Associations Between Neighborhood Environments and Depressive Symptoms of Older Adults

Little is known about the accumulative impacts of neighbourhood physical environments on depression among older adults. Based on a cohort study of 2,081 older adults in Hong Kong, this study examined longitudinal relationships between neighbourhood physical environments and depressive symptoms among older adults and the moderating effects of the slope of terrain and individual functional ability using latent growth curve modelling. Results indicated that the availability of community centres and passive leisure facilities reduced depressive symptoms over time. The protective effects of residential surrounding greenness on depressive symptoms among older adults differed by the slope of terrain. Longitudinal associations between neighbourhood physical environments and depressive symptoms varied between older adults with and without functional limitations. Identifying environmental barriers and applying targeted residential environment interventions are essential.

Preprint and additional materials for: Positivity in peer perceptions over time: Personality explains variation at zero-acquaintance, popularity explains differential change.

People have characteristic ways of perceiving others’ personalities. When judging others on several traits, some perceivers tend to form globally positive and others tend to form globally negative impressions. These differences, often termed perceiver effects, have mostly been conceptualized as a static construct that taps perceivers’ personal stereotypes about the average other. Here, we assessed perceiver effects repeatedly in small groups of strangers who got to know each other over the course of 2 to 3 weeks and examined the degree to which positivity differences were stable vs. developed systematically over time. Using second order latent growth curve modelling, we tested whether initial positivity (i.e., random intercepts) could be explained by several personality variables and whether change (i.e., random slopes) could be explained by these personality variables and by perceivers’ social experiences within the group. Across three studies (ns = 439, 257, and 311), personality variables characterized by specific beliefs about others, such as agreeableness and narcissistic rivalry, were found to explain initial positivity but personality was not reliably linked to changes in positivity over time. Instead, feeling liked and, to a lesser extent, being liked by one’s peers, partially explained changes in positivity. The results suggest that perceiver effects are best conceptualized as reflecting personal generalized stereotypes at an initial encounter but group-specific stereotypes that are fueled by social experiences as groups get acquainted. More generally, these findings suggest that perceiver effects might be a key variable to understanding reciprocal dynamics of small groups and interpersonal functioning.

Social support and life satisfaction among entrepreneurs: a latent growth curve modelling approach

PurposeSocial support has been identified as a valuable resource that could help entrepreneurs maintain goal directness in their endeavours and increase their life satisfaction. However, to date, scant research has examined the effect of perceived social support on life satisfaction during the transition from paid employment to self-employment. This paper uses the job demand resource model (JD–R) as a theoretical lens to investigate this relationship.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the household income and labour dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, we use latent growth curve modelling (LGCM) to investigate the trajectories of entrepreneurs' perceived social support and life satisfaction (n = 1,303) up to five years after their transition into self-employment.FindingsResults suggest that entrepreneurs experience a boost in life satisfaction in the transition phase, followed by a declining trend in the years that follow. We find that both the initial perception and the evolution of perceived social support are positively related to life satisfaction over time across gender groups. However, we find that females may benefit more from early social support soon after the transition into self-employment to forestall declines in life satisfaction over the long-term.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalisability of the research findings beyond the Australian context is undefined. Future research needs to examine to what extent these results can generalize to other samples within different cultural and institutional frameworks.Practical implicationsSince perceived social support is a strong buffering mechanism that helps mitigate job demands, entrepreneurs need to be proactive in building a strong network. Individuals who switch to self-employment should carefully map and build a strong social network that can help them weather the challenges and setbacks in their new job.Originality/valueThis study extends the JD–R literature by examining the transition into self-employment, considered an “active job” characterised by high demands and high decision latitude. LGCM modelling captures how both initial levels and changes in social support affect life satisfaction during entrepreneurship entry and over time.

Effective Ways of Enhancing the Quality of Question Generating and Spontaneous Information Search Outside the Classroom

This study examined how to enhance the quality of students’ question generating and to encourage their spontaneous information searches after classroom instruction in university. The teacher assigned One Minute Paper as homework, and students answered three questions; “Q1: What was the most important thing that you learned today?”, “Q2: What important question remains unanswered?”, and “Q3: What information did you search for after the classroom instruction?”. While it was necessary to answer Q1 and Q2 for submission, answering Q3 was not necessary and they could answer it if they wished to do so. The teacher, however, realized that some students were not generating questions actively and the quality of their questions were not adequately improved. After 7 weeks, he changed his intervention and gave feedback on some students’ questions to enhance their question quantity and quality. The latent growth curve modelling showed that question quality, spontaneous searching behaviour, and the link between question generation and conducting searches increased after the intervention change. The result also showed that post-intervention change slopes were larger for the feedback group than the class without feedback. The results indicate that besides assigning homework tasks, it is also important to connect learning outside along with inside the classroom to enhance question quality and encourage spontaneous information search.

