scholarly journals The Citizenship Advantage in Psychological Well-being: An Examination of the Hukou System in China

Demography ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-189
Author(s):  
Qian Song ◽  
James P. Smith

Abstract Given that Chinese migrants with rural hukou status are not considered full citizens in their urban destinations, rural-urban hukou conversion signifies full citizenship attainment in urban China. We assess causal effects of three major types of urban hukou attainment—merit-, policy-, and family-based hukou conversion—on migrants' psychological well-being in middle- and later-life. We further examine how hukou matters—how periods and hukou destinations alter the values of specific urban hukou and their psychological health implications for individuals. We use the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2015 data) and life history data (for 2014) for analysis. To assess the extent to which the salmon effect contributes to estimation bias for migrants, we compare results from a sample with current migrants and one with current and returned migrants. To address for selection into hukou conversion, we adopt inverse probability–weighted regression adjustment methods. We show that the salmon bias significantly dampened causal estimates. Merit- and policy-based hukou conversion has protective effects on psychological well-being. Policy-based converters have better psychological health than other types of converters. Hukou conversion in the pre-1978 period conveys greater psychological benefits than that in the post-1998 period, when economic and social values of urban hukou have decreased. Hukou converters in the cities with the most resources enjoy better psychological well-being than their counterparts in other cities. Our study joins the emerging literature in investigating how citizenship conveys advantage in health and well-being. We discuss these results in the global context as well as the context of China's decades of evolution of hukou policy and the urbanization process.

Author(s):  
Yanling Geng ◽  
Longtao He

AbstractDespite extensive research on children’s psychological well-being, little consensus about gender’s influence has been reached. In response, we examined gender differences in children’s psychological well-being in mainland China, along with the gender-based risk and protective factors and their effects on psychological well-being. For a sample, we compiled data with 2466 children aged between 10 and 15 years old derived from the China Family Panel Studies. Among our results, an independent sample t test indicated that girls in China reported higher psychological well-being than boys. A multiple regression analysis revealed that certain protective factors associated with children’s competence and protective factors in their family and school systems could promote the psychological well-being of both boys and girls, while risk factors such as academic pressure and parent–child conflict were detrimental to the psychological health of all children regardless of gender. We discuss gender differences in those risk and protective effects, and with reference to our findings, we propose social service recommendations aimed at boosting the psychological well-being of children in mainland China.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S603-S603
Author(s):  
Qian Song ◽  
James Smith

Abstract We investigate how the hukou system in China creates disparities in psychological well-being among rural-born urban residents in mid- and later-life, using China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2013-2015) and its life history survey (2014). We differentiate merit- (education, employment), policy- (urbanization), and family-based rural-urban hukou converters, and our propensity score analyses show that merit-based (coef.=-0.14,p<0.01) and policy-based (coef.=-0.11,p<0.05) hukou conversion are psychologically protective of the hukou converters over those who still have rural hukou, but family-based conversion does not have an impact. Among all those who realized hukou mobility, those who did so in the period after 1998 has a relative disadvantage. The benefits of policy-based hukou conversion is most prominent for men, childhood converters, and those who realized hukou mobility between 1978 and 1998. Conversion at an older age puts women into disadvantage compared to an earlier age, though this is not the case for men.


Challenges ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Tanja Sobko ◽  
Gavin T. L. Brown

Urbanized children today have fewer opportunities to interact with nature which may lead to a greater risk of mental health problems. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate which particular changes in connectedness to nature (CN) would improve psychological well-being (PW) in young children. Six hundred and thirty-nine preschoolers (52.0% boys, age 34.9 ± 9.5 months) participated in Play&Grow, an early environmental education intervention. Children’s CN and PW were evaluated by parents before and after the program with validated measures; the CNI-PPC (four factors) and the SDQ, Strength and Difficulties questionnaire (five factors), respectively. The effectiveness of the intervention on the primary outcomes (CN, PW) as well as the relationship between them was analyzed in a repeated measures path model with intervention status as a causal predictor. Specific CN factors consistently increased ProSocial behavior and reduced Hyperactivity and Emotional problems. In summary, this study showed that the previously reported impact shifted from the total CN score to the specific CN factors. The Play&Grow intervention positively increased children’s CN and improved some aspects of psychological well-being in children which is a preliminary evidence of developmental benefits of connecting young children with nature. Our results indicate promising direction of action for the improvement of families’ psychological health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 480-481
Author(s):  
Eva Kahana ◽  
Tirth Bhatta ◽  
Boaz Kahana ◽  
Nirmala Lekhak

