Mediating effects of meaning in life on the relationship between family care, depression, and quality of life in Chinese older adults.

Background: The study explored sources of meaning in older adults and the action path among family care, meaning in life, quality of life, and depression. Materials and methods: We investigated 627 older adults using the Sources of Meaning in Life Scale for the Elderly (SMSE), the Family Care Index (APGAR), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10 (CES-D-10), and the EuroqOL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D). Results: Scores categorized 454 older adults with good family function, 99 with moderate, and 47 with severe family dysfunction; 110 older adults had depression. The structural equation model showed that family care affected the quality of life and depression by influencing meaning, and depression had a significant negative effect on the quality of life (P < 0.05). The model was a good fit for the data (χ2/df = 3.300, SRMR = 0.0291, GFI = 0.975, IFI = 0.971, TLI = 0.952, CFI = 0.971, RMSEA = 0.062). Conclusion: Meaning in life is an intermediary factor that affects depression and quality of life in older adults. Family care had a significant positive impact on SMSE and a negative influence on depression. The SMSE effectively clarifies the sources of meaning in life and can be used to improve meaning and promote mental health in older adults.

The direct and indirect effect of event severity, social support, and optimism on stress-related growth in emerging adults.

Stress-related growth (SRG) can be understood as stressful experiences that act as catalysts for positive life changes. Although less severe than typical 'trauma,' some daily obstacles may nevertheless derail faith and intentions, produce distress, result in a demand for reflection, and provide a possibility for SRG. This study examined the direct and indirect effects of event severity, social support, and optimism on SRG among emerging adults attending college in China. A convenience sample of 365 college students, ranging from 18 to 24 years old, completed surveys on event severity, social support, optimism, and SRG. We applied structural equation modeling and bootstrapping to explore optimism in the mediation model. Results demonstrated that event severity and social support have direct and indirect effects on SRG through a partial mediation effect of optimism. The results indicate that interventions targeting optimism might be an effective approach to improving SRG among college students in China.

Development and validation of the Sources of Meaning in Life Scale for the Elderly in China.

OBJECTIVES: People who find meaning in life can endure 'any' pain. However, there were no tools to investigate elderly individuals' sources of meaning in life in China. This study aimed to develop the Sources of Meaning in Life Scale for the Elderly (SMSE), and examine the validation and reliability in Chinese elderly. METHODS: A 43-item pool of SMSE was formed by combining the preliminary interview and literature review. A cross-sectional survey of 627 elderly people was then conducted in two community health service centers, two hospitals, and two nursing homes in Guangzhou by the convenience sampling method. Test-retest reliability was assessed with 24 elderly persons. RESULTS: Six dimensions, containing family (four items), social support (four items), value (seven items), life security (four items), personal development (four items), and leisure activity (five items) explained 62.16% of the variance in total. Confirmatory factor analysis model fitting indices were χ2 = 694.652, df = 330, χ2/df = 2.105, SRMR = 0.0695, GFI = 0.853, IFI = 0.905, TLI = 0.889, CFI = 0.903, and RMSEA = 0.062. The Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was 0.924, while that of each dimension was between 0.727 and 0.870. The inter-class correlation (ICC) of the scale was 0.856. CONCLUSION: The SMSE has good reliability and validity that can be used to evaluate the sources of meaning and meaning in life for the elderly.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Stress-Related Growth Scale: Short Form in undergraduate nursing students.

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Stress-Related Growth Scale-Short Form (SRGS-SF) for undergraduate nursing students. Using a cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of 253 undergraduate nursing students was included in this study. Half of the sample (n = 126) was randomly selected to explore the factorial structure of the SRGS-SF via exploratory factor analysis. The rest of the sample (n = 127) was selected to confirm the structure via confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed that the Chinese version of the SRGS-SF consisted of two factors: interpersonal and intrapersonal growth. The scale also had the power to discriminate between undergraduate nursing students with high and low levels of stress-related growth (SRG). The internal consistency and stability of the scale were also adequate. The Chinese version of the SRGS-SF is a valid and reliable measurement for assessing SRG among undergraduate nursing students. One suitable application would be the evaluation of the process underpinning SRG and the effectiveness of interventions.

Assessment and Predictors of Grief Reactions among Bereaved Chinese Adults.

BACKGROUND: The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief-Present Scale (TRIG-Present) is a widely used tool to measure grief. Most existing research related to the assessment and characteristics of grief has been conducted sampling bereaved Western subjects and, as such, limited information is available on the experience of grief in Chinese samples. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to validate the Chinese version of the TRIG-Present (TRIG-Present-C) and explore the predictors of grief among bereaved adults in China. METHODS: Responses from 460 bereaved Chinese adults were collected through an online survey. Subjects completed a specially developed questionnaire covering demographic data/loss-related variables, the TRIG-Present-C, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-9). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis validates the original one-factor structure. The overall content validity index is equal to 1.0. Significant correlations were observed, with CES-D-9 and factor subscales (r ranged from -0.228 to 0.607, p < 0.05) indicating the convergent validity. The TRIG-Present-C scores distinguished grieving individuals from those experiencing unanticipated death and those where death was anticipated. The internal consistency is satisfactory (Cronbach's α = 0.957). In multiple regression analyses, with grief severity as the dependent variable, 28.6% of the variance was explained by religious belief, the immediacy of the loss, the loss of a first-degree relative, and where the deceased was relatively young. CONCLUSIONS: The TRIG-Present-C scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing grief reaction among bereaved Chinese adults. Religious belief, loss of a first-degree relative, where the deceased was relatively young, and the immediacy of loss were associated with higher levels of grief.