The mediation role of work-life balance stress and chronic fatigue in the relationship between workaholism and depression among Chinese male workers in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Few studies have tested the underlying mechanisms in the association between workaholism and depression. This study aims to investigate the potential mediation effects of work-life balance stress and chronic fatigue and depression among Chinese male workers in Hong Kong. METHODS: A population-based study among male workers in Hong Kong (n = 1,352) was conducted. The self-reported scales of assessing workaholism, work-life balance stress, chronic fatigue and depressive symptoms were included in the questionnaire. Path analysis was conducted to test the proposed mediation model. RESULTS: Workaholism was directly and indirectly associated with depression through work-life balance stress and chronic fatigue, respectively. The association between work-life balance stress and chronic fatigue was statistically significant in the correlation analysis but not in the path analysis. As high as 30.5% of the participants were classified as having probable chronic fatigue, while 8.4% of the participants were classified as having probable depression. DISCUSSION: Workaholism is a stressor that may induce negative consequences on well-being and health among male workers in Hong Kong. Interventions to help workers with time and stress management and fatigue reduction may be beneficial for their mental health. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Prevalence of binge drinking and relationships between masculine role discrepancy and binge drinking via discrepancy stress among Chinese men.

BACKGROUND: Binge drinking is prevalent among male populations. Few studies have investigated masculine role discrepancy (i.e., the perception of being less masculine than the typical 'man')/discrepancy stress (i.e., the strain caused by perceived masculine role discrepancy) and binge drinking among men. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of binge drinking among Chinese men and the associations between masculine role discrepancy and binge drinking via discrepancy stress. METHODS: A random and population-based telephone survey was conducted among Chinese male adults (n = 2000) in Hong Kong. Their levels of masculine role discrepancy and discrepancy stress and presence of binge drinking were tested. RESULTS: We found that 12.3% of the participants had binge drinking behaviors during the last three months prior to the survey. Age and marital status were significantly associated with binge drinking behaviors. Discrepancy stress was positively associated with binge drinking, and it positively mediated the relationship between masculine role discrepancy and binge drinking. However, we found a negative direct association between masculine role discrepancy and binge drinking in the mediation model. CONCLUSION: The study may shed light on a relatively new and important research direction that links up gender roles and substance use problems. It contributes to an understanding of the potential health impact of gender-role related issues as well as determinants of drinking problems.

Potential roles of masculine role discrepancy, discrepancy stress, and self-esteem in affecting addictive use of social networking sites among Chinese men: A random population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Masculine role discrepancy (i.e., men perceiving themselves not living up to the ideal manhood and being less masculine than the typical "man") and related discrepancy stress were associated with some risk behaviors. No study has looked at their relationships with addictive use of social networking sites (SNSs), an emerging potential public health concern. The study constructed a moderated mediation model to test whether masculine role discrepancy would be positively associated with discrepancy stress, which would, in turn, be positively associated with addictive use of SNS, and whether self-esteem would buffer (moderate) the association between masculine role discrepancy and discrepancy stress. METHODS: A random population-based cross-sectional telephone survey interviewed 2,000 Hong Kong male adults in the general population. RESULTS: Currently unmarried and non-cohabiting, younger, and better educated participants reported higher addictive use of SNS scores than others. Adjusted for these variables, masculine role discrepancy and discrepancy stress were positively associated, and self-esteem was negatively associated with addictive use of SNS scores. Path analysis indicated that masculine role discrepancy was associated with addictive use of SNS through discrepancy stress (mediation); self-esteem buffered (moderated) the association between masculine role discrepancy and discrepancy stress; self-esteem was not significantly associated with addictive use of SNS in this model with good fit. DISCUSSION: The findings support the general strain theory's postulation that strain is associated with stress, which is in turn associated with addictive use of SNS sites. Implications, potential interventions, and future studies are discussed in this study.