Abstract Existing scholarship in social gerontology has surprisingly paid little attention to broader loving emotions, such as compassionate and altruistic love, as potentially meaningful mechanisms for improving later life psychological well-being. This study examined the influence of feeling love toward other persons and experiencing love from others on later life psychological well-being. We conducted a 3-wave longitudinal study of a representative sample of 340 ethnically heterogeneous community dwelling older residents of Miami, Florida. The increase in feeling of being loved (β=-1.53, p<0.001) and love for others (β=-1.43, p<0.001) led to decline in odds of reporting greater level of depressive symptoms over time. The odds of reporting higher level of positive affect were significantly greater for older adults who reported feeling loved by others (β=1.16, p<0.001) and expressed love for other people (β=1.18, p<0.01). Older adults who felt loved had 0.92-point lower ordered log odds of reporting higher negative affect than those who reported lower level of love. The impact of compassionate love on depressive symptoms and negative affect remained statistically significant even after adjustment for altruistic attitudes and emotional support. The influence of loving emotions on positive affect was, however, explained by altruistic attitudes and emotional support. Our findings underscore the powerful influence of both receiving and giving love for the maintenance of later life psychological well-being. We offer support for the expectation that love is a significant force in the lives of older adults that transcends intimate relationships.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Amankwah-Poku ◽  
Delight Abla Klutsey ◽  
Kwaku Oppong Asante

Abstract Background The prevalence of disclosure of status to children living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is low in most sub-Saharan African countries, leading to poor compliance and adverse psychological outcomes in these children. This study examined the influence of disclosure on health outcomes in children living with HIV and their caregivers. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, 155 HIV-positive children between age 6–15 years and their caregivers were administered standardized questionnaires measuring adherence to medication, children's psychological well-being, caregiver burden, and caregivers’ psychological health. Results Results indicated that only 33.5% of the children sampled knew their status. Disclosure of HIV status was significantly related to medication adherence, psychological wellbeing, the burden of caregiving, and the length of the disclosure. A child’s age and level of education were the only demographic variables that significantly predicted disclosure of HIV status. In a hierarchical analysis, after controlling for all demographic variables medication adherence, psychological well-being and burden of caregiving were found to be significant predictors of disclosure of status in children living with HIV. Conclusions Findings suggest the need for disclosure of status among children living with HIV for a positive impact on their medication adherence and psychological health. These findings underscore the need for the development of context-specific interventions that will guide and encourage disclosure of status by caregivers to children living with HIV.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. McFarquhar ◽  
A. Bowling

Aims:To investigate the relationship between psychological well-being and measures of active ageing in a British sample of older people. Active ageing is the process of optimising opportunities for health, participation and security to embrace quality of life as people age.Methods:A national survey of quality of life and psychological well-being including 999 people aged ≥65 years living in private households in Britain commenced in 1999. in the most recent follow up of 2007, 323 survivors aged ≥72 years completed a postal survey regarding their quality of life and specifically the process of active ageing. A subset of 42 participants was also interviewed qualitatively in 2008 about their perceptions of active ageing. Psychological well-being at baseline was measured using the 12 item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) and correlated with measures of active ageing at baseline and in subsequent follow ups. Measures of active ageing included number and frequency of leisure and social activities, physical ability and access to support networks.Results:A significant positive relationship between psychological well being and measures of active ageing was found at baseline (p< 0.05). Measure of active ageing in 2007 were also correlated with psychological well-being at baseline (p< 0.05). Qualitative interviews in 2008 provided additional insights into this relationship.Conclusions:Results suggesting a strong relationship between psychological health and ageing actively. Good psychological health may allow the elderly to maintain an active and fulfilling lifestyle and reduce isolation and dependence, which in turn may protect against some aspects of poor mental health.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Auditya Purwandini Sutarto ◽  
Shanti Wardaningsih ◽  
Wika Harisa Putri

