Chinese Residents Research Articles

Perceptions of family values and gender norms in China: impact of global and domestic media

This study investigates how contemporary Chinese residents differ in their views on gender and the family, facilitated by multivariate analysis. The main categories of the study are patrilineality, filial piety and gender norms in the family. The achievement of the formulated research objective is ensured through the identification of the potential significance of demographic factors and personal parameters of the survey participants. The analysis of the covariance method was used to see if there was a statistically significant difference between the independent groups after the covariates. According to the results of the multidimensional analysis for three models and five dependent variables, predictors related to generational affiliation, gender and rural or urban residence demonstrate their unique influence on the manifestation of family values and readiness to adhere to traditional gender roles. The predictor of content consumption produced by global media outlets was found to be statistically significant in the study.

Advanced Care Plan Among Older Chinese in Residential Aged Care: A Retrospective Review.

Worldwide in the population of older people, ethnic diversity is prevalent and therefore warrants culturally sensitive advanced care planning. This study aimed to explore advanced care planning documentation related to the cultural needs of residents of Chinese ethnicity in Australian aged care facilities. A retrospective review of advanced care plan documentation was undertaken among 31 older Chinese residents with life-limiting illnesses across two residential aged care facilities in New South Wales, Australia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. 90% of residents had advanced care planning documentation. The presence of the resident and their representative and medical care directives were well documented. Specific details on the provision of palliative care that considers the person's cultural needs and preferences were limited. Findings suggest the need for further research that explores an optimal way of embedding culture-specific information and the development of a culturally sensitive advanced care plan for people of Chinese ethnicity.

The impact of health literacy on health-promoting lifestyle among community residents: the chain-mediating role of family health and physical activity

BackgroundAdopting health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) is crucial for improving overall well-being and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. The relationship between health literacy (HL) and HPL among Chinese community residents is complex, with potential mediating factors yet to be fully understood. Family health and physical activity (PA) may play significant roles in this relationship. This study aims to construct a chain mediation model to explore whether family health and PA mediate the effects of HL on HPL in Chinese community residents.MethodsUsing the convenient sampling method, 1,072 Chinese community residents were selected for a cross-sectional study. All participants completed a self-report questionnaire that collected demographic information, as well as data from the Health Literacy Scale Short-Form (HLS-SF12), Family Health Scale Short-Form (FHS-SF), Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II Revise (HPLP-II R). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, with mediation analysis performed using the SPSS PROCESS macro.ResultsThere were significant pairwise correlations between HL, family health, PA, and HPL (p < 0.01). HL was directly linked to HPL (effect = 0.442; SE = 0.025; 95% CI: 0.392, 0.491). Additionally, three indirect pathways were identified: family health independently mediated 6.02% of the effect (effect = 0.032; SE = 0.010; 95% CI: 0.013, 0.051), PA also independently mediated 9.02% of the effect (effect = 0.048; SE = 0.010; 95% CI: 0.030, 0.068), and a combined chain mediation through both family health and PA accounted for 1.88% of the effect (effect = 0.010; SE = 0.003; 95% CI: 0.005, 0.017).ConclusionHL not only has a direct impact on promoting HPL but also influences it indirectly through the mediating roles of family health and PA. These insights elucidate the mechanisms by which HL affects HPL, providing valuable theoretical guidance for the development and implementation of effective strategies to encourage healthy lifestyle practices.

Long-term trends in the burden of breast cancer in China over three decades: a joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort analysis based on Global Burden of Disease 2021.

We analyzed the trends in breast cancer (BC) morbidity, prevalence, and mortality among Chinese residents from 1990 to 2021. We then used joinpoint regression to further assess BC morbidity and mortality. We screened the morbidity, mortality, and prevalence of BC in Chinese residents (1990-2021) from the Global Burden of Disease. We used age-period-cohort (APC) modeling to assess the effects of age, period, and cohort on BC morbidity and mortality separately. We also used the joinpoint model to characterize trends in BC morbidity and mortality in China. From 1990 to 2021, age-standardized rates of morbidity have risen significantly, whereas mortality has declined. We discovered that the risk of morbidity and death rose with age by using the APC model. We also found that mortality and morbidity roughly continued to increase over time, and finally, we found that the later the birth cohort, the lower the mortality and the higher the morbidity. From 1990 to 2021, the burden of BC disease in China will continue to rise, and the situation of BC prevention and control will remain severe. Therefore, regular imaging and palpation examinations should be performed in the regular population over 40 years of age. When treating patients with BC, healthcare workers should develop individualized treatment plans to further reduce mortality.

