Do social support and community engagement act as mechanisms in the association between neighbourhood income inequality and the mental health of mothers in Calgary,Canada? A mediation analysis

PurposeAccording to the social determinants of health framework, income inequality is a potential risk factor for adverse mental health. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms suspected to mediate this relationship. The current study addresses this gap through a mediation analysis to determine if social support and community engagement act as mediators linking neighbourhood income inequality to maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms within a cohort of new mothers living in the City of Calgary, Canada.MethodsData collected at three years postpartum from mothers belonging to the All Our Families (AOF) cohort were used in the current study. Maternal data were collected between 2012 and 2015 and linked to neighbourhood socioeconomic data from the 2006 Canadian Census. Income inequality was measured using Gini coefficients derived from 2006 after-tax census data. Generalized structural equation models were used to quantify the associations between income inequality and mental health symptoms, and to assess the potential direct and indirect mediating effects of maternal social support and community engagement.ResultsIncome inequality was not significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.32, 95%CI = −0.067, 0.70), anxiety symptoms (β = 0.11, 95%CI = −0.39, 0.60), or lower social support. Income inequality was not associated with community engagement. For the depression models, higher social support was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = −0.13, 95%CI = −0.15, −0.097), while community engagement was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms (β = 0.059, 95%CI = −0.15, 0.27). Similarly, for the anxiety models, lower anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with higher levels of social support (β = −0.17, 95%CI = −0.20, −0.13) but not with higher levels of community engagement (β = 0.14, 95%CI = −0.14, 0.41).ConclusionThe current study did not find clear evidence for social support or community engagement mediating the relationship between neighbourhood income inequality and maternal mental health. Future investigations should employ a broader longitudinal approach to capture changes in income inequality, potential mediators, and mental health symptomatology over time.     

Out of the boxes,out of the silos: The need of interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce poor-quality medical products in the supply chain

In this paper, we argue that understanding and addressing the problem of poor-quality medical products requires a more interdisciplinary approach than has been evident to date. While prospective studies based on rigorous standardized methodologies are the gold standard for measuring the prevalence of poor-quality medical products and understanding their distribution nationally and internationally, they should be complemented by social science research to unpack the complex set of social, economic, and governance factors that underlie these patterns. In the following sections, we discuss specific examples of prospective quality surveys and of social science studies, highlighting the value of cross-sector partnerships in driving high-quality, policy-relevant research in this area.     

Exploring Mothers’ Perspectives About Why Grandparents in Appalachia Give Their Grandchildren Cariogenic Foods and Beverages: A Qualitative Study

BackgroundDental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. Past studies revealed that grandparents provide their grandchildren with cariogenic foods and beverages (eg, those with free sugars and/or modified starches). Qualitative research can help identify what drives this phenomenon.ObjectiveOur aim was to examine mothers’ explanations for why grandparents in north central and central Appalachia give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages.DesignA qualitative study on children’s oral health in Pennsylvania and West Virginia from 2018 through 2020 was performed. In-person, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative data from interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded using NVivo. Data analysis for this study was performed using thematic analysis with iterative theme development.Participants/settingThe participants were 126 mothers of children aged 3-5 years from West Virginia (n = 66) and Pittsburgh, PA (n = 60).Main outcome measuresMothers’ perspectives about why grandparents give their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages were analyzed.ResultsIn the study sample, 85% of mothers (n = 107/126) named at least 1 of their children’s grandparents as a member of their social network responsible for their children’s oral health. From these interviews, 85% of mothers (n = 91/107) discussed that grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages. The mothers described the following 4 themes to explain why grandparents gave their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages: privilege of the grandparent role; responsibilities of the grandparent role; symbol of care and affection; and limited consideration or understanding of the detrimental impact.ConclusionsGrandparents play a role in giving their grandchildren cariogenic foods and beverages, which could potentially contribute to childhood caries. Research is needed to develop effective social interventions to help some grandparents understand the implications of a cariogenic diet on their grandchildren’s oral health and/or decrease their provision of cariogenic foods and beverages.     

