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Generativity refers to activities that help to establish and guide the next generation. This paper explores the nature of generative concern among older people and how it manifests itself in an era of rapid social and technological changes that have produced wide generation gaps. Eight focus groups were conducted with 51 women and 20 men who were recruited from social centres in Hong Kong on the basis of age, socio-economic status, and level of participation in the centres. The discussions were transcribed verbatim and analysed using grounded-theory principles. The elders frequently referred to the superior educational level and technological knowledge of their offspring, as well as the differences in values and lifestyles between the generations, which they thought had made their own knowledge and wisdom obsolete. They had concerns about social and technological changes, however, and they aroused a sense of urgency to protect the younger generation from contemporary evils, while many considered that passing on moral and behavioural codes nowadays was the most important generative role. Although they wanted to help, their efforts were often criticised. In order to maintain harmonious relationships and to avoid conflicts with their offspring, many participants adopted passive generative roles. Attempts to stabilise the generative self by redefining generativity were also observed. The final section of the paper discusses the implications of the findings for the maintenance of the generative self in personal situations of declining resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an exploratory, phenomenological study of seven Chinese widows in Hong Kong, five major themes are identified: relationship with the deceased, relationship with others, grief reactions, coping and emotional expression. This paper focuses on the first theme: the widows' relationship with the deceased husband along a timeline from the time of diagnosis to after death. The experiences in the final days with the deceased were frequently referred to when the informants talked about this theme. This paper aims to give added voice, based on the experience of Chinese widows, to the possible role of hospice and palliative care on influencing the bereavement experience. Issues of awareness and acceptance of death, the supportive environment and support for family carers, the moment of death, creation of legacies, and sensitivity towards cultural embedded practices, are discussed. It is hoped that the experiences of these bereaved widows will stimulate new research to elucidate and verify the findings reported in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

woo h. & twinn s. (2004) Journal of Advanced Nursing 45(6), 595–602 Health needs of Hong Kong Chinese pregnant adolescents The outcomes of adolescent pregnancy have been associated with health risks such as obstetric complications and depression, and educational risks such as school dropout and reduced employment opportunities. These outcomes arise from a range of needs including perceived health needs, which are the focus of this paper. This paper reports a study to identify the perceived needs of Hong Kong Chinese adolescents following confirmation of an unintended pregnancy. An exploratory qualitative approach was used with a purposive sample of 10 Hong Kong Chinese pregnant adolescents. The study was undertaken during their stay in a non-government organization maternal shelter. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore adolescents’ perceptions of their psychological, social and health needs and the extent to which each of these needs was met. Six major categories were identified within the context of need, of which three were related to health needs: acceptance of the pregnancy; psychological reactions to the pregnancy; and use of contraception and health advice. The findings contribute to an understanding of the perceived health needs of Chinese adolescents, in particular those that are culturally determined. Implications for nursing practice indicate the significance of comprehensive health assessments and health promotion strategies to help adolescents increase their knowledge about sexual health and contraception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an introduction to a Chinese perspective on pastoral counseling and how pastoral counseling is different and distinctive when practiced and applied in a Chinese Christian community. “Chinese” culture is presented from philosophical, historical, sociological and psychological perspectives and refers in this text specifically to Chinese communities in Hong Kong and Canada. The basic intention of this paper is to note how these various cultural considerations inform us in terms of how pastoral counseling can be done within Chinese Christian communities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper explores the relationship between gender, academic achievement, and family functioning in a Chinese cultural background. Primary and secondary school students ( n = 1597) in Hong Kong participated in a survey questionnaire. Two competing hypotheses are derived and empirically tested based on the idea that parents are likely to have higher expectations toward their sons. First, when boys perform well academically, their parents might not feel particularly overjoyed because their sons simply achieved what they were expected to, which would not affect the parents' attitudes within the family and thus the boys' perceptions of the family. Second, when parents have such high expectations for their sons, they would feel particularly satisfied when the outcome fulfills their high expectations. The results indicated that boys did well academically to prevent their parents from potential disappointment, whereas parents were actually happier if their daughters overachieve because they have lower initial expectations. Such differences affected parents' attitudes, family functioning, and thus adolescents' view of family. The results of this study carry implications for the study of family functioning and parenting among Chinese families. In particular, parents should avoid having gender-based expectations toward their children, which could adversely affect how boys view their family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Partners in Health (PIH) scale is a measure designed to assess the generic knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and impacts of self-management. A cross-cultural adaptation of the PIH for use in Hong Kong was evaluated in this study. This paper reports the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of PIH (C-PIH[HK]).Method: A 12-item PIH was translated using forward-backward translation technique and reviewed by individuals with chronic diseases and health professionals. A total of 209 individuals with chronic diseases completed the scale. The construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were evaluated in two waves.Results: The findings in Wave 1 (n = 73) provided acceptable psychometric properties of the C-PIH(HK) but supported the adaptation of question 5 to improve the cultural relevance, validity, and reliability of the scale. An adapted version of C-PIH(HK) was evaluated in Wave 2. The findings in Wave 2 (n = 136) demonstrated good construct validity and internal consistency of C-PIH(HK). A principal component analysis with Oblimin rotation yielded a 3-factor solution, and the Cronbach's alphas of the subscales ranged from 0.773 to 0.845. Participants were asked whether they perceived the self-management workshops they attended and education provided by health professionals as useful or not. The results showed that the C-PIH(HK) was able to discriminate those who agreed and those who disagreed related to the usefulness of individual health education (p < 0.0001 in all subscales) and workshops (p < 0.001 in the knowledge subscale) as hypothesized. The test-retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.818).Conclusion: A culturally adapted version of PIH for use in Hong Kong was evaluated. The study supported good construct validity, discriminate validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the C-PIH(HK). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of directive programmes led by professionals where parents were taught specific parenting knowledge and strategies (Triple P – Positive Parenting Program) and non-directive parenting programmes in the form of mutual-aid support group as a universal prevention programme. Design/methodology/approach – This study employed a randomised controlled trial design. Participants included 92 Hong Kong Chinese parents with preschool children recruited from eight kindergartens and a local church. They were randomised into Group Triple P, non-directive group and control group. They completed measures on their perception of child behaviour problems and their parental stress before and after intervention. Findings – At post-intervention, results indicated significantly greater decrease in child disruptive behaviours among participants in the Triple P group than those in the non-directive group and control group while no significant group difference was found between the latter two groups. No significant difference was found in post-intervention parental stress level among the three groups. Originality/value – This study provides empirical evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of a directive parenting programme vs a non-directive one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two intervention formats of the Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P) – Level 4 Group Triple P (TP) and brief parent discussion group (DI) with the waitlist control group (WL). Design/methodology/approach – Participants included 91 Chinese parents with preschool children in Hong Kong from eight preschools, who were randomised into the two intervention conditions (TP and DI) and a waitlist control group (WL). Parent participants completed measures on child behaviours and parenting stress before and after intervention. Findings – Results indicated that there was a significant decrease in post-intervention child behavioural problems in the TP group, with a medium effect size when compared to the WL group. There was a decrease in post-intervention child behaviour problems in the DI group, compared with the WL group. No significant difference was found in post-intervention child behaviour problems between the TP group and the DI group. Practical implications – The positive results in the present study support the extension of the implementation of Triple P interventions to the preschool setting in Hong Kong. The effectiveness of the brief parent discussion group in reducing parental report of child behaviour problems provides preliminary support for its potential as a universal preventive parenting intervention in the local context. Originality/value – The study was the first evaluation of the Level-4 Triple P programme in a local school context as well as the first evaluation of effectiveness of the brief parent discussion group in the local context at the time of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study reported in this paper was aimed at developing understanding of depression-related knowledge and preferences surrounding professional help, medication, and treatment methods among Chinese living in Shanghai, China. Methods: A multi-stage cluster sampling method in which participants were taken from 6 of the 20 districts in Shanghai was adopted for this study. The 522 Shanghai Chinese participants were presented with a vignette describing an individual with depression before being asked questions designed to assess both their understanding of depression and their preferences surrounding professional help, medication, and treatment methods. A comparative approach was adopted to identify similarities and differences between our findings and those of two previous studies on the mental health literacy of Chinese living in Melbourne, Australia, and Hong Kong, respectively. Results: A similarly low percentage of Chinese people in each of Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Australia recognized depression. Fewer Shanghai Chinese than Chinese living in Hong Kong and Australia ascribed the 'anxiety/stress' label to the depression vignette and endorsed professionals and informal network members as helpful. Although a far lower percentage of Shanghai Chinese endorsed the use of counseling professionals, a much higher percentage of the same group endorsed Chinese medical doctors and herbal medication. A lower percentage of Shanghai Chinese endorsed 'lifestyle changes' as a strategy for combating depression than did Chinese subjects living in Australia and Hong Kong. On the other hand, a higher percentage of Shanghai residents endorsed psychiatric treatment and the traditional Chinese practices of 'eating nutritious food/taking supplements' and 'qigong' than among the other two groups of Chinese. Conclusions: This study underlines the need for campaigns aimed at improving the mental health literacy of Chinese in Shanghai. Such campaigns must take into consideration the socially and culturally driven beliefs to facilitate the development of specific education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medium of instruction (MOI) and its impact on improving the language proficiency of students has become a debated issue worldwide. The policy-makers of post-colonial Hong Kong believed that the general Chinese competency, Chinese writing and Putonghua proficiency of students would be improved through the use of a Putonghua-medium-of-instruction (PMI) rather than the Cantonese medium, the mother tongue of students and teachers. Therefore, using Putonghua to teach the Chinese language has been promulgated as a long-term goal by the Curriculum Development Council. Early studies have placed an emphasis on using standardized tests to assess students' learning outcomes with the use of PMI, but unfortunately the findings have been inconclusive. Despite teachers' involvement in implementing the MOI policy, there is a dearth of studies examining the perspective of teachers regarding the language learning of students under PMI. This paper aims to explore this important issue in greater depth through a case study of a high school, which has implemented PMI to teach the Chinese language for 10 years. The findings indicate that there are mismatches between the stated educational policy intentions and the language learning of students in various aspects. Further studies and follow-up measures on the language policy and education are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimated the 10-year probability of osteoporotic fracture in Hong Kong Southern Chinese based on a simplified model of the recently developed WHO fracture risk prediction tool (FRAX®). Thus, the data provides further insights into potential development of a population-specific FRAX® model for Hong Kong in the future. The purpose of this paper was to estimate the 10-year probability of osteoporotic fracture in Hong Kong (HK) Southern Chinese according to age and bone mineral density (BMD) T-score at the femoral neck based on the methodology of the FRAX® risk assessment tool calibrated to the epidemiology of HK. Hip fracture data was obtained from the Clinical Data Analysis Reporting System (CDAS) of the Hospital Authority of HK and population size and death rates were taken from the HK Government Census and Statistics Department. Fracture probability was calculated using the cut-off values for T-scores derived from the NHANES III data for Caucasian women aged 20–29 years for BMD at the femoral neck. In this study, the 10-year probability of osteoporotic fracture in HK Southern Chinese increased markedly with increasing age and decreasing femoral neck BMD T-scores in both women and men. Interestingly, at low T-scores, the increase in 10-year probability of osteoporotic fracture in women with age was greater than in men. Fracture probabilities were substantially higher than those from mainland China. Based on this evidence, and until we have HK Southern Chinese population-specific information, we recommend the application of the Caucasian risk profile to calculate the absolute fracture risk for HK Southern Chinese subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a reality of schools today that most teachers are overwhelmed by daily demands on their time and energy. In particular, they find it difficult to allocate enough extra time for purposes of counselling individual pupils with problems. Any arrangement that enables them to fulfil this counselling role quickly and effectively - and with positive results - would therefore be welcome. This paper reports a teacher's application of a brief form of solution-focused counselling with pupils attending a primary school in Hong Kong. The teacher's personal reflections after using the approach support the view that this form of counselling can be effective with children of this age. The authors believe that teachers who use solution focused counselling in helping their students would benefit from clinical supervision of a reflecting team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper adopts the context-embedded approach to examine the marketing practices of 307 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the People’’s Republic of China by comparing the survey findings with that of Hong Kong and Guangdong SMEs. Chinese SMEs focus on regional markets to avoid direct competition with Hong Kong SMEs in the international markets and also their Guangdong counterparts in the turbulent nationwide market. To market their own brands, Chinese SMEs have to analyze the market and use superior marketing strategies in the competitive markets. Chinese SMEs do not attain the superior competitive positions as that of their Guangdong counterparts, but they use customer satisfaction surveys and claims investigation to help develop excellence in product performance. Also, Chinese SMEs have to provide value-added