The impact of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity and transitions on cardiovascular disease incidence in Chinese middle-aged and elderly population: A nationwide prospective cohort study.

Previous studies indicated that metabolic heterogeneity of obesity would affect the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the alterations in CVD risk associated with transitions between various metabolic health statuses influenced by obesity status remain unclear. We utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a longitudinal cohort study involving Chinese residents aged 45 years and older. Baseline data were collected in 2011-2012, with follow-up surveys conducted up to 2020. Participants in the study were categorized into four body mass index-metabolic phenotypes: metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHOO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW) and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUOO). Transitions in these phenotypes over 4 years were analysed. Cox regression models were used to assess the associations of these phenotypes and their transitions with CVD incidence. Among 7721 participants, 1353 (17.5%) developed CVD during the follow-up period. Both overweight/obese and metabolically unhealthy statuses were associated with increased CVD risk. The highest risk was observed in the MUOO group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50-2.09, p < 0.0001), followed by the MUNW (HR 1.35, 95% CI: 1.13-1.66, p < 0.001) and MHOO (HR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.08-1.56, p = 0.002) groups compared to the MHNW group. The deteriorations of obesity and metabolic health status elevated the incidence of CVD, whereas improvements in these statuses reduced the risk of CVD. Additionally, alterations in metabolic health status conferred greater benefits in overweight/obese individuals compared to those with normal weight. The study highlights the importance of maintaining and promoting metabolic health, particularly in overweight/obese individuals, to reduce CVD risk. Metabolic health status plays a more crucial role than obesity status in predicting CVD incidence.

More children, more “efficacy”: the relationship between fertility and self-efficacy among the post-80 s and post-90 s generations

Fertility punishment is a powerful interpretation of the low birth rate in contemporary China, but it is not consistent with the fact that the proportion of second children has been increasing year by year for some time. From the perspective of Bandura’s “Self-efficacy”, based on the post-80 s and post-90 s youth samples in the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents 2021, this paper explores the quantitative relationship between the number of children and individual self-efficacy. The data indicates that: (1) Fertility is closely linked to self-efficacy, with young people who have two children exhibiting higher self-efficacy; (2) The quantitative relationship between the number of children and self-efficacy varies based on parental roles—men/fathers show almost no change in self-efficacy when moving from having no children to one child, but demonstrate a significant increase in self-efficacy when they have two children. In contrast, women/mothers experience the lowest self-efficacy when having one child, which only shows a significant improvement when they have two children. These findings provide a new perspective for theoretically explaining the current fertility situation and expand the application of self-efficacy. In terms of policy efforts, it is necessary to provide support for women’s one-child fertility, and to increase the publicity of the view of more children and more efficacy to resist the potential energy of low fertility that arises from the view of more children and more burdens.

Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intentions and mediating effects among older adults in Southwest China

This study examines the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intentions among Chinese residents over the age of 60, with a focus on the mediating roles of Health Beliefs and Cues to Vaccination Action in the relationship between vaccine knowledge and vaccination intentions. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey involving 1,305 participants from Southwest China. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified potential determinants of vaccination intention, including socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge, health beliefs, and cues to vaccination action. Furthermore, mediation analysis using the causal mediation analysis method explored the mediating effects within the knowledge-to-intention pathway. Vaccination intention and its related factors: among the 1212 elderly people included in the study, 92.9% expressed willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Main factors influencing their vaccination willingness included Residency (urban vs. rural, OR = 0.47, p < 0.01), Age (75 + vs. others, OR = 0.41, p < 0.05), Marital status (OR = 0.36, p < 0.01), Occupation ( business/service vs. others, OR = 0.33, p < 0.05), Awareness of vaccine effectiveness (OR = 1.23, p < 0.01), Cues to vaccination action (OR = 1.31, p < 0.01) and COVID-19 related knowledge (OR = 1.06, p < 0.01). The analysis revealed two significant mediators—Health Beliefs and Cues to Vaccination Action. These mediators (p<0.05 for both natural indirect effect and natural direct effect) acted along two key pathways: (1) From Knowledge of COVID-19 to Health Beliefs to Vaccination Intention: Natural Direct Effects (NDE) ranged from 0.012 to 0.016, with Natural Indirect Effects (NIE) from 0.001 to 0.003, indicating that mediators accounted for 4% to 18% of the total effect. (2) From Knowledge of COVID-19 to Cues of Vaccination Action to Vaccination Intention: NDE ranged from 0.012 to 0.016 and NIE from 0.002 to 0.003, with mediators accounting for 9% to 20% of the effect. The intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 among older adults varies significantly based on socioeconomic and health belief factors. The study identifies health beliefs and cues to action not only as direct contributors but also as crucial mediators in the pathway from knowledge to vaccination intention among older individuals. These findings can extend our understanding of the impact of sociodemographic factors and health beliefs on the COVID-19 vaccination willingness among older adults.

