Related risk factors for age-dependent telomere shortening change with age from the perspective of life course.

BACKGROUND: Many related factors can accelerate the age-dependent telomere shortening, but some problems remain unresolved. This study aimed to assess the risk factors of telomere attrition at different age stages. METHODS: This study was a population-based nationally representative survey study. All data were collected using a standard methodology by the national surveillance system. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure relative leukocyte telomere length. Multiple linear regression analysis with age stratification was used to estimate the association of shortened telomere length with risk factors at the different age stages. Covariance analysis was used to compare the telomere length of category variables, and the model was adjusted for potentially confounders. RESULTS: A total of 7,659 eligible participants aged 20 years or older with DNA specimens participated in the study. Related risk factors for age-dependent telomere shortening included gender, race-ethnicity, education levels, family income, health insurance, marital status, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol use, and self-reported greatest weight, which were associated with change in telomere length at different age stages. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Related risk factors of telomere attrition were changed with age in life course. The evaluation of related risk factors for telomere attrition in terms of age may be a more accurate evaluation comparison with the specific age.

The effect of training medical students in the community area in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in China: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Community practice training is an important part of education in medicine, public health, social medicine, and other disciplines. The objective of this study is to explore the effect and importance of the community practice of Master of Public Health graduates on community residents' health during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS: This study used a pretest-posttest design. A total of 152 participants with age ≥ 60 years were selected using a multistage sampling method from Hangzhou in China. Baseline and endline data were collected using structured questionnaires by face-to-face interviews. All psychological and behavioral measurements were performed using standardized instruments and showed good reliability and validity. A total of 147 participants were included in the analysis. The chi-square and rank sum tests were used to compare the difference between baseline and endline for categorical variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between community practice training and changes in psychology and behavior. RESULTS: The result of chi-square test revealed a statistically significant difference in participants' eating habits from baseline to endline. Participants reported that the self-perceived health status was different between endline and baseline by the rank sum test. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that community practice training was significantly associated with increased self-efficacy scores, cognitive function and eating habits, with odd ratios of 1.08, 0.90 and 1.93, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Community practice training was associated with changes in health behavior and psychology of community residents. Our results suggested enhanced community practice training for students under the Master of Public Health program.

Association between dependency and long sleep duration among elderly people: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Long sleep duration is a common sleep disorder among elderly people. Dependency increases with increasing age. This study aimed to assess the association between dependency and long sleep duration among elderly people. METHODS: This study is a population-based cross-sectional study. A total of 1152 participants aged ≥ 60 years were selected from 26 locations in China by a complex multistage sampling design. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Sleep duration was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Dependency was assessed using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-II. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the efficacy of sleep-related factors and psychological factors for sleep duration. Analysis of covariance and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between the dependency score and sleep duration, and the strength of dependency effect on sleep duration. RESULTS: A total of 1120 participants were valid for the analysis. Among them, 15.8% of participants had a dependency score ≥60 points. The results of hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis showed that sleep duration was positively associated with dependency scores. Analysis of covariance indicated a J-shaped association between dependency scores and sleep duration. The results of logistic regression analysis showed dependency was significantly associated with long sleep duration, and the odds ratio was 3.52 (95% CI, 1.87-6.63; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Dependency was significantly associated with long sleep duration among elderly people. The results suggested that dependent intervention may be a strategy that needs urgent implementation to reduce long sleep duration among elderly people.

The Role of Community Cohesion in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Epidemic: Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The community environment plays a vital role in the health of older adults. During the COVID-19 epidemic, older adults, who were considered the most impacted and most vulnerable social group, were confined to their homes during the implementation of management and control measures for the epidemic. In such situations, older adults may have to contend with a lack of resources and experience anxiety. Therefore, identifying the environmental factors that are beneficial for their physical and mental health is critical. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association between community cohesion and the physical and mental health of older adults and to identify the related community services and environmental factors that may promote community cohesion. METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study was designed during the COVID-19 epidemic. A multistage sampling method was applied to this study. A total of 2036 participants aged ≥60 years were sampled from 27 locations in China. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The neighborhood cohesion instrument consisting of scales on 3 dimensions was used to assess community cohesion. Self-efficacy and life satisfaction, cognitive function and depression, and community services and environmental factors were also measured using standard instruments. Statistical analyses were restricted to 99.07% (2017/2036) of the participants. Separate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association among community cohesion and physical and mental health factors, related community services, and environmental factors among older adults. RESULTS: The results showed that high levels of community cohesion were associated with good self-perceived health status and life satisfaction (odds ratio [OR] 1.27, 95% CI 1.01-1.59 and OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.15-1.27, respectively) and high levels of self-efficacy and psychological resilience (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.13 and OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06, respectively). The length of stay in the community and the level of physical activity were positively associated with community cohesion scores, whereas the education level was negatively associated with community cohesion scores (P=.009). Community cohesion was also associated with low levels of depression and high levels of cognitive function. Community cohesion was significantly associated with community services and environmental factors on 4 dimensions. High levels of community cohesion were associated with transportation services and rehabilitation equipment rental services as well as high levels of satisfaction with community physicians' technical expertise and community waste disposal (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.87-5.28; OR 3.62, 95% CI 2.38-5.52; OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.08-1.73; and OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01-1.50, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Community cohesion was found to be associated with the physical and mental health of older adults. Our research suggests that enhancing community services and environmental resources may be an effective strategy to increase community cohesion during major infectious disease epidemics.

Corrigendum: Socioeconomic status association with dependency from objective and subjective assessments: A cross-sectional study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.898686.].

Socioeconomic Status Association With Dependency From Objective and Subjective Assessments: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on dependency is still complex and not fully clear. The purposes of this study are to assess the association between SES and dependency personality disorder (DPD) using both objective and subjective assessments. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 27 locations in China among 1,276 general residents aged 60 years and above through a complex multistage sampling design. Data were collected using a questionnaire by well-trained investigators through face-to-face interviews. The DPD was assessed using a standardized Chinese version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-II scale. Objective SES was assessed by the combination of education levels, individual income, preretirement occupation, and medical insurance. Subjective SES was measured using the MacArthur Scale. The logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between objective SES and DPD. Analysis of covariance was conducted to compare the mean of DPD scores in different levels of SES. Results: The results of the chi-squared test showed that the levels of objective SES were associated with DPD, depression, social resources, and region. The logistic regression analysis showed a significant negative association between the levels of objective SES and DPD. The odds ratio was 1.84 (95% confidence interval, 1.07-3.18) after adjusting for important confounding factors. The analysis of covariance showed differences in the mean of DPD scores among different groups defined by different levels of SES. Conclusion: The levels of SES were negatively associated with DPD, and subjective SES had a stronger association with DPD than objective SES. The effect of subjective SES on DPD is possibly associated with the perception of position in the social hierarchy.

Association between dependency on community resources and social support among elderly people living in rural areas in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dependency personality disorder (DPD) is high among elderly people living in rural areas. This study aims to explore the association between dependency on community resources and social support among elderly individuals living in rural areas. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 26 locations in China. A total of 1160 participants aged ≥ 60 years were selected using a complex multistage sampling design. All data were obtained using questionnaires via face-to-face interviews. DPD was measured using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-II in the standardized Chinese version. Self-efficacy was assessed using the Chinese version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Social support was measured using the Chinese version of the questionnaires of the Older American Resources and Services scale. Community services and resources comprised 44 items. The association between DPD and levels of social support and self-efficacy was evaluated using a logistic regression model. The association between social support and self-efficacy was assessed using analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Univariate analysis results showed that elderly people living in rural areas had higher DPD scores and lower levels of self-efficacy compared with those living in urban areas (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that DPD was positively associated with the received frequencies of community health service, contracted family doctor services, and regular lectures on health knowledge among the elderly people with odd ratios of 1.58 (P < 0.001), 2.03 (P = 0.013), and 2.67 (P = 0.005), respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed significant interaction between social support and self-efficacy effect on DPD was found in the additive model (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DPD was associated mainly with the community resources among elderly people living in rural areas. Social support and self-efficacy were commonly associated with DPD through a synergistic effect. These results suggest that DPD among elderly people may be reduced through effective social support to directly and indirectly promote the elderly's use of community resources and improve their self-efficacy.