products and services and also a well-rounded marketing competitive strategy to gain market shares. The traditional state-owned enterprise structure in China facilitates the development of hierarchical organizational structure and joint decision making process. Thus, care should be taken in assuming that marketing tools and techniques are equally applicable across all places, even in similar cultural contexts. Socio-cultural influences and mediating environmental factors should be considered when attempting to understand the marketing practices of Chinese small firms, specifically when China is in transition to a socialist market economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper reports longitudinal changes in bone mineral density (BMD), calcium homeostasis and dietary calcium intake in a group of Hong Kong breastfeeding women during the first year postpartum. Design and subjects: Nine mothers who breastfed exclusively or almost exclusively for at least 3 months and 14 formula feeding mothers aged 20-40 y were interviewed after delivery, 2 and 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. BMD at L2-L4 lumbar spine (LS), trochanter (Tro) and femoral neck (FN), serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP), urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpd), serum and urinary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) and dietary intake of macronutrients were assessed. Results: Compared to the formula feeding group, BMD assessed at LS, Tro and FN decreased significantly in the breastfeeding group over the first 6 months, with rebound to approximate baseline values at 12 months for the latter two sites. Serum iPTH increased in both groups, whereas serum b-ALP was consistently higher in the breastfeeders. Urinary Ca and P excretion decreased early postpartum in both groups, but the breastfeeders had higher excretion at 3 and 6 months. Breastfeeding mothers consumed significantly more Ca than the formula feeding mothers in the early postpartum. Conclusions: Increased calcium requirement during early lactation is affected through mobilisation of bone and renal calcium conservation. Bone mineral loss during lactation is temporary. Further studies are warranted to investigate the effects of diet and other hormonal factors on the calcium homeostasis during lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines the discourse of the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, Tung Chee-hwa, during his first five-year period of office, following the return of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Based on a large corpus of primarily speeches, but also interviews, press conferences and other pronouncements, and a parallel corpus of media reports and commentary, the analysis demonstrates that, in the interests of a smooth handover and the policy of “one country, two systems”, Tung’s discourse, in its basic configuration, mirrors that of the last British colonial Governor, Chris Patten. However, there are certain notable variations; in particular, there is a new emphasis on the need for a knowledge-based economy, the importance of Chinese values and identification with China, and a downplaying of democratic development. As did a previous article on Patten [Discourse Soc. 8 (4) (1997a) 493], the present paper focuses on four discursive strategies: the transformation of old political genres and the creation of new ones, presupposition, the use of indexicals, and lexical structuring and reiteration. The paper is presented as a case study of an attempt by a political leader to develop a communal/political identity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper reports the results of a qualitative inquiry into the aetiology of anorexia nervosa in Hong Kong. These results are part of our main research project about family treatment and families with a daughter suffering from anorexia nervosa. This present qualitative study adopts a multiple case study approach ( n = 8) and employs a multiple-source data collection method, involving pre- and post-family treatment interviews, clinical observations of the participants during the treatment sessions and home visits, as well as detailed field notes. The findings indicate that there are biological, psychological, socio-cultural and familial interpretations of the aetiology of anorexia nervosa. This study challenges the dominant discourse on anorexia nervosa in Hong Kong, which states that the root of the disease lies in a desire for slenderness and beauty, and suggests instead that the aetiology of anorexia nervosa can be discovered only if approached from the systems level. Implications for social work practice are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of a large-scale empirical study of the use of English by Chinese professionals in post-1997 Hong Kong. The study used three data collection methods: a questionnaire survey of 1475 professionals working at different levels in five key occupational fields in the public and private sectors, focus-group discussions, and case studies. The findings indicate that writing and (particularly) reading in English play an important role in the subjects' professional lives. The documents which the subjects read and write most frequently in English are emails, faxes, memos and letters. By contrast, spoken English apparently plays a more limited (though not unimportant) role in the professional workplace in Hong Kong. The evidence suggests that professionals in the fields of Engineering, Construction/Real Estate and Manufacturing have a greater need to communicate in English for various purposes than their counterparts in Business Services and Community/Social Services. Finally, it would appear that the higher a Hong Kong Chinese professional rises in his/her field, the more likely he/she is to have to use English: those subjects occupying senior ranks were found to read, write, speak and listen in English more than those in junior and middle-ranking positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese community has made rapid socio-economic advancement Britain over the course of one generation. This paper examines the influences of culture and structure in determining the remarkable levels of attainments made by the Chinese Britain. In addition, the impacts of culture and structure in circumscribing occupational choices of the Chinese in Britain are also explored, since somewhat marring this image of success is the occupational segregation of the Chinese in the labour market. The human resource implication of this latter situation is that there exists a valuable source of qualified Chinese labour currently engaged in the ethnic niche, particularly Chinese catering industry, which could be better utilized in the wider labour market. It suggested that responsibility to address this issue reducing such 'wastage', involves efforts of three parties, namely, the Chinese themselves, careers counselors, as well organizations in Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title of a movie is the first to attract the audience's attention. Poorly translated movie titles may result in a "low box office", as translators in different countries have their styles and preferences in translating film titles, which might eventually result in different translations of the same movie title and cause confusion to the audience. This qualitative research used exploratory induction to investigate the influence of genre and translation style on the Chinese translation of Hollywood blockbuster movie titles in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Titles of 300 Chinese movies produced between 2001 and 2020 were purposefully selected from the top 50 Hollywood movies in the adventure, horror, and action genres. Genre was found to be slightly effective in the choice of translation style and strategies. Among the three genres, horror was found to have the greatest influence on the choice of translation strategy. It was concluded that translators from Mainland China were more conservative in title translation compared to translators from Hong Kong, whose attempt was to create innovative translations. The findings may have some theoretical and practical implications for film translators, book translators, advertising translators, translation trainers, and trainees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Women frequently report breastfeeding problems in the early postpartum period. Women who have self-endorsed beliefs that breastfeeding benefits their babies and themselves are more likely to continue breastfeeding despite breastfeeding barriers. Maternal self-endorsed beliefs is a key component of maternal self-regulated motivation. The present study examined the association between maternal self-regulated motivation, breastfeeding duration and exclusivity in Chinese women. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study, of which we recruited participants in postnatal maternity units of publicly funded hospitals in Hong Kong. Postpartum women were asked to fill in the validated breastfeeding self-regulation questionnaire (BSRQ) before hospital discharge and their breastfeeding status was assessed by telephone follow-ups at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum. Multiple logistic regression was used to study the relationship between breastfeeding self-regulated motivation and the duration of breastfeeding at follow-up. Results: At 6 and 12 weeks postpartum, women who breastfed exclusively scored significantly higher in self-regulated motivation than those who formula-fed. The self-regulated motivation was associated with higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 weeks and any breastfeeding at 12 weeks postpartum. Conclusions for Practice: The study found that self-regulated motivation was positively related to breastfeeding duration. Maternal self-regulated motivation toward breastfeeding could be enhanced by the availability of social support and breastfeeding-friendly facilities, resulting in longer breastfeeding duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: This paper presents a Hong Kong (HK) data on the effect that sex work has on women''s environmental health and safety. An outreach role that highlights safety and human rights is suggested for nurses working with female sex workers (FSWs) as clients. Background: In HK it was estimated that there were at least 200,000 FSWs in 2002 and the total population involved as workers, support staff, clients and partners of the clients exceeded half a million in a city of 6.8 million people. Despite these numbers, both locally and internationally there are very limited outreach nursing services that address the FSW''s occupational health needs. Method: A cross-sectional survey, was undertaken over a 5 month period commencing in October 2003. A validated Chinese version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Measure was administered to a convenience sample of 89 female street sex workers. A focus group interview was later conducted to gain contextual information. Results: The predominantly mainland Chinese FSWs had a mean age of 36.1 years. These women tended to be less educated and older than the general population of FSWs. They worked long hours with most of their income sent back home to China. Many lived in sub-optimal conditions and risked being abused while at work. The women scored significantly lower in the environmental domains when compared to the general female population. Conclusion: Highlighted is the critical importance of developing a new role, both international and within the Asian region, for community nurses working in an outreach capacity. This role should be visible, affordable and accessible, for at risk populations such as FSWs. The primary focus of the new role would be to establish a close working relationship between sex workers, sex industry owner/operators, health agencies and local authorities. Risk awareness programs developed and conducted by community nurses should embrace the complexity of occupational health issues. Such programs would also have the benefit of affirming the health rights of sex workers and public health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Literature abounds with discussions on the therapeutic effects of reminiscence groups for older people. To ensure their effectiveness in Chinese societies, helping professionals should take into account the specific cultural values and experiences of older Chinese people. This paper draws on the experiences of social work students in Hong Kong and offers suggestions in five areas in the design and implementation of a reminiscence group in order to make the therapy culturally sensitive: membership, group content, the interaction process, identifying and appreciating the positives and the leadership style of the helping professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Educational inequalities in cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) are globally recognised; nonetheless, the evidence on potential explanatory mechanisms and effective strategies for CMD prevention and inequality reduction is relatively scarce in Asia. Therefore, the current study examined the extent and potential mediators of the association of education level with CMD conditions (i.e., hypertension and diabetes) in an advanced economy in Asia.Design: A cross-sectional study.Setting: This territory-wide cross-sectional Population Health Survey in 2014-2015 was performed in Hong Kong. Demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle factors were collected via questionnaire, while clinical data on blood pressure and glucose levels, lipid profiles and anthropometric measures were obtained during health examination. Hypertension and diabetes statuses were objectively defined by both clinical data and the use of relevant medications.Participants: 2297 community-dwelling adults aged between 15-84 years recruited via systematic replicated sampling of living quarters.Results: Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis showed that lower education level was significantly associated with hypertension among women but not men, whereas similar pattern was also observed for diabetes and other related clinical risk factors. Also, general and abdominal obesity were independently associated with hypertension and diabetes among both women and men, and substantially mediated the observed inequalities across education levels among women. Specifically, abdominal obesity was a particularly strong risk factor and mediator for diabetes.Conclusion: Educational patterning of CMD was more apparent among women in Hong Kong. Obesity control appears to be important for both overall CMD prevention and reduction of educational inequalities in CMD among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined Na intake and identified the major food sources of Na in healthy Chinese adults aged ≥50 years in Hong Kong.Design: Participants who completed a baseline assessment of a randomised controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of exercise and nutrition supplementation on improving physical and cognitive functions were included. A single 24-h urine sample and a 3-d diet record were used to measure urinary Na excretion and dietary intake, respectively. The compliances to the WHO (<5 g/d) and China Nutrition Society (<6 g/d) recommendations for salt intake were assessed based on the urinary Na excretion. The relative contribution of sixteen food groups to the dietary Na intake was expressed as percentages. Associations between food groups and urinary Na excretion were analysed using multiple linear regression.Setting: Community facilities.Participants: Totally, 114 healthy Chinese adults (mean age 60·6 years, 55 % women).Results: The mean urinary Na excretion over 24-h was 2876·6 ± 1249·4 mg/d (7·3 ± 3·2 g salt/d). Overall, 22·8 % of participants met the WHO recommendation and 34·2 % met the Chinese Nutrition Society recommendation for salt intake. The major food sources of dietary Na intake were condiments (42·4 %), cereals and their products (16·8 %) and soups (13·5 %). Higher intakes of seafood and nuts were associated with lower urinary Na excretion.Conclusions: Public health strategies should target healthy Chinese adults in Hong Kong to modify the current patterns of Na intake. Targeting condiments, cereals and their products and soups will be an important strategy to reduce their Na intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For hundreds of years, Chinese societies have been living in extended family settings. However, the import of Western cultures and values are challenging the traditional Chinese practices in Hong Kong. This study assesses the community attitudes to living arrangements between elderly and their adult children in Hong Kong and to identify the factors which influence these attitudes. A random sample of 888 adult Hong Kong residents were telephone-interviewed. They were asked about their attitudes to living arrangements when they turned 60, if disabled and non-disabled. The relationship between these attitudes and the social and demographic characteristics of the respondents was also analyzed. Nearly 59% of the respondents preferred to live with their children if non-disabled. However, 43.5% of the respondents would be unlikely to want to live with their children if disabled. If non-disabled at 60, females, professionals or those who had lived overseas before preferred not to live with their children. Females also preferred not to live with their children if disabled at 60. Other factors, such as age, social class, education level and experience in living with elderly or looking after elderly had no effect on the respondents‘ preference. This study provides important information on the community attitudes to living arrangements between the elderly and their adult children in Hong Kong. These attitudes will shed light on the provision of housing and institutional care to elderly, as well as the family relationship and care pattern of the elderly in the future decades in Hong Kong and other communities which are undergoing rapid growth and ’Westernization‘. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This 12-month longitudinal study investigated the incidence of probable depression (i.e., changes in Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [CES-D] scores from < 16 at the baseline to ≥ 16 at the follow-up) and its psychosocial predictors among secondary 1–4 students (N = 9666) in Hong Kong, China. Of the 4100 non-probable depression participants (CES-D < 16) at baseline, data obtained from the baseline and longitudinal surveys of 3584 (87.4%) participants could be matched and were analyzed. The incidence of probable depression was 46.60 per 100 person-years. Adjusted for all background factors, negative life events, loneliness, and social anxiety were significant risk factors, while self-esteem, self-efficacy, positive affect, and family support were protective predictors of incident depression. Female sex was a risk factor but the interactions between sex and the psychosocial factors in determining incident probable depression were statistically non-significant, except for loneliness. The high incidence of probable depression calls for effective interventions on both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy presents a teachable moment to engage male smokers whose partners are pregnant in smoking cessation. Evidence on how to approach and help these smokers quit smoking in antenatal settings has remained scarce. This paper presents the rationale and study design of a trial which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief intervention model for promoting smoking cessation in expectant fathers. BANSAR is a pragmatic randomised controlled trial conducted in antenatal clinic in seven public hospitals in Hong Kong, China. An estimated 1148 fathers who smoke at least one cigarette daily and whose partners are pregnant and non-smoking will be randomised (1:1) to receive brief advice combined with 1-week sample of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and active referral to smoking cessation services, or brief advice only (usual care). Outcome will be assessed at 3 and 6 months after treatment initiation. The primary outcome is carbon monoxide-verified (<4 part per million) abstinence at 6 months post-treatment initiation. Secondary outcomes include self-reported 7-day point-prevalence abstinence and 24-week continuous abstinence, use of smoking cessation service and NRT and quit attempt, and smoking reduction, change in nicotine dependence and intention to quit in continuing smokers. This trial will provide real-world evidence on the effectiveness of a combined brief intervention model for smoking cessation in expectant fathers, an understudied population. The findings may be particularly relevant to low and middle-income countries, where male-to-female smoking ratios and birth rates tend to be higher than higher-income countries. ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03671707. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing culturally appropriate diabetes nutrition interventions for immigrants could be facilitated knowing what is successful in the home country and other relevant countries. The primary purpose of this scoping review was to identify the design and delivery methods of nutrition interventions for Chinese populations with type 2 diabetes, in their home countries and as immigrants to western countries. A total of 14 articles was retrieved and included. Overall, the approaches used in China often were modelled on intensive lifestyle programs although alternative strategies were also identified. Most interventions were not focussed solely on nutrition, and only a few were conducted in community settings. Most of the interventions were delivered in a group format, while those conducted in China also included individual counselling, particularly for nutrition. In addition, the diabetes and nutrition-related outcomes, cultural relevance and acceptability, and other factors that influenced protocol compliance were considered. Improvements in blood glucose control were observed in participants in all interventions where it was measured. Participants reported increased nutritional knowledge but nutritional behaviour was generally not well documented. Trials conducted in the United States emphasized the importance of cultural adaptation of intervention programs, particularly with respect to dietary patterns and specific foods. Practice-transferable characteristics are highlighted. Research gaps included trials conducted in community settings with pragmatic implementation and evaluation, comparative trials of interventions to gauge relative effectiveness, and measuring and reporting dietary outcomes for better understanding of the impact on dietary behaviours and their relationship to health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early violent socialization has consistently been associated with individuals' attitudes toward interpersonal violence in adulthood. However, how particular types of violent socialization during childhood differently influence individuals' acceptance of interpersonal violence remains unclear. The current study examined the effect of multiple types of violent socialization on acceptance of interpersonal violence among Chinese college students in Hong Kong (N = 794). The findings of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that verbal advice regarding and witnessed experience with violence during childhood predict the acceptance of violence. In contrast, childhood experience of being a violence victim was not significantly associated with the acceptance of violence. In addition, gender moderates the relationship between verbal advice toward violence and acceptance of violence. Therefore, educational interventions related to the impact of multiple forms of violent socialization on attitudes toward violence that create a safe and stable environment for children may be beneficial for parents, teachers, and practitioners who work closely with children. The results may be also useful in informing colleges, universities, and professional practitioners as they make decisions about social awareness programs for college students to help change their attitudes toward violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies examining dietary patterns and inflammageing in relation to mortality are limited.Objective: We examined the influence of various dietary patterns on all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, taking into account demographics, lifestyle factors, and serum inflammatory markers.Methods: We conducted multivariate Cox regression analyses using data from a cohort of communitydwelling older Chinese adults (1,406 men, 1,396 women) in Hong Kong. Baseline interviewer administered questionnaires covered dietary intake estimation and dietary pattern generation from the food frequency questionnaire, demographic and lifestyle factors, cognitive function and depressive symptoms. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) were measured. All-cause and CVD mortality data at 14-year follow up were retrieved from an official database.Results: In men, higher hsCRP level was associated with lower Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) score, Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet (MIND) score, Okinawan diet score, "vegetables-fruits" pattern score and "snacks-drinks-milk" pattern score. Higher serum 25OHD level was associated with higher Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) but lower "snacks-drinks-milk" pattern score. None of the dietary pattern scores was associated with all-cause or CVD mortality after adjusting for all covariates. In women, hsCRP level and serum 25OHD level were not associated with any dietary patterns. Higher DQI-I score (HR=0.77 (95% CIs: 0.59, 0.99) highest vs. lowest tertile, p-trend=0.038) and Okinawan diet score (HR=0.78 (95% CIs: 0.61, 1.00) highest vs lowest tertile, p-trend=0.046) was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, whereas higher MIND score (HR=0.63 (95% CI: 0.36, 1.09) highest vs. lowest tertile, p-trend=0.045) was associated with a reduced risk of CVD morality in the multivariate adjusted model.Conclusion: Higher DQI-I score and Okinawan diet score were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, and higher adherence to the MIND diet was related to a reduced risk of CVD mortality in community-dwelling Chinese older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the validity and reliability of a newly-translated Thyroid-specific Patient-Reported Outcome short-form (ThyPRO-39) instrument for ethnic-Chinese patients suffering from benign thyroid diseases.Methods: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the English ThyPRO-39 were performed using the double forward translation, reconciliation, single backward translation, and cognitive debriefing, followed by a panel review. Cross-sectional data of 308 patients with benign thyroid diseases were utilized for this psychometric evaluation of ThyPRO-39 instrument. Convergent validity between similar construct in the ThyPRO-39, SF-6D, and SF-12v2 was assessed using Spearman correlations. The internal construct validity was assessed by corrected item-total correlations. Sensitivity of the ThyPRO-39 domain scores was determined by performing known group comparisons by independent t test. The internal consistency reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient.Results: Significant floor effects were observed in 9 out of 13 domains of the ThyPRO-39. The hypothesized correlations between similar constructs in the ThyPRO-39 and the SF-12v2 and SF-6D were generally observed, supporting convergent validity. The internal construct validity was supported in most items, except eight items in six scales. Scale score of hyperthyroid symptoms of the ThyPRO-39 was significantly higher in the group with Graves' disease or hyperthyroid disease than the group without Graves' disease nor hyperthyroid disease. Scale scores of eye symptoms and impaired daily life were significantly higher in the incidental group than the non-incidental group. For six domains (hyperthyroid symptoms, hypothyroid symptoms, eye symptoms, tiredness, depressivity, and emotional susceptibility), Cronbach's alpha did not reach the recommended standard of 0.7.Conclusions: This was the first psychometric study to translate and adapt the ThyPRO-39 instrument for non-Caucasian patients, and report its validity and reliability for use in Chinese patients with benign thyroid diseases. Given the low item-total correlations in eight items and low internal consistency reliability in respective scales of the ThyPRO-39, we suggest that the improvement of those eight items should produce a more valid and reliable ThyPRO-39 instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between copying skills and dictation among Hong Kong children. One-hundred and thirty-four Chinese-English bilingual children were given a series of cognitivelinguistic and literacy measures, including tasks of rapid digit naming, phonological awareness, orthographic knowledge, morphological construction, vocabulary, pure copying, delayed copying and dictation. Most cognitive-linguistic variables were moderately correlated. The association of Chinese to English dictation was a modest .26. The variable that was most strongly associated with Chinese dictation was Chinese delayed copying; the variable most strongly associated with English dictation was English delayed copying. In path analyses, delayed copying was uniquely correlated with dictation in both Chinese (L1) and English (L2); the model was unchanged with the inclusion of dictation of the other orthography, indicating a minimal effect of linguistic transfer of dictation itself in the present study. These results particularly highlight the potential of the delayed copying task, administered and scored differently in Chinese and in English, which may be useful as an indicator of dictation difficulties independently in Chinese and English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Researchers have found breastfeeding disparities between immigrant and native‐born women in many countries. However, most studies on immigration and breastfeeding practices have been in Western countries. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of length of time since immigration on the breastfeeding practices of Mainland Chinese immigrants living in Hong Kong. Methods: We recruited 2704 mother‐infant pairs from the postnatal wards of four public hospitals in Hong Kong. We examined the effect of migration status on the duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding. Results: Breastfeeding duration was progressively shorter as the time since immigration increased. When compared with mothers who had lived in Hong Kong for <5 years, Hong Kong‐born participants had a 30% higher risk of stopping any breastfeeding (hazard ratio [HR] 1.34 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.10‐1.63]) and exclusive breastfeeding (HR 1.33 [95% CI 1.11‐1.58]). In both Hong Kong‐born and immigrant participants, breastfeeding cessation was associated with return to work postpartum and the husband's preference for infant formula or mixed feeding. Intention to exclusively breastfeed and to breastfeed for >6 months, and previous breastfeeding experience substantially reduced the risk of breastfeeding cessation for both Hong Kong‐born and immigrant participants. Conclusions: Health care professionals should consider immigration history in their assessment of pregnant women and provide culturally adapted breastfeeding support and encouragement to this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overparenting is an emergent parenting style where parents are highly involved in their children's routines and they remove the perceived obstacles that may happen in their children's lives. However, validated measures that objectively assess overparenting are severely lacking in the Chinese communities. Based on a sample of 642 undergraduate students from Hong Kong, psychometric properties of the perceived Chinese Paternal Overparenting Scale (CPOS) and Chinese Maternal Overparenting Scale (CMOS) were examined in terms of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity and factorial validity. Results indicated that both CPOS and CMOS showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. As predicted, the findings gave support for the convergent validity of the scales: CPOS and CMOS were significantly related to measures of paternal and maternal behavioral control, psychological control, and support; they were also negatively associated with self-efficacy but positively related to narcissistic behavior of emerging adults. Moreover, factor analyses showed that eight factors corresponding to the proposed conceptual model were abstracted from the CPOS and CMOS, respectively. The present study suggests that both CPOS and CMOS are reliable and valid assessment tools that can be used to measure parental overparenting in the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study examines the 1 year rate of recovery and remissions for consumers recently discharging from mental hospitals and identifies factors predicting recovery and remissions in the Hong Kong context. By adopting a prospective longitudinal follow-up research design, a cohort of Chinese people discharged from the mental hospitals and participating in a community-based psychosocial program was followed for 1 year. These individuals were assessed by using standardized assessment scales at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months of follow-up. At 1 year follow up, the rates of recovery, functional and symptomatic remission were 8.0%, 23.0% and 79.3% respectively. Logistic regression analyses indicted that: current recovery was significantly predicted by baseline functioning level and achieving open employment, symptomatic remission was significantly predicted by previous symptom severity and having open employment at baseline, while functional remission was significantly predicted by previous functioning level and having open employment. Result indicates that it is more difficult to achieve functional remission and recovery than symptomatic remission for consumers recently discharging from mental hospitals. Also, symptomatic remission is found not a sufficient condition for recovery, while functional remission plays a vital role in recovery. Helping consumers to achieve open employment and improve social functioning are identified as the predicting factors for recovery and functional remission in the local context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Individuals with ID are often withheld information about the death of their loved ones as it has often been thought that they do not understand death or cannot grieve. This grief exacerbates the stress of individuals with ID as they often encounter secondary losses such as transitioning to a care facility. The aim of this study is to investigate men and women with ID understanding death concepts and to what extent . Method Adopting a stratified random sampling method, 156 Chinese people with ID were invited to join the study. One hundred and ten participants were interviewed using simple death related vignettes expanding upon and replicating a published study carried out in Ireland. The understanding of the five death concepts: causality, irreversibility, nonfunctionality, universality and inevitability was examined. The correlates of demographics, bereavement experiences and comprehension were explored. Results The majority of the participants did understand concepts such as death is irreversible and that the deceased no longer function. One third of the participants understood causality and the universality of death. One fifth understood the inevitability of death. Previous bereavement experiences were correlated with higher understanding. Communication and community skills were correlated with all concepts of death except universality. Conclusion The results indicate that individuals with ID do have a partial to full