儿童期创伤应对方式自动思维与大学生抑郁特质间的关系

目的探讨儿童期创伤与抑郁特质之间的中介和调节机制,为开展相关研究和干预提供参考。方法2017-2018年采用整群抽样的方法,抽取湖南某高校大一年级2 786名学生完成儿童期创伤问卷、状态特质抑郁问卷、自动思维问卷和特质应对方式问卷的调查。结果儿童期创伤、自动思维和消极应对对抑郁特质起正向的预测作用,积极应对对抑郁特质起负向的预测作用(β值分别为0.12,0.43,0.14,-0.33,P值均<0.05)。自动思维中介儿童期创伤与抑郁特质之间的关系(Bootstrapping法的95%CI为0.03~0.06)。消极应对分别调节了儿童期创伤与自动思维和儿童期创伤与抑郁特质之间的关系(P值均<0.05)。结论儿童期创伤影响抑郁特质,其关系受到应对方式和自动思维的影响。     

探讨中西医护理改善老年高血压患者生活质量的效果

目的探讨中西医结合护理改善老年高血压患者心理状态及生活质量的效果。方法在医院2018年1月—2018年6月就诊的老年高血压患者中选出60例,按照随机数字法的原则,分成研究组(n=30)和参考组(n=30)。参考组采用单一西医护理,研究组在此之外联合中医护理,比较两组患者的临床疗效。结果入院时研究组与参考组SAS、SDS、SF-6评分差异不显著(P>0.05),护理后1月、3月与参考组相比,研究组SAS、SDS评分显著降低(P<0.05),SF-6评分显著升高(P<0.05);研究组患者对中西结合护理满意度为96.67%,参考组患者对西医护理满意度为73.33%,研究组满意度较参考组高,差异显著(P<0.05)。结论中西医结合护理能够有效改善老年高血压患者的心理状态,提高生活质量。     

学龄前儿童心理行为问题与家长健康素养的关系

目的探讨家长健康素养与学龄前儿童心理行为问题的关系,为学龄前儿童心理行为问题早期干预提供参考。方法 2018年5-7月采用分层整群随机抽样的方法,抽取深圳市光明区13所幼儿园4 120名学龄前儿童及其家长,使用长处与困难问卷(SDQ)家长版和深圳市居民健康素养问卷分别对学龄前儿童心理行为问题及家长健康素养水平进行调查;采用非条件Logistic回归分析家长健康素养与儿童心理行为问题的关系。结果学龄前儿童心理行为问题检出率为34.9%(1 436/4 120)。其中困难总分6.5%、情绪问题5.6%、品行问题8.9%、多动注意不能13.4%、同伴交往问题14.4%、亲社会行为9.2%。男童和女童困难总分、情绪问题、品行问题、多动注意不能、同伴交往问题、亲社会行为检出率分别为7.3%和5.5%,4.8%和6.5%,9.7%和7.8%,15.5%和10.7%,15.8%和12.7%,11.1%和6.7%,差异有统计学意义(χ^2值分别为5.626,5.506,4.212,19.846,7.650,23.863,P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,家长健康素养(OR=1.294)、健康知识(OR=1.293)、健康行为(OR=1.412)及健康技能(OR=1.193)水平低是学龄前儿童心理行为问题产生的危险因素(P<0.05)。结论学龄前儿童心理行为问题发生率较高,问题突出,家长健康素养水平低是学龄前儿童心理行为问题的重要影响因素。     

不同健康状况的中老年人社会资本量表的信度及效度评价

目的 评价中老年人社会资本量表的信效度，探索其在不同健康状况的中老年人群间的区分度。方法 针对已编制的中老年人社会资本量表，采用多阶段分层随机抽样方法，在四川省成都市及泸州市共抽取1 367名50岁及以上中老年居民进行问卷调查。运用Cronbach’s α系数、Pearson相关系数、t检验、探索性因子分析等方法评价量表的信度和效度。结果 1 367名中老年调查对象的社会资本量表总Cronbach’s α系数为0.67，各维度条目与总分的相关系数在0.30～0.79之间，具有良好的信度；探索性因子分析表明，14个条目提取出5个特征根大于1的因子，累积方差贡献率为68.84%；现患慢性疾病的中老年病例组人群的个人社会资本得分、家庭社会资本得分、社团社会资本得分、社区社会资本得分及社会资本总得分均低于未患病的对照人群组，宏观社会资本得分高于对照人群组，且差异均有统计学意义 (均 P＜0.01)，提示该量表具有较好的区分度。结论 中老年人社会资本量表具有较好的信度和效度，且对不同健康状况的50岁及以上中老年人中有较好的区分度。