◽

Richard Amlôt ◽

Simon Wessely ◽

M. Brooke Rogers

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

United Kingdom ◽

Large Scale ◽

Hazardous Substance ◽

Crisis Communications ◽

Public Health Preparedness ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

The Cost ◽

And Coping ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to enhance public health preparedness for incidents that involve the large-scale release of a hazardous substance by examining factors likely to influence public responses to official guidance on how to limit their exposure.MethodsAn online demographically representative survey was conducted in the United Kingdom (n = 601) and Poland (n = 602) to test the strength of association of trust in authorities, anxiety, threat, and coping appraisals with the intention to comply with advice to shelter in place following a hypothetical chemical spill. The impact of ease of compliance and style of message presentation were also examined.ResultsParticipants were more likely to comply if at home when the incident happened, but message presentation had little impact. Coping appraisals and trust were key predictors of compliance, but threat appraisals were associated with noncompliance. Anxiety was seen to promote behavioral change. UK participants were more likely to comply than Polish participants.ConclusionsSuccessful crisis communications during an emergency should aim to influence perceptions regarding the efficacy of recommended behaviors, the difficulties people may have in following advice, and perceptions about the cost of following recommended behaviors. Generic principles of crisis communication may need adaptation for national contexts. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:65-74)

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How Income Influences Health: Decomposition Based on Absolute Income and Relative Income Effects

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182010738 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (20) ◽

pp. 10738

Author(s):

Xiaodong Cui ◽

Ching-Ter Chang

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Accelerated Aging ◽

Positive Association ◽

Relative Income ◽

Chinese Government ◽

Income Effects ◽

Absolute Income ◽

Healthy Longevity ◽

Significant Negative Impact ◽

The Impact

Previous research has confirmed a positive association between income and health, but there are still a lot of inconsistencies on how income affects health. Indeed, this impact is caused by overlaying of absolute income and relative income effects, and only by decomposing and comparing their relative importance within an integrated framework can suggestions be made for health inequalities and health intervention. To deal with this issue, using the panel data from the 2011, 2014, and 2017 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), a well-designed research model is established to decompose and explore the impact. Our results indicate that relative income, rather than absolute income, has a significant negative impact on health performance, and that these associations may be causal in nature. The health inequity persists throughout the life cycle, but it remains relatively stable, without significant expansion or convergence. To some extent, the research-proposed models enrich the related literature on associations between income and health, and the empirical results suggest that as China moves to the stage of higher incomes and accelerated aging, the Chinese government should pay more attention to income inequality and be alert to the risks of “income-healthy poverty” traps.

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Positive Adjustment in Youth Post-Katrina: The Impact of Child and Maternal Social Support and Coping

Lifespan Perspectives on Natural Disasters ◽

10.1007/978-1-4419-0393-8_3 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 45-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Julia F. Vigna ◽

Brittany C. Hernandez ◽

Valerie Paasch ◽

Arlene T. Gordon ◽

Mary L. Kelley

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Positive Adjustment ◽

Maternal Social Support ◽

And Coping ◽

The Impact

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The Relationship between Functional Health Literacy, Self-Rated Health, and Social Support between Younger and Older Adults in Ghana

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16173188 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

pp. 3188 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Padmore Amoah

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Young Adults ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Emotional Support ◽

Functional Health ◽

Functional Health Literacy ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

The Impact

It is well established that health literacy positively affects health outcomes, and social support influences this association. What remains unclear is which aspect of social support (instrumental, informational, and emotional support) is responsible for this effect and whether the influence differs from one population group to another. This study addresses these lacunae. It examines the impact each type of support makes on the relation between functional health literacy (FHL) and self-rated health status among younger and older adults in Ghana. Data were pooled from two cross-sectional surveys, together comprising 521 participants in the Ashanti Region. The results indicated that young adults were more likely to possess sufficient FHL and perceive their health more positively than older adults. While FHL was positively associated with health status, the relation was stronger when young adults received a high level of emotional support. Among older persons, informational support substantially moderated the association between FHL and health status. Thus, social support modifies the relations between FHL and health status among younger and older adults in different ways and to different degrees. Therefore, interventions to improve FHL and health amongst younger and older adults should pay due regard to relevant aspects of social support.

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