Childhood adversity and trajectories of multimorbidity in mid-late life: China health and longitudinal retirement study

BackgroundThe association between childhood adversity and an individual’s health in later life has been extensively studied in Western societies; however, little is known about this association for the development of multimorbidity in China.MethodsThree waves (2011–2012, 2013 and 2015) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were used for adults aged 45–101 years. Multimorbidity was assessed by the summed scores of self-reported physician diagnoses of 14 chronic diseases. Childhood adversity was measured by the incidence of childhood abuse and neglect, negative caregiver’s characteristics and low socioeconomic status. Latent growth curve modelling was used to investigate the trajectory of multimorbidity by childhood adversity.ResultsParental physical abuse was associated with increased number of chronic diseases (intercept: 0.119; 95% CI: 0.033 to 0.205 for men and 0.268: 95% CI: 0.188 to 0.348 for women) and a higher rate of increase (slope: 0.013: 95% CI: 0.000 to 0.027 for men and 0.022: 95% CI: 0.008 to 0.036 for women) in multimorbidity. Adequacy of food was associated with a lower number chronic diseases at baseline (men: −0.171: 95% CI: −0.245 to -0.097; women: −0.223: 95% CI: −0.294 to -0.152) and a slower rate of change in multimorbidity (men: −0.015 per year: 95% CI: −0.027 to -0.003; women: −0.012 per year: 95% CI: −0.024 to -0.001).ConclusionsThe results demonstrate that childhood adversity exerts long-lasting effects on multimorbidity among older adults in China. Prevention of childhood maltreatment may delay or even avert the emergence of multimorbidity in later life.

Longitudinal effects of breast feeding on parent-reported child behaviour

ObjectiveShorter breastfeeding duration has been linked to a range of difficulties in children. However, evidence linking shorter breastfeeding duration to child behavioural problems has been inconclusive. Owing to an almost exclusive focus on early childhood in previous research, little is known about breastfeeding effects on behaviour throughout childhood and adolescence. This study examines the longitudinal effect of breast feeding on parent-reported behaviour in children aged 3–14.DesignData come from the Millennium Cohort Study, a large, prospective, UK birth cohort study.Participants11 148 children, their parents and teachers.MethodsThis study maps the effect of breastfeeding duration on parent-reported child behaviour longitudinally, using latent growth curve modelling and on teacher-reported child behaviour using multiple regression analyses. Breastfeeding duration was assessed through parent interviews when the child was 9 months old. Children’s behavioural development was measured using parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) at 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14 years and teacher-reported SDQs at 7 and 11 years.ResultsBreast feeding was associated with fewer parent-reported behavioural difficulties at all ages even after adjusting for potential confounders (<2 months: B=−0.22, 95% CI −0.39 to −0.04; 2–4 months: B=−0.53, 95% CI −0.75 to −0.32; 4–6 months: B=−1.07, 95% CI −1.33 to −0.81; >6 months: B=−1.24, 95% CI −1.44 to −1.04; B=adjusted mean difference of raw SDQ scores at age 3, reference: never breast fed).ConclusionThis study provides further evidence supporting links between breastfeeding duration and children’s socioemotional behavioural development. Potential implications include intervention strategies encouraging breast feeding.

Case-comparison study protocol for gauging effects of neighbourhood trends and sickness: examining the perceptions of transit-Induced gentrification in Prince George’s County

IntroductionImpoverished neighbourhoods and communities of colour often bear the brunt of unintended transit-oriented development (TOD) impacts. These impacts have been known to come in the form of transit-induced gentrification (TIG), a socioeconomic by-product of TOD defined as a phenomenon that occurs when the provision of transit service, particularly light rail transit (LRT), ‘up-scales’ nearby neighbourhood(s) and displaces existing residents. Consequently, TIG or even the perception of TIG can impact health outcomes (eg, anxiety) and social determinants of health (SDOH) (eg, crime).Methods/AnalysisIn 2022, the purple line (PL), a 16.2 mile LRT line, is opening in Prince George’s County, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC, comprised of over 80% African American and Hispanic residents. By taking advantage of this natural experiment, we are proposing the GENTS (Gauging Effects of Neighborhood Trends and Sickness: Examining the Perceptions of Transit-Induced Gentrification in Prince George’s County) Study in order to evaluate perceived TIG and associated health outcome and SDOH changes, at two points in time, among Prince George’s County adults in a prospective case-comparison design during the pre-PL LRT period. Descriptive analysis and latent growth curve modelling will be used to examine these changes over time.Ethics and DisseminationEthics approval has been granted by the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board. The GENTS Study will identify temporal changes in perceived TIG, health outcomes and SDOH among case and comparison residents before the completion and operation of the PL LRT, an under researched period of TOD. The dissemination of GENTS Study findings will be able to address research questions and policy issues that are specifically tailored to PG County while also providing more effective procedural solutions for other regions undergoing TOD and TIG risks.