Prevalence of depression and its relationship with quality of life among university students in Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China.

There is compelling evidence that depressive symptoms (depression hereafter) are common in university students and are considerably influenced by the given socioeconomic context. Being former European colonies, Macau and Hong Kong are China's special administrative regions, with different sociocultural and economic background compared to mainland China. This study compared the prevalence of depression in university students between Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China and examined the association between depression and quality of life (QOL). The Beck Depression Inventory-II and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to measure depression and QOL, respectively. Altogether, 2,312 university students participated in this study. The overall prevalence of depression was 28.9%; 35.2% in Macau, 41.0% in Hong Kong, and 16.8% in mainland China. Compared to the "No depression" group, students with depression had significantly lower QOL scores in the physical, psychological, social and environmental domains. Factors associated with depression were different between the three study sites. Sleep disturbances and high academic pressure were positively associated with depression in all the three samples. In mainland China, male students (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.10-2.56) were more likely to have depression while those who were interested in their major (OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.29-0.69) were less likely to have depression. In Macau, students in Grade 3 (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36-0.89) and those who were interested in their major (OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.42-0.81) or had optimistic perspective about their future (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.36-0.73) were less likely to have depression. Nursing students (OR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.21-2.87) and students with the average score on major subject less than 65 (OR = 3.13; 95% CI: 1.70-5.78) were more likely to have depression. In Hong Kong, students with optimistic perspective about their future (OR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.22-0.91) were less prone to have depression. Depression is common among Chinese university students, particularly in Macau and Hong Kong. Considering the negative impact of depression on QOL, regular screening and effective treatments should be offered to this population.

The severity of mobile phone addiction and its relationship with quality of life in Chinese university students.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the severity of mobile phone addiction and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in Chinese university students. METHODS: A total of 2,312 university students from Macao, Hong Kong and mainland China participated in this cross-sectional study. The Mobile Phone Addiction Scale (MPAS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) rating instruments were used to assess the severity of mobile phone addiction and QOL, respectively. RESULTS: Compared to students in mainland China, those in Macao and Hong Kong were more likely to have excessive mobile phone use. Multiple linear regression revealed that high academic pressure and poor academic performance were positively associated, while male gender, greater interest in academic major and long sleep duration were negatively associated with the severity of mobile phone addiction. Students addicted to mobile phone use had significantly lower scores across all QOL domains. CONCLUSION: Due to the adverse impact of excessive mobile phone use on QOL, public education and effective preventive measures should be developed for Chinese university students.

Sleep duration and self-rated health in Chinese university students.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the association between sleep duration and health status in Chinese university students. This study examined the association between sleep duration and self-rated health in university students in China. METHODS: Altogether, 2312 subjects (928 in Macao, 446 in Hong Kong, and 938 in mainland China) were recruited. Standardized measures of sleep and self-reported health were administered. Sleep duration was categorized in the following way: < 6 h/day, 6 to < 7 h/day, 7-9 h/day, and > 9 h/day. RESULTS: Overall, 71% of university students reported poor health, 53% slept 7-9 h/day, 14% slept less than 6 h/day, 32% slept 6 to < 7 h/day, and 1% slept > 9 h/day. Univariate analysis revealed that compared to students with medium sleep duration (7-9 h/day), those with short sleep duration (< 6 h/day and 6 to < 7 h/day) were more likely to report poor health. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that after controlling for age, gender, body mass index, university location, being a single child, religious beliefs, interest in academic major, academic pressure, nursing major, pessimism about the future, and depression, sleep duration of less than 6 h/day (odds ratio (OR) 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-2.92, p < 0.01) was independently and significantly associated with poor self-reported health. CONCLUSIONS: Poor health status is common in Chinese university students, which appears to be closely associated with short sleep duration. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to gain a better understanding of the interaction between sleep patterns and health status in university students.

Prevalence of Internet addiction disorder in Chinese university students: A comprehensive meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is common in university students. A number of studies have examined the prevalence of IAD in Chinese university students, but the results have been inconsistent. This is a meta-analysis of the prevalence of IAD and its associated factors in Chinese university students. METHODS: Both English (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase) and Chinese (Wan Fang Database and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases were systematically and independently searched from their inception until January 16, 2017. RESULTS: Altogether 70 studies covering 122,454 university students were included in the meta-analysis. Using the random-effects model, the pooled overall prevalence of IAD was 11.3% (95% CI: 10.1%-12.5%). When using the 8-item Young Diagnostic Questionnaire, the 10-item modified Young Diagnostic Questionnaire, the 20-item Internet Addiction Test, and the 26-item Chen Internet Addiction Scale, the pooled prevalence of IAD was 8.4% (95% CI: 6.7%-10.4%), 9.3% (95% CI: 7.6%-11.4%), 11.2% (95% CI: 8.8%-14.3%), and 14.0% (95% CI: 10.6%-18.4%), respectively. Subgroup analyses revealed that the pooled prevalence of IAD was significantly associated with the measurement instrument (Q = 9.41, p = .024). Male gender, higher grade, and urban abode were also significantly associated with IAD. The prevalence of IAD was also higher in eastern and central of China than in its northern and western regions (10.7% vs. 8.1%, Q = 4.90, p = .027). CONCLUSIONS: IAD is common among Chinese university students. Appropriate strategies for the prevention and treatment of IAD in this population need greater attention.

[Association between autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy in children].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy in children. METHODS: A total of 190 children with ASD were enrolled. A self-designed questionnaire, Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and Autism Behavior Checklist were used to determine the association between ASD and epilepsy. RESULTS: Among the 190 children with ASD, 20 (10.5%) had epileptic seizures and 12 (6.3%) were diagnosed with epilepsy. The rates of abnormal physical development and hearing disorders before the age of one year were significantly higher in ASD children with epileptic seizures than in those without epileptic seizures (P<0.05). The ASD children diagnosed with epilepsy and those receiving epilepsy treatment had a significantly increased rate of abnormal physical development before the age of one year (P<0.05). The ASD children with epileptic seizures had poorer sensory responses and behavioral competencies than those without epileptic seizures (P<0.05). Epilepsy treatment have a positive effect on behavioral competencies in ASD children (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between ASD and epilepsy in children. The possibility of the comorbidity between ASD and epilepsy may be assessed according to the status of growth and development before the age of one year, sensory responses and behavioral competencies, and the presence or absence of epileptic seizures.