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore to what extent employees' mental well-being affects their productivity while working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 crisis and whether mental well-being and productivity differ across some socio-demographic factors.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study with online questionnaires was designed with 472 valid responses in Indonesia. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ) were administered. Non-parametric tests and structural equation modeling were employed to analyze the data.FindingsThe prevalence of depression was 18.4%, anxiety 46.4% and stress 13.1%, with relatively good productivity. Gender, age, education level, job experiences, marital status, number of children and nature of the organization were associated with the employees' psychological health but not with their productivity, while the workspace availability influenced both outcomes. The study path model showed the negative correlation between WFH employees' psychological well-being and productivity.Research limitations/implicationsThis study may contribute to the implication of current mandatory WFH on mental well-being and productivity. Further studies need to address the representativeness and generalizability issues as well as incorporating potential stressors.Practical implicationsOrganizations may adopt WFH as a future working arrangement and identify the individual and occupational characteristics that provide the most impacts on productivity. It is also necessary for them to develop proper strategies to mitigate the psychological risks and overcome the WFH challenges.Originality/valueThere is still a lack of studies investigating the relationship between simultaneous effects of WFH on psychological well-being and productivity, and how they affect some socio-demographic variables in the context of COVID-19.


Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit J Shah ◽  
Robert Carney ◽  
Elsayed Z Soliman ◽  
Viola Vaccarino

Background: Abnormal frontal T-axis is an independent predictor of mortality, and may be influenced by increased sympathetic tone and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Factors related to poor psychological health, such as depression, are associated with increased risk of CVD morbidity, although the mechanisms are not clear. We tested the hypothesis that: 1) reduced psychological wellness is associated with abnormal T-axis and 2) this association may help to explain the excess risk of CVD morbidity and mortality related to poor psychological health. Methods: We studied 4485 community-based adults aged 25–65 years without a history of CVD from NHANES I (1971–75) who were monitored for CVD hospitalization and death until 1993. Those with ECG evidence of previous MI, left ventricular hypertrophy, and major ventricular conduction defects (QRS interval ≥ 120 ms) were excluded. Frontal T-axis was obtained through 12-lead ECG, and a deviation of ≥ 30° from normal (45°) was considered abnormal. Psychological well-being was measured with the General Well-Being Scale (GWB). Results: The mean ± SD age was 43.1 ± 11.5 years and 55% were women. The mean ± SD GWB score was 80.5 ± 17.3, the median frontal T-axis was 51°, and 13% had an abnormal T-axis. In cross-sectional analysis adjusting for age, sex, and race, a 1-SD decrease in GWB was associated with an OR of 1.12 for abnormal T-axis (p=0.01). This effect was unchanged after adjusting for systolic blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, total cholesterol, and BMI. Abnormal T-axis was associated with CVD hospitalization/death (adjusted HR 1.29, p=0.01), as was GWB (adjusted HR 1.104 per 1-SD decrease, p=0.01). When both factors were included in the model, the HR of GWB decreased by 8% to 1.096 (p=0.02). Conclusion: Abnormal frontal T-axis is modestly but significantly associated with reduced psychological wellness. Although this association may help understand neurocardiac relationships, it does not substantially explain morbidity and mortality associated with reduced psychological wellness.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaori Ishii ◽  
Ai Shibata ◽  
Minoru Adachi ◽  
Yoshiyuki Mano ◽  
Koichiro Oka

Background:Sedentary behaviors (SB) are associated with health indicators; however, there are currently very few studies that have examined these associations, especially in conjunction with psychological factors, in children. The current study examined the independent relationship between objectively assessed SB, and indicators of obesity and psychological well-being, among Japanese children.Methods:A total of 967 elementary-school children completed a cross-sectional survey. SB was measured with accelerometers for 7 consecutive days. Psychological well-being data (eg, anxiety and behavior problems) were collected via a self-report questionnaire. To determine the relationship of SB with degree of obesity and psychological well-being, linear regression analyses were conducted to relate the indicators of obesity and psychological well-being on SB, adjusted by gender, grade, percentage of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day, duration spent wearing the accelerometer, and degree of obesity.Results:SB was significantly related to behavioral/emotional problems (β = .280, P = .010, R2 = .015). There was a statistically significant relationship between SB and anxiety (β = .206, P = .059, R2 = .007). No significant association with degree of obesity was found.Conclusions:Excess SB relates higher levels of behavioral/emotional problems and anxiety. These results can inspire the development of interventions that promote well-being and enhance psychological health, by focusing on SB in Japanese children.


2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Matz-Costa ◽  
Elyssa Besen ◽  
Jacquelyn Boone James ◽  
Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes

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