Perceived protective behavioral changes in Chinese residents post-dynamic zero-COVID policy lifting: a cross-sectional study.

To investigate how Chinese residents perceived changes in their protective behaviors in the early stage after the lifting of the dynamic zero-COVID policy, and to explore the associations between the overall perceived change and factors such as demographic and health-related information, COVID-19 related perceptions, negative emotions, and coping styles. This cross-sectional study involved 798 Chinese residents who completed an online questionnaire between 16 and 25 December 2022. The questionnaire covered demographic and health-related information, COVID-19 related perceptions, negative emotions, coping styles, and perceived changes in protective behaviors. Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the overall perceived change in protective behaviors. The mean score for perceived protective behavioral change among participants was 61.38 (SD = 10.20), which was significantly higher than the hypothesized no-change value of 49 (p < 0.001). The mean scores for each of the 15 behaviors (excluding the two vaccination-related items) were significantly greater than the hypothesized no-change value of 3 (p < 0.001). The mean scores for the two vaccination-related items were significantly greater than the hypothesized no-change value of 2 (p < 0.001). Among all behaviors, avoiding dining out or gathering with friends had the highest mean score (Mean = 4.16), while engaging in regular physical activity had the lowest (Mean = 3.32). Avoiding dining out or gathering with friends had the highest percentage of individuals reporting an increase (71.3%), whereas maintaining a social distance of more than 1 m had the highest percentage of individuals reporting a decrease (17.5%). Regression analysis indicated that age, worry, positive coping, female sex, negative coping, and perceived severity were associated with the overall perceived change in protective behaviors, with worry being the most predictive variable. This study suggested that Chinese residents perceived an increase in their protective behaviors in the early stage after the policy change, with varying magnitudes across behaviors. We identified some potentially modifiable factors associated with perceived protective behavioral change, with worry emerging as the strongest predictor, followed by positive coping, negative coping, and perceived severity. These insights offer valuable information for developing effective communication strategies, psychological support, and comprehensive models in health behavior research.

Factors influencing the social acceptance of brain-computer interface technology among Chinese general public: an exploratory study.

This study investigates the impact of social factors on public acceptance of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology within China's general population. As BCI emerges as a pivotal advancement in artificial intelligence and a cornerstone of Industry 5.0, understanding its societal reception is crucial. Utilizing data from the Psychological and Behavioral Study of Chinese Residents (N = 1,923), this research examines the roles of learning ability, age, health, social support, and socioeconomic status in BCI acceptance, alongside considerations of gender and the level of monthly household income. Multiple regression analysis via STATA-MP18 reveals that while health, socioeconomic status, social support, and learning ability significantly positively correlate with acceptance, and age presents an inverse relationship, gender and household income do not demonstrate a significant effect. Notably, the prominence of learning ability and social support as principal factors suggests targeted avenues for increasing BCI technology adoption. These findings refine the current understanding of technology acceptance and offer actionable insights for BCI policy and practical applications.

The moral roots of household waste-sorting attitudes and intentions in China

Previous environmental research used a general conceptualization of moral norms (e.g., it is my moral obligation to recycle) without specifying the exact moral underpinning of such a conceptualization. This analysis examined how five basic moral foundations (i.e., harm, fairness, ingroup loyalty, authority, and purity) were associated with Chinese residents’ waste-sorting attitudes and intentions. This analysis used data from a cross-sectional online survey of 459 Chinese residents conducted in 2021. The results revealed that value-expressive attitudes were a fairly strong predictor of waste-sorting intentions, whereas attitudes about inconvenience and time were a weak predictor. Further analysis of direct and total relationships revealed that the moral foundations of ingroup loyalty and authority were the primary moral foundations for the Chinese participