Effects of an online mindfulness-based program for parents of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot, mixed methods study.

Objectives: Online mindfulness-based program (MBP) for parents and families especially in clinical population is limited. Engagement and significant dropout are major issues in MBP implementation. This pilot study examined the effects of an online mindfulness-based program (MBP) on parents of children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Methods: A mixed methods study was applied to evaluate the effects of the MBP. A total of 43 parents were recruited and were randomly assigned into intervention group and waitlist control group. The online MBP lasted for 28 days, including 20 psychoeducation videos, homework audio guidance, and four instructor-led online group meetings. Purposive sampling was used to recruit parents who completed the program to share their experiences and suggestions for improving the program in semi-structured online interviews. Results: Quantitative data showed that participants from the online MBP reported a medium to large effect on the reduction of child ADHD symptoms. In semi-structured interviews, participants reported positive experiences in their help seeking intention, and personal changes, such as emotion regulation and quality attention to their children. Participants further made suggestions for improvement. Conclusions: The effect of online MBP is promising, and the program should be conducted. A large scale randomized controlled trial should be conducted to investigate the effects of MBP in clinical populations. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05480423.

A Qualitative Inquiry into the Challenges in Overcoming Heroin Addiction Among Chinese Individuals Who Experience Voluntary Rehabilitation.

This study explores the intentions and experiences of individuals seeking abstinence from heroin use through voluntary rehabilitation, as well as challenges to achieving a positive outcome. This study used semi-structured interviews with 37 individuals (22 female) who used heroin and utilized rational choice theory to guide data analysis. This study found that participants tried both medical and non-medical treatment methods but faced structural and personal barriers that hindered their efforts. While ceasing heroin use would presumably benefit their health and family relationships, individuals perceived the physical, psychological, and social costs of abstinence as outweighing the potential benefits and ultimately resumed heroin use. More targeted voluntary rehabilitation programs addressing specific structural and personal barriers are therefore recommended to benefit Chinese people seeking abstinence from drug use.

A latent profile analysis of child maltreatment among at-risk youth gang members: Associations with violent delinquency, non-violent delinquency, and gang organizational structures.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between child maltreatment and later delinquency is an enduring concern worldwide. However, the maltreatment-delinquency relationship is relatively underexplored in youth gang populations. Consequently, to date, studies have not examined typologies of maltreatment and their associations with violent delinquency, non-violent delinquency, and gang organizational structures. OBJECTIVE: First, to identify the characteristics of subgroups of youth gang members who varied in abuse type and severity within type. Second, to determine in what ways the profiles differed in terms of gang organizational structures, violent delinquency, and non-violent delinquency. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS: A sample of 161 youth gang members (mean age: 16.8; range: 12-24) were recruited and surveyed by outreach social workers in Hong Kong. METHODS: Latent profile analysis was first used to examine heterogeneity in victimization experiences (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect). Thereafter, non-parametric tests and post-hoc analyses were conducted to examine associations between the yielded typologies of maltreatment and gang organizational structures, violent delinquency, and non-violent delinquency. RESULTS: Poly-victimization was prevalent in the sample, with 148 respondents (91.9 %) reporting at least two types of past abuses. Three profiles of maltreatment emerged, varying in abuse types and severity within types: 'Minimally maltreated', 'Moderately maltreated, except sexual abuse', and 'Severely maltreated'. In comparison to the 'Minimal' maltreatment profile, the 'Moderate' and 'Severe' profiles were associated with greater delinquent behaviors and being in gangs that encouraged congregate illegal behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: There was a relationship between typologies of maltreatment and gang organizational structures, violent delinquency, and non-violent delinquency in the sample of youth gang members. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Mental Health during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Hong Kong Study.

This study addressed the impact on mental health and wellbeing in relation to views of the self, the world, and the future during the early stage of the global novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. An online survey battery included the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Subjective Happiness Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, Adult Hope Scale, and two specifically-written items measuring the valence quality and quantity of the impact of the pandemic. A total of 345 Hong Kong residents (54% females) responded; 17.1%, 24.7%, and 19.7% reported elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The prevalence of these issues was lower in this Hong Kong sample than reported in other COVID-19 studies, possibly due to the past experience of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Hong Kong in promoting the voluntary wearing of masks in public places and introducing social distancing measures during the early first wave of the pandemic. Correlational analyses showed associations between positive views about the self (higher self-compassion), the world (higher positive valence), and the future (more hope) and better mental health and psychological wellbeing (fewer depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms; more happiness). Regression analyses indicated a differential predicting power of the three views on the four selected mental health and psychological wellbeing indicators. Intervention programs to alleviate distress and/or promote better wellbeing should be matched to the specific problems encountered by the sufferers.

Using Illicit Drugs to Lose Weight among Recovering Female Drug Users in China: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

The population of female drug users has been growing in China, and these women have been found to care deeply about their weight. Against this backdrop, this study examines the relationship between Chinese women's illicit drug use and their intentions to lose weight, keep fit, and maintain a slim body shape. The participants of this study were 29 women who all had experience with illicit drug use for weight control. These women were drawn from a female compulsory drug treatment center located in eastern China. Semi-structured interviews with these 29 participants were conducted between 2013 and 2016. Expectations of losing weight and pursuing their ideal slim body shape were found to be an important reason for the study participants' initiation of drug use, its maintenance, and failures to achieve abstinence. These Chinese female drug users were generally satisfied with weight loss outcomes subsequent to drug consumption. A fuller appreciation of Chinese women's weight-loss-related illicit drug use patterns is much needed to help devise strategies and policies to deal with this growing problem. These include changing the dominant aesthetic cultural preference for thinness, paying particular attention to the functional use of illicit drugs in drug treatment programs, and having special interventions for women who interact with drug users within their social networks.

Associations among Bullying Victimization, Family Dysfunction, Negative Affect, and Bullying Perpetration in Macanese Adolescents.

Bullying has become one of the most significant problem behaviors that school-aged adolescents face. The current study examines the strain-delinquency relationship by employing General Strain Theory as a guiding framework. "Strain" was operationalized as bullying victimization and family dysfunction, "delinquency" was operationalized as bullying perpetration, and "negative affect" was operationalized as anxiety and depression. Analyses were carried out based on a group of 2,139 Macanese schoolchildren. Using a structural equation modeling technique, the results revealed that exposure to family dysfunction and bullying victimization was associated with adolescents' negative affect, such as anxiety and depression. Contrary to our expectations, the indirect effect of victimization on bullying through negative affect was negative, though the mediation effect was relatively small and only significant in boys. In addition, gender analyses of invariance showed that male adolescents who experienced more family conflict and parental control were less likely to engage in bullying. This study could lead to further anti-bullying interventions and practical efforts designed to improve positive parenting and adolescents' interpersonal skills.

Perception of Gender Equality Matters: Targets' Responses to Workplace Sexual Harassment in Chinese Metropolises.

Workplace sexual harassment (WSH) has been recognized in the literature as a serious problem for the past 40 years. Since 2017, the global #MeToo movement has fostered local awareness of WSH and inspired researchers in China to pay increasing attention. Guided by the gender empowerment theory, this study investigated the relationships between women's responses as targets of WSH (e.g., choosing avoidance or confrontation) and both their perceptions of gender equality and their knowledge of the relevant national laws. We used data from a recent large-scale online survey conducted on the topic of sexual harassment among Chinese women in four metropolitan cities in 2018 and selected 862 women who had experienced WSH during the previous 12 months as the study sample. The results revealed that 545 of the respondents chose to show resistance when faced with WSH, while 287 identified their boss as their harasser. In addition, respondents' perceptions of gender equality and their knowledge of national laws on anti-domestic violence were shown to have positive effects on their responses as targets of WSH. Moreover, monthly income, household registration, and type of WSH were found to be associated with targets' responses in a statistically significant way, whereas their marital status, educational background, and age were not. Furthermore, the study found that the boss as harasser weakened the relationship between women's perception of gender equality and their active response to WSH incidents. With this study, we advance our understanding of the important role that perceptions of gender equality play in women's responses as targets of WSH, and we discuss implications for prevention and intervention efforts that encourage targets to actively respond. We advocate promoting education on gender equality, fostering awareness of the laws and regulations relevant to WSH, and cultivating an organizational culture and environment that is hostile toward WSH.

Association between Child Abuse, Depression, and School Bullying among Chinese Secondary School Students.

INTRODUCTION: School bullying is a serious social and public health problem. This article aims to explore the association between experiences of childhood abuse and involvement in school bullying, especially considering the mediating effects of depression. METHODS: The sample of this study was 3059 students (1584 males and 1475 females) aged from 12 to 20, in eleven Chinese secondary schools, which included six middle schools, four high schools, and one vocational high school in both urban and rural areas. The multinomial logit regression and linear regression were conducted by the two gender groups, to determine the mediating effect of depression in the association between child abuse experiences and involvement in school bullying. RESULTS: This study indicated that female students were less likely to be involved in school bullying. Male students were more represented in the bully-victim group and experienced more physical and mental abuse during childhood. Depression was a mediator between childhood abuse and involvement in school bullying. Nevertheless, there was a gender difference in that depression fully mediated the relationship between the two variables among female students, while it only partially meditated such a relationship for male students. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that more school-based service interventions and evidence-based research are needed to more thoroughly investigate school bullying and its predictors in China.

Driving after alcohol consumption: A qualitative analysis among Chinese male drunk drivers.

In China, alcohol-related impaired driving has been perceived as a crucial contributor to traffic accidents. However, the topic of driving after alcohol consumption is still understudied in the country. To fill this void, the aim of this study was to find out male drivers' unique experiences of drunk driving in China. A qualitative analysis was adopted based on semi-structured interviews with 38 Chinese male drunk drivers who were serving community corrections. The findings of this study revealed that, being regular alcohol consumers, Chinese male drunk drivers had very little knowledge of the impairment caused by alcohol intake on driving. They mostly underestimated alcohol's negative influence on their driving ability and were overconfident that they would have a safe drive and would not be involved in any traffic accidents after consuming alcohol. In addition, most participants of this study reported that there was very little possibility that they would be arrested after fully assessing the situation and implementing strategies to avoid detection by traffic police. All these reasons affected these men's decision to drive drunk. Several criminological theories are applied to explain the findings and implications are finally recommended to reduce the possibility of drunk driving among Chinese men.

Mediating the Maltreatment-Delinquency Relationship: The Role of Triad Gang Membership.

The primary aim of this article is to examine the role of triad affiliation in mediating the relationship between child maltreatment (neglect, punishment, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse) and delinquency among active young gang members in Hong Kong. A sample of 177 gang members aged 12 to 24 was recruited to complete a questionnaire with the assistance of a youth outreach social work team. Neglect was identified as the most common form of maltreatment, followed by emotional abuse, punishment, and sexual abuse. Mediation analyses confirmed that triad affiliation acts as a mediating variable in the child maltreatment-delinquency relationship, except in cases of sexual abuse. Only the relationship between punishment and delinquency was found to be fully mediated by triad affiliation; partial mediation effects were found for neglect and emotional abuse. Recommendations for child protection and youth workers are provided.

A Meta-Analysis on Effects of Parenting Programs on Bullying Prevention.

Bullying is a serious public health concern across the globe. While there are a number of bullying interventions with parental components, limited efforts have been made to synthesize the impacts of parenting programs on bullying prevention. This meta-analysis aimed to review and examine parenting programs on bullying reduction that involving both school-based and home visiting anti-bullying programs. The overall effect size supported a significant outcome on bullying reduction (d = .640, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.239, 1.041]). Results of this meta-analysis reported that participants in the parenting programs scored significantly lower on both bullying and victimization. Data from the randomized controlled trials and the pre- and posttest design studies showed evidence of highly significant effects of parenting interventions on bullying reduction. Child- and parent-related factors including parenting style, children's empathy, and parent-child interaction about bullying were found to be significantly related to the effectiveness of intervention programs. This study provides evidence to enhance policy and practice for effectively enabling parent involvement in bullying behavior reduction and to increase parent-children communication about bullying as well as parenting skills. Future researchers and practitioners may explore more about the impact of school-family partnerships and their reliance on each other to help reduce bullying.

"I'm not an addict": A thematic analysis of addiction experiences among Chinese female methamphetamine users. / «No soy una adicta¼: Un análisis temático de las experiencias de adicción entre mujeres chinas consumidoras de metanfetaminas.

Methamphetamine (meth) use has become a serious health epidemic in China, and the number of female meth users has risen substantially in the previous decade. However, until recently, patterns of meth addiction among Chinese women were rarely studied. To fill the void, this study implemented a thematic analysis approach to investigate Chinese female meth users' addiction experiences based on 49 semi-structured interview transcripts. The findings reveal that Chinese female meth users generally believe that meth is not physically addictive, but can cause their psychological dependence. Meth use leads to users' psychological enjoyment, and in addition to this, it has other functions. For example, some people use meth as a necessity to relieve stress, keep fit, alleviate pain, cure diseases, and deal with alcoholism. The findings also demonstrate that meth use is indispensable in particular social networks based on participants' socioeconomic backgrounds, especially those from low socioeconomic backgrounds. By understanding their experiences on meth addiction, both formal educational programs and social media exposure are suggested to provide female meth users, especially those situated in high-risk social networks, with adequate and up-to-date meth knowledge. Educational programs are also needed during treatment. Targeted interventions and social support programs are further recommended to help female meth users avoid severe health issues due to meth consumption.

El consumo de metanfetaminas (meta) se ha convertido en una epidemia grave de salud en China, y el número de consumidoras de meta ha aumentado de manera importante en la última década. Sin embargo, rara vez se había estudiado los patrones de adicción a la meta entre mujeres chinas hasta hace poco. Para llenar el vacío, este estudio realizó un análisis temático para investigar las experiencias de adicción de mujeres chinas consumidoras de meta, en base a las transcripciones de 49 entrevistas semi-estructuradas. Estos hallazgos revelan que las chinas consumidoras de meta piensan, en general, que la meta no es físicamente adictiva­ a pesar de que pueda provocarles dependencia psicológica. El consumo de meta les genera un disfrute psicológico, además de cumplir otras funciones. Por ejemplo, algunas personas la necesitan para aliviar el estrés, mantenerse en forma, disminuir el dolor, curar enfermedades y afrontar el alcoholismo. Los hallazgos también muestran que el consumo de meta es indispensable en algunas clases sociales específicas, según el nivel socioeconómico de las consumidoras, en particular entre aquellas de niveles socioeconómicos bajos. Mediante la comprensión de sus experiencias en torno a la adicción a la meta, se recomiendan programas educativos formales como la exposición a redes sociales para aportar a las mujeres consumidoras de meta ­en particular las de clases sociales de alto riesgo­ conocimientos actualizados y adecuados sobre la sustancia. Los tratamientos también requieren programas educativos. Es más, se recomiendan intervenciones dirigidas y programas de apoyo social para ayudar a las consumidoras de meta a evitar problemas graves de salud debido a su consumo.

Suicide Attempts and Perceived Social Support among Chinese Drug Users: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem and Depression.

Suicidal behavior is a severe problem among drug users. This study examines influential factors related to suicide attempts and analyzes possible mediators of the relationship between perceived social support and suicide attempts amongst Chinese drug users under compulsory institutional drug treatment. Taking perceived social support as the independent variable, we found that the relationship between suicide attempts and perceived social support is mediated by self-esteem as a protective factor and depression as a risk factor. Path analysis shows that self-esteem contributes relatively more to the indirect effects than depression does, accounting for 31.1% and 24.2% of the total effect, respectively. Generally speaking, the findings of this study point to an urgent need for addressing suicide attempts among Chinese drug users while treating self-esteem as the protective factor that deserves as substantial attention as depression receives.

Mock Juror Perceptions of Child Witnesses on the Autism Spectrum: The Impact of Providing Diagnostic Labels and Information About Autism.

Research suggests that autistic children can provide accurate and forensically useful eyewitness evidence. However, members of a jury also rely on non-verbal behaviours when judging the credibility of a witness, and this could determine the verdict of a case. We presented mock jurors with videos (from an experimental study) of one of two child witnesses on the autism spectrum being interviewed about a mock minor crime. Results demonstrated that providing jurors with generic information about autism and/or informing them of the child's diagnostic label differentially affected credibility ratings, but not for both children. Implications for how to present information about child witnesses with autism to a jury-highlighting the need for approaches tailored to individual children-are discussed.

Examining the Volunteer Satisfaction Index - Chinese (VSI-C) among Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate an existing measure of The Volunteer Satisfaction Index - Chinese (VSI-C) using the sample of 1,046 secondary school students. Method: In this study, the factor structure of VSI-C was explored and reexamined with a sample of secondary school students in Hong Kong in order to ensure the scale to be psychometrically sound and applicable to diversified student populations. Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed in this examination that a three-factor structure that differs from the model proposed by the scale developers and the version used in a number of previous studies. A revised 19-item scale was introduced after the confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. VSI-C would be a psychometrically sound measure in measuring volunteer satisfaction across different student populations. Discussion: Implications are discussed for assessing volunteer satisfaction, offering volunteer training and conducting future research on related topics.

A qualitative study of methamphetamine initiation among Chinese male users: Patterns and policy implications.

China is a major producer and distributor of methamphetamine (meth) worldwide. Within the last two decades, China has seen rapid growth in meth use, especially among young men. However, patterns of Chinese male users' initiation of meth is rarely explored. To address this void in the literature, this study adopts China's mian'zi culture to explore Chinese male meth users' initiation patterns qualitatively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 male meth users from seven Chinese compulsory drug treatment institutions. Thematic analysis was applied to data analysis. Most participants reported their beginning to use meth as a strategy or approach to handling peer influence stemming from structured social networking. The motivation to have fun with friends, colleagues, or business fellows to maintain these people's mian'zi, together with the curiosity about meth and lack of understanding that meth is a potentially addictive drug, contribute to male users' meth initiation. Moreover, we found that most male meth users' initiation occurs in enclosed locations, such as nightclubs, karaoke rooms, hotels, and private residences because these locations were considered "safe." Additionally, some participants initiated meth use because they perceived it could be a way of harm reduction from heroin or alcoholism. However, such perception neglects the harmful outcomes of the concomitant use of meth with other drugs or alcohol. We suggested social support programs for young Chinese men who are located in high-risk social networking where meth use is accepted as a way of interaction. Up-to-date drug education on meth is also necessary for school students, and mass media could play its role in educating the public about potential risks of meth use.

Violent and Non-Violent Criminal Behavior among Young Chinese Drug Users: A Mixed Methods Study.

Young drug users are found to be increasingly involved in criminal justice issues. This exploratory and descriptive study aims to analyze the criminal behaviors among young Chinese drug users through a mixed methods research design. Quantitative analysis indicates that young drug users with and without a history of criminality show significant differences in terms of several features. Male drug users, particularly, those who are older, with religious beliefs, and initiated into drug use at younger age were most likely to commit crimes. Among drug users with criminal experiences, those who committed crimes prior to drug initiation have a greater likelihood of committing violent crimes. Furthermore, young drug users with severe depression are more likely to commit crimes, especially violent ones. Qualitative analysis further illustrates that young male drug users often get involved in criminal conduct of the youth gang nature with propensity for engaging in violent crimes as compared to their female counterparts who are more likely to turn into drug dealers and traffickers, in addition to engaging in larceny. The research findings are consistent with developmental theories and "victim to offender cycle". Integrated mental health and substance use services are suggested for crime prevention among young Chinese drug users.

Consensus statements on the clinical understanding and use of milnacipran in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to develop a local consensus to guide medical practitioners and psychiatrists on the use of milnacipran in different psychiatric conditions. METHODS: By utilizing the modified Delphi technique, 12 statements were electronically voted on anonymously for their practicability of recommendation. RESULTS: There was a very high degree of agreement among the consensus group on 10 finalized consensus statements, but 2 statements were voted down due to a poor degree of agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The present consensus statements were developed as general recommendations for medical practitioners and psychiatrists to be practically referred to in clinical settings.

Delinquency Among Members of Hong Kong Youth Street Gangs: The Role of the Organizational Structures of Gangs and Triad Affiliations.

This study explores the importance of organizational structures and formal affiliations with the Hong Kong triads to delinquency among youth street gang members in Hong Kong. More specifically, this study examines the relative importance of the number of organizational structures and triad affiliation to patterns of delinquency in a sample of active members of youth street gangs ( N = 201). With the aid of outreach social workers, a convenience sampling method was used to recruit a gender-balanced sample of at-risk youths. Logistic regression analysis of the survey data that was gathered indicated that formal affiliation to Hong Kong triads and the presence of organizational structures significantly increased the odds of delinquency (independently of each other). Suggestions for future research on gang membership and delinquency, with particular reference to the Asian context, are provided.

Bullying Behaviors among Macanese Adolescents-Association with Psychosocial Variables.

Bullying is a widespread public health problem among school students. Using a large sample of Macanese school adolescents, the present study examines psychosocial conditions and demographic characteristics in discriminating the following four subgroups of students: victims; bullies; bully-victims; and a comparison group of adolescents. Participants included 2288 adolescents from 13 primary and secondary schools in Macau whose ages ranged from 10 to 20 years. Statistical results revealed significant differences among the groups and indicated that adolescents who are involved in school bullying experience worse psychosocial adjustment. Specifically, among the four subgroups of students, bully-victims reported the strongest feelings of anxiety, depression, and negative affectivity, and expressed the lowest satisfaction with life. Compared with students who were not involved in bullying and victimization, bullies experienced more anxiety and depression and victims had lower levels of satisfaction with life. In addition, boys were more likely to engage in bullying behaviors and younger students had a greater probability of being victimized by their peers at school. Implications for future research and practice on bullying perpetration and the prevention of peer victimization are discussed.