Prevalence of depressive symptoms and correlated factors among pregnant women during their second and third trimesters in northwest rural China: a cross-sectional study

Background The depression mood during their second and third trimesters has a negative impact on both the mother and her child. Compared with pregnant women in urban areas, rural pregnant women who are in more disadvantaged situation may have more serious psychological problems. Particular, many rural pregnant women had internal migrant work experience during pregnancy in rural China. It is thus necessary to study the prevalence of depressive symptoms and correlated factors among Chinese northwest rural pregnant women. Methods This study was conducted from October 2017 to April 2018 and surveyed 1053 pregnant women in the middle and late stages of pregnancy who were registered in rural areas, gave informed consent and did not suffer from cognitive impairment or severe mental illness. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Chinese Version of the Short Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-C21). Demographic characteristics, pregnancy characteristics and family factors were obtained through structured questionnaires. This study employed multiple factor logistic regression to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms and their correlates. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms among pregnant women during their second and third trimesters was 16.14% (95%CI 13.92%-18.36%). Higher education levels (OR = 0.50; 95%CI 0.29–0.85) and taking folic acid (OR = 0.59; 95%CI 0.39–0.89) reduced the risk of depression symptoms. The family receiving rural welfare (OR = 1.69; 95%CI 1.04–2.75), migration for work (OR = 1.95; 95%CI 1.03–3.71) and living with both parents and parents-in-law (OR = 2.55; 95%CI 1.09–5.96) increased the risk of depressive symptoms. Conclusions The prevalence of depressive symptoms among pregnant women during their second and third trimesters in Northwest rural China was 16.14% that was nearly 4 percentage points higher than the average survey result of the pregnant women in developed countries and was higher than the findings in Chinese urban areas. To prevent depression symptoms, it’s essential to early screen and provide folic acid for free when antenatal examination. Moreover, maternal examination files should be established so that wo pay attention to the psychological status of pregnant women who were with low education levels, poor family economic situations, excessive parental burden and who had been migrant workers.

A New Story on the Multidimensionality of the MSPSS: Validity of the Internal Structure through Bifactor ESEM

The internal structure of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in adolescents has been evaluated with some factorial analysis methodologies but not with bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), and possibly the inconsistency in the internal structure was dependent on these approaches. The objective of the study was to update evidence regarding its internal structure of MSPSS, by means of a detailed examination of its multidimensionality The participants were 460 adolescents from an educational institution in the Callao region, Lima, Peru. The structure was modeled using unidimensional, three-factor and bifactor models with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and ESEM approaches. The models showed good levels of fit, with the exception of the unidimensional model; however, the multidimensionality indicators supported the superiority of the bifactor ESEM. In contrast, the general factor was not strong enough, and the interfactorial correlations were substantially lower. It is concluded that the MSPSS can be interpreted by independent but moderately correlated factors, and there is possible systematic variance that potentially prevented the identification of a general factor.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Three Versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42, DASS-21, and DASS-12) in Polish Adults

Background: The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) are designed to identify quickly and differentiate between the symptoms of depression and anxiety in the non-clinical population. Different versions (original and short) were validated in many cultures. Nevertheless, there are no data of factorial validity of the different versions of this scale in Polish culture. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and internal consistency of DASS-42 (original version) and two short versions (DASS-21 items and DASS-12 items) in the Polish population.Methods: The DASS-42 was administered to a non-clinical sample, broadly representative of the general Polish adult population (n = 1,021) in terms of demographic variables. The DASS-21 and DASS-12 version used in this study comprise seven and four items from each of the following corresponding three subscales of the Polish version of DASS-42.Results: There were two models that fitted best for DASS-42: (a) modified three correlated factors (depression, anxiety, and stress) with cross-loadings and (b) second order (general factor of psychological distress) and three factors with cross-loadings. There were also two models that fitted best for DASS-21 and DASS-12: (a) modified three correlated factors (depression, anxiety, and stress) and (b) second order (general factor of psychological distress) and three factors.Conclusions: All three versions of DASS appear to have an acceptable factorial structure. However, the shorter versions (DASS-21 and DASS-12) may be more feasible to use in general medical practice and also be less burdensome to participants.