Bidirectional predictions between Internet addiction and probable depression among Chinese adolescents.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of the study is to investigate (a) whether probable depression status assessed at baseline prospectively predicted new incidence of Internet addiction (IA) at the 12-month follow-up and (b) whether IA status assessed at baseline prospectively predicted new incidence of probable depression at follow-up. METHODS: We conducted a 12-month cohort study (n = 8,286) among Hong Kong secondary students, and derived two subsamples. The first subsample (n = 6,954) included students who were non-IA at baseline, using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (≤63), and another included non-depressed cases at baseline (n = 3,589), using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (<16). RESULTS: In the first subsample, 11.5% of the non-IA cases developed IA during follow-up, and probable depression status at baseline significantly predicted new incidence of IA [severe depression: adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 2.50, 95% CI = 2.07, 3.01; moderate: ORa = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.45, 2.28; mild: ORa = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.32, 2.05; reference: non-depressed], after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. In the second subsample, 38.9% of those non-depressed participants developed probable depression during follow-up. Adjusted analysis showed that baseline IA status also significantly predicted new incidence of probable depression (ORa = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.18, 2.09). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The high incidence of probable depression is a concern that warrants interventions, as depression has lasting harmful effects in adolescents. Baseline probable depression predicted IA at follow-up and vice versa, among those who were free from IA/probable depression at baseline. Healthcare workers, teachers, and parents need to be made aware of this bidirectional finding. Interventions, both IA and depression prevention, should thus take both problems into consideration.

The mediation roles of discrepancy stress and self-esteem between masculine role discrepancy and mental health problems.

INTRODUCTION: Masculine role discrepancy and discrepancy stress occur when men perceive that they fail to live up to the ideal manhood derived from societal prescriptions. The present study examined the associations between masculine role discrepancy and two emotional and mental health problems (social anxiety and depressive symptoms), and potential mediation effects through discrepancy stress and self-esteem in a male general population. METHODS: Based on random population-based sampling, 2000 male residents in Hong Kong were interviewed. Levels of masculine role discrepancy, discrepancy stress, self-esteem, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed by using validated scales. RESULTS: Results of structural equation modeling analysis indicated that the proposed model fit the sample well. (χ2(118) = 832.34, p < .05, CFI = 0.94, NNFI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.06). Those who were young, single and less educated were vulnerable to masculine role discrepancy, discrepancy stress, and emotional/mental health problems. We found that discrepancy stress significantly mediated the association between masculine role discrepancy and social anxiety, while self-esteem significantly mediated the associations between masculine role discrepancy and both social anxiety and depression. LIMITATIONS: Study limitations mainly included the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between masculine discrepancy and social anxiety/depressive symptoms among men may be explained by the increase in discrepancy stress and decrease in self-esteem. The findings suggest needs and directions for future research for the relationship between masculine role discrepancy and men's mental health, mechanisms involved, and interventions for improvement.

Predictors of remission from probable depression among Hong Kong adolescents - A large-scale longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the incidence of remission from probable depression among adolescents in Hong Kong. Remissions were defined as having Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD) scores changed from ≥16 at baseline to <16 over the 12-month follow-up period. The study tested the predictors of remissions, including perceived changes in family support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, positive affect, negative events, social anxiety, and loneliness. METHODS: The study surveyed 9666 secondary school students and identified 5487 (57%) students with probable depression in Hong Kong. A questionnaire assessing the levels of the aforementioned variables was completed at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: Among participants with probable depression at baseline, 23.2% remitted from depression at follow-up. Remissions were more common among males than females. Univariate logistic regression showed that perceived changes in all the aforementioned variables significantly predicted remission for both males and females. The same is true for most of these variables when they were entered together into multiple logistic regression models (with and without controlling for baseline CESD scores), except for family support in the female model and self-efficacy in both male and female models. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include potential self-report bias and only one follow-up observation over time. The design treats cases of probable mild to severe depression as a single group (CESD≥16). CONCLUSIONS: The findings are potentially useful for designing and guiding related intervention programs. Results highlight the importance of long-term follow-up of those screened as probable depression to understand the course of changes in levels of depression.