Feasibility of the aging males' symptoms scale for the male population of Shanghai / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the reliability and validity of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale in the male population of Shanghai.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We enrolled 973 males aged 40 years and over in a community of Shanghai, China. Using the AMS scale, we calculated the split-half reliability coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, assessed the validity through confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analysis, and obtained the domain scores of different people by analysis of variance and independent sample test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The split-half reliability was > 0.78 (P < 0.01) and Cronbach's alpha coefficients of all the dimensions > 0.82 (P < 0.01). Confirmatory factor analysis showed 3 domains in the AMS scale, Pearson correlation coefficients of all the items to their domains were > 0.49 (P < 0.01), and the total testosterone level was not correlated with AMS scores, with Pearson correlation coefficient of -0.04 (P > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found in AMS scores among different age groups as well as among those with different chronic disease histories, but not in the psychological domain among different age groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The reliability and validity of the AMS scale are acceptable in assessing aging males'symptoms among the male population of Shanghai, but further studies are needed to determine whether it could be used as a tool for screening late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in males.</p>

Factors influencing intelligence in elderly population in a community-based study in Taiyuan city / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the factors which influencing the intelligence in elderly in a community, so as to provide reference on primary prevention of dementia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A door to door survey was conducted. A total number of 830 elderly were assessed using WAIS-RC, H-NTLA and data collected through questionnaires on lifestyles, family and social activity were analysed, using the factor analysis, stepwise regression and canonical correlation analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The main variables related to the verbal were eggs diet, blood pressure, fruit, visit their children, alcohol intake (standard coefficients of regression are -0.118, -0.079, -0.060, -0.036, -0.117, respectively). The main variables related to cognition were recreation, sports and hereditary history of mental disorders (standard coefficients of regression were 0.035, -0.127, respectively). The main variables related to memory were contact to chemical materials, age of their parents during delivery, alcohol intake and the relationship between husband and wife (standard coefficients of regression were -0.063, 0.055, -0.030, -0.037, respectively). The variables related to canonical variable V(1) would include education and occupation (canonical correlation = 0.5993, P = 0.0001) while V(2) would include cerebrovascular accident (canonical correlation = 0.3925, P = 0.0005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intelligent work, family harmony, prevention of cerebrovascular diseases were the main areas to prevent intellectual disability in the elderly.</p>

Study on the related factors of suicidal ideation in college undergraduates / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate psychosocial factors and patterns on suicidal ideation of the undergraduates in Shanxi province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four thousand eight hundred and eighty-two undergraduates in Shanxi province were investigated with multistage stratified random clustered samples. Factors associated with suicidal ideation were analyzed with logistic regression and Path analysis by scores of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), Suicide Attitude Questionnaire (QSA), Adolescent Self-Rate Life Events Check List (ASLEC), DSQ, Social Support Rating Scale, SCL-90, Simple Coping Modes Questionnaire and EPQ.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tendency of psychological disorder was the major factor. Negative life events did not directly affect suicidal ideation, but personality did directly or indirectly affect suicidal ideation through coping and defensive response.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Personality played a stabilized fundamental role while life events were minor but "triggering" agents. Mental disturbance disposition seemed to be the principal factor related to suicidal ideation. Above three factors were intergraded and resulted in suicidal ideation in chorus.</p>

Senile Cognitive Ability and Personality / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To learn the effect of personality in the course of cognitive decline.Methods:106 aged people from two districts were selected randomly.Arithmetic,digit span,picture filling,block patterns,digit symbol,visual attention span,spatial reasoning were used to learn the cognitive ability,“Kartaier's 16 personality factors test”were used to explore the personality of aged people.Results:16 personality factors test shows that old people are more deferential and self-assured.The relation between reasoning and arithmetic,rule-consciousness and arithmetic,abstractedness and digit span,reasoning and block design,dominance and digit symbol,sensitivity and special reasoning,apprehension and visual attention span,openness to change and visual attention span reach the statistical significance.Conclusion:Age is the most important reason to the cognitive impairment in aged people, education can prevent the cognitive impairment in a large degree.Personality can affect the cognitive ability although different personality factor affect different cognitive fields.