Potential drug interactions analysis of COVID-19 patients at a hospital in West Java

Background: Treatment guidelines of COVID-19 are changing continuously by involving many off-label and various symptomatic or supportive drugs. The use of these various drugs might increase the patient’s risk of developing drug interactions. Objective: The study aimed to analyze potential drug-drug interactions in COVID-19 inpatients and the correlated factors. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital by using inpatients admitted from August-December 2020. Potential drug-drug interaction was analyzed by using Lex-Interact® software. Results: From 107 patients, the majority of them are in moderate severity-degree (98.1%), having comorbidities (93.5%), and polypharmacy (98.1%). The average of potential drug interactions was 8.47±8,04, with most of the interaction in risk rating C-monitor therapy. Major potential drug interactions found were prolongation of QT interval and disturbance of drug absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. A positive correlation occurred between drug interactions found and comorbidity (r=0.436), number of drugs per prescription (r=0.674), and length of stay (r=0.222) Conclusions: COVID-19 patient is at risk for developing potential drug interactions that can affect the patient's physiological condition and reduce drug effect. It is necessary to manage the medication schedule, therapy modification, administration route changing, dosage adjustment, and monitoring of effects that might occur because of the drug interactions. Keywords: drug interaction, COVID-19, inpatient, correlated factor

Researches on the Influence of Blasting of Newly Built Tunnel on the Existing Tunnel Structure with Small Cross Angle

In recent years, with the increasement of the railway expansion projects, the blasting damage has caused great threat to the safety of the existing tunnel structure. However, few researches are carried out on the influence of tunnel blasting construction on existing small-angle crossing tunnel structure. In this study, the dynamic response of existing tunnel structure to the blasting activities in newly built tunnel is analyzed by numerical simulation. From the comparison of vibration velocity, lining stress, and the displacement of the existing tunnel structure, the blasting methods, surrounding rock condition, cross angle, and clear distance are proven to be the highly correlated factors for the dynamic response of the existing tunnel to blasting. Then, combined with the analytic hierarchy process, the vibration velocity is selected as the optimal index to indicate the dynamic response to blasting activities.

Validation of the Academic Self-Concept Scale in the Spanish University Context

The aims of this study were: (i) to provide evidence of reliability and validity regarding the dimensionality of the Spanish version of two correlated subscales measuring Academic Self-Concept (ASC); (ii) to analyze factorial invariance according to sex and the educational level; (iii) to analyze a higher-order model from the two ASC subscales; and (iv) to study the predictive relationship of the ASC to academic engagement. An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was designed in which 681 undergraduate university students (Mage = 24.55; SDage = 5.35) (58% girls) and students of the Master’s in Teacher Education participated. The scale’s psychometric properties were analyzed using different exploratory and confirmatory analyses demonstrating that this instrument with two correlated factors (academic confidence and academic effort) is valid, reliable, and invariant in terms of gender and academic level. Higher-order factors from the two correlated factors showed an excellent goodness-of-fit. A regression model with latent variables was conducted showing a higher and positive prediction of academic self-concept for the two factors of academic engagement (willingness to study and satisfaction with studies). The ASC has shown itself to be a valid and reliable instrument for use with Spanish university students and may be of special interest, both to teachers and to the students themselves, as it allows us to reflect on the importance of developing confidence and effort during the students’ academic lives.

Psychometric Assessment of a Weight Management Social Provisions Survey in a Sample of Adults with Prediabetes

Background: The relevance of social support for weight management is not well documented in people with prediabetes. An important consideration is the adequate assessment of social provisions related to weight management in this population.Purpose: To assess the factor structure and measurement invariance of an adapted Social Provisions Scale specific to weight management (SPS-WM) in adults with prediabetes (n=599).Methods: Participants of a diabetes prevention trial completed a demographic survey, and the SPS-WM. Confirmatory analyses tested the factor structure of the SPS-WM, and measurement invariance was assessed for gender, weight status, education level, and age.Results: Removal of two collinear items resulted in acceptable model fit, supporting six correlated factors for social provisions specific to weight management. Measurement invariance was supported across all subgroups.Conclusion: Results support score interpretations for these scales reflecting distinct components of social support specific to weight management in alignment with those of the original survey.

The P Factor in Children: Relationships with Executive Functions and Effortful Control

Lower levels of self-regulation have been implicated in multiple psychological disorders. Despite conceptual overlap (broadly reflecting self-regulatory functions), executive functions (EF) and effortful control (EC) are rarely jointly studied in relation to broadband psychopathology. The present study investigated associations of correlated factors (internalizing-externalizing) and bifactor psychopathology models with EF and EC in a large (N=895) childhood community sample (Mage = 11.54, SDage = 2.25). Associations between both self-regulation constructs (EF and EC) with psychopathology were largely accounted for via a general psychopathology factor. However, EC evidenced stronger associations, questioning the utility of task-based EF measures to inform self-regulatory psychopathology.