understanding of the concepts of death. The culture of Hong Kong is one that considers death to be a taboo or unlucky subject. Therefore, the results mirror the the lack of understanding of universality and inevitability concepts as it is forbidden to speak of these concepts. An open and honest environment is encouraged to educate individuals with ID about death and bereavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Evidence regarding the onset of depressive symptoms in primary care is rarely available but can help inform policy development, service planning, and clinical decision making. The objective of this study was to estimate the 12-month cumulative incidence and predictors of a positive screen for depressive symptoms on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) among primary care patients with no history of physician-diagnosed depression.Methods: We monitored a cohort of 2,929 adult primary care patients with no past history of physician-diagnosed depression and with baseline PHQ-9 scores of 9 or lower by telephone interview at 3, 6, and 12 months. A generalized linear mixed effects Poisson Model was used to explore factors associated with the incidence of PHQ-positive symptoms.Results: The cumulative incidence of positive screening on the PHQ-9 over 12 months was 5.23% (95% CI, 3.83%-6.64%). Positive predictors included being female, coming from a lower-income household, being a smoker, having at least 2 comorbidities, having a family history of depression, and having consulted a physician at least twice in the past 4 weeks. Consulting a physician with qualifications in both family medicine and psychological medicine was a negative predictor.Conclusions: The cumulative incidence of PHQ-9-screened depressive symptoms in this study population was higher than those reported for depressive disorders in earlier systematic reviews. Groups who may warrant greater treatment attention include women, patients with multimorbidity, smokers, patients with recent high rates of medical consultations, and those who are from lower-income households or who have a family history of depression. Greater physician training may have a protective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years there has been a steady influx of immigrants into Hong Kong from Mainland China, where breastfeeding patterns differ. Studies in other regions have found substantial differences in breastfeeding rates between native-born and immigrant mothers. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong born and Mainland China born mothers living in Hong Kong.Methods: We used a multi-center cross-sectional study design and recruited 2761 new mothers from the postnatal wards of all eight public hospitals in Hong Kong that offer obstetric services. We assessed breastfeeding status as well as various socio-demographic, maternal and birth characteristics. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify the predictors of breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong born and Mainland China born participants.Results: 80.3 % of Hong Kong and 81.1 % of Mainland Chinese born women initiated breastfeeding. In the fully adjusted models, multiparity (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.53, 95 % CI 0.43-0.66) and maternal smoking (OR 0.29, 95 % CI 0.18-0.45) were strongly associated with failure to initiate breastfeeding in both Hong Kong and Mainland China born participants. In Hong Kong born mothers, participants with lower maternal education and those who had a cesarean section were significantly less likely to breastfeed. For Mainland China born mothers, paternal smoking (OR 0.70, 95 % CI 0.49-0.99) and having a pregnancy-related health problem (OR 0.60, 95 % CI 0.38-0.94) were both additional risk factors for not breastfeeding.Conclusion: This study has identified predictors of breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong and Mainland China born mothers. Given the current high breastfeeding initiation rates among both groups, antenatal breastfeeding education and promotion programmes need to specifically intervene with sub-groups of pregnant women at risk for not breastfeeding so that their efforts are more strategic and cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the predominantly somatic presentation of distress has been used to explain low rates of emotional illnesses and health service use in Chinese communities, this concept of somatization has not been examined by concurrently studying the profile of somatically and psychologically distressed Chinese individuals. A random population-based sample of 3014 adults underwent a structured telephone interview that examined their sociodemographic characteristics, somatic distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-15, PHQ-15), non-specific psychological distress (Kessler Scale-6, K6), health service use, and functional impairment. Four groups of individuals identified by PHQ-15 and K6 cut-off scores were compared. Results showed that PHQ-15 and K6 scores were positively correlated. The large majority of respondents (85.9%) reported both somatic and psychological distress. The proportions of Low Distress Group, Somatically Distressed Group, Psychologically Distressed Group, and Mixed Distress Group were 69.2%, 5.0%, 15.8%, and 10.0%, respectively. Specific age range, male gender, greater family income, higher education level, and retirement were associated with decreased odds of somatic and/or psychological distress. Although psychological distress best predicted impairment, somatic distress best predicted health service use. Mixed distress predicted most impairment and health service use. Thus, psychological distress and somatic distress commonly coexist across Chinese sociodemographic groups. This speaks against the conventional notion of somatization and is consistent with recent findings of a higher prevalence of emotional illnesses in Chinese people. That psychologically distressed individuals are more impaired but less inclined to seek help than somatically distressed individuals may partly explain low levels of help-seeking for mental disorders found in epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is common in women with breast cancer, but little is known of its relationship with perceived stress. We conducted a cross-sectional study to explore the associations of CRF with perceived stress, anxiety, depression, pain and sleep quality in 133 Chinese women (aged 25-68 years) with early stage breast cancer. The majority of women had completed surgery and chemotherapy and were awaiting radiotherapy. Self-administered questionnaires consisting of the Brief Fatigue Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Brief Pain Inventory, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to collect data. Forty-five per cent of the women were severely fatigued. Compared with local healthy women and US breast cancer patients, the group's mean perceived stress score was significantly higher (both p < 0.01). Higher perceived stress (β = 0.18, p = 0.032), higher anxiety (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) and higher pain severity (β = 0.38, p < 0.001) were associated with increased severity of CRF. The association of CRF with perceived stress was partially mediated by anxiety, suggesting a possible pathway from cancer and cancer treatment to CRF via stress appraisals and emotional distress. The findings indicate the importance of monitoring the psychological status of patients during treatment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hong Kong government recently introduced a sex offender registry that gives the public access to records of sexual offence conviction. This step was taken in the context of a penal system that traditionally places a high value on rehabilitation and a culture that traditionally supports rape myths. This study explores public attitudes among the Hong Kong Chinese towards a variety of sex offending policies and the variables, particularly stereotypical views of offenders, which may influence them. Overall, support was expressed for policies that sought to manage the risk posed by sex offenders. This shift is explained by the emergence of a fear of sex offenders as Hong Kong tries to maintain its reputation for good social order amid social and political change, and a new emphasis on sex crimes as a danger to the most vulnerable members of society, namely children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Hong Kong, child poverty is a serious social problem which may lead to intergenerational poverty, but nevertheless only a few studies have examined this issue, particularly for immigrant families. Using Census data (5 %) from 1981, 1991, 2001, and 2011, we assessed child poverty rates in the past three decades and identified key variables contributing to changes in the risk of child poverty for both immigrant and local families. Our results indicate that child poverty rates in Hong Kong-born families have fluctuated between 14.3 and 15.8 % over the past three decades, while for immigrant families they have increased steadily and substantially from 18.1 % in 1981 to 36.5 % in 2001 and then to 37.5 % in 2011. We show that the increase in immigrant child poverty is associated with changes in the Hong Kong economy that have made it more difficult for such families to adapt to the host society, especially in the 1990s and that this negative effect offset the positive influence of compositional changes among this group of immigrant families in terms of parental education levels and family size. The gap between immigrant and local families in terms of child poverty risk is mainly due to the fact that during the 1990s the negative effect of contextual changes in Hong Kong was cancelled out by the beneficial impact of compositional changes for local families, but not for immigrant families where the latter effect was minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopts social identity perspective to examine hostile media effect (HME) and the third-person effect (TPE) in the context of conflicts between Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong people. We conducted a field experiment involving Mainland Chinese (N=77) and Hong Kong (N=74) university students using a constructed neutral newspaper article as the stimuli. The results provide evidence that social identity could be a predictor of HME. It also suggests that perceptions of hostile bias in news coverage are not only limited to partisans, but also happen among readers of different cultural identities. Moreover, the research links up HME with the TPE, and further illustrates that TPE would happen even when neutral article is employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How would religion and a life event carrying an existential threat (LEET) jointly impact a person's life goals of becoming wealthy and successful in one's career? Goal reprioritisation, socioemotional selectivity, and gerotranscendence theories predict a shift away from material goals following a LEET, independent of the effect of religion. However, terror management theory (TMT) predicts that the effect of death thoughts depends on one's prevailing cultural values. As religion can be regarded as a culture, it is possible that Christians' and non-believers' material life goals would be differentially altered by LEET. Data from 1259 young Chinese adults reveal no main effect of LEET, but a strong effect of religion. Moreover, there was an interaction effect between LEET and religion on material life goals: LEET weakened material goals for Christians but not for non-believers. These findings suggest that TMT is more suitable than the other theories for predicting life goal changes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Confucian values form the core of the Chinese culture, penetrating all levels of social life, and also set the standards for family, community and political behavior. The teaching of values is deemed to be an important aspect of young children's education and usually the responsibility for this is seen to rest with the family. Much interest has been generated recently on the teaching of core values in early childhood curriculum in order to encourage tolerance, acceptance, trust, openness, and honesty in children. Research on Confucianism is popularly conducted in different cultural contexts all over the world. Furthermore research has shown that Confucianism continues to exert a major influence on the everyday lives of Asian communities. Given the interest in Confucian values, this research study was designed to examine the expressed views of three cohorts of professionals in Hong Kong about the preservation of such values and their application to early childhood teaching. This study confirmed the view that there is a need to preserve cultural values to enable the child to be accepted in the society, especially with the value of 'Ren' helping one to learn how to interact with others and with the value of 'Li' further defining the appropriate behaviour in this interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hong Kong is a peculiar case for the study of cultural practices. One of the most Westernized cities in Asia, Hong Kong is, to many people in China, one of the most 'Chinese' places in the country. Hong Kong's no-place situation present an interesting example of the tensions within and without cultural systems and their relations to language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through validation of the Adaptive/Maladaptive Perfectionism Scale (AMPS) (Rice & Preusser, 2002), this study examined the concept of perfectionism among Chinese elementary school students in Hong Kong. A total of 599 students from fourth to sixth grades with ages ranged from 9 to 13 years were recruited on a voluntary basis and with parental consent. They completed a Chinese translation of the AMPS consisting of 27 items. The scale taps into four dimensions of perfectionism, namely: Sensitivity to Mistakes, Contingent Self-Esteem, Compulsiveness, and Need for Admiration. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed. The results supported the AMPS subscales with moderate to high internal consistencies. However, four items were subsequently deleted due to lack of significance. The findings provide methodological and practical implications for future investigations of perfectionism among Chinese students, including those with gifts and talents - a sub-group within which perfectionism is often an issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type of identity most salient in intercultural communication is probably cultural identity, also a major issue in intercultural communication studies. This study adopts a dialectical perspective and approaches cultural identity as a dynamic production in and through intercultural contact and interaction. Semi-structured interviews of educated young Hongkongers turned out accounts of cultural identity along with their language use in day-to-day activities. These provided indirect access to some lived experience of people in a culturally special society. The study identifies dialectics evident in the production of cultural identity and uncovers ways people deal with dialectic tension in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevalence estimates of insomnia in western general populations are well documented, but population-based epidemiological data on insomnia in Chinese adults are scarce. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of insomnia in the general population of Hong Kong, compare components of sleep disturbances and lifestyle factors stratified by sex, and identify risk factors for insomnia. Using a population-based cross-sectional design, a total of 5001 Chinese adults aged ≥18 years completed a telephone interview on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and measures of quality of life (QoL) indexed by Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF12), lifestyle and sociodemographic details. Insomnia was defined by a PSQI global score >5. The resultant weighted prevalence of insomnia was 39.4%, equivalent to 2.2 million affected adults in Hong Kong. Women reported significantly poorer component and global sleep quality (all P < 0.05). Fully adjusted stepwise regression analyses identified non-full-time employment status, existing long-term health problems, alcohol consumption four to seven times per week, higher HADS scores, poor mental health component of QoL and low self-perceived health were associated significantly with insomnia (all P < 0.05). Our results suggest that insomnia is highly prevalent among Hong Kong Chinese adults and is associated with frequent use of alcohol, poor mental health and QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2010-2011 academic year marked the beginning of a new chapter in the long and controversial history of medium-of-instruction (MOI) policy in Hong Kong. Under the government's 'fine-tuning' policy, schools hitherto compelled to use Chinese as the MOI have been given more scope to teach in English at junior secondary level, thereby eliminating the unpopular, language-based bifurcation of schools that was introduced after the departure of the British in 1997. This article views the new policy from two perspectives that are often overlooked in the now voluminous literature on the MOI in Hong Kong. First, few studies have made connections between the issues and problems that have confronted policy makers, teachers and students in the modern era and those which faced their counterparts in earlier periods in Hong Kong's history. Second, few studies have viewed language-related developments in Hong Kong in relation to policies and practices in other colonial and post-colonial societies. This article ranges across two centuries and around the former British Empire and Commonwealth in an attempt to offer the temporal and spatial perspectives that are currently lacking in the literature. These perspectives offer pointers as to the likely consequences of the 'fine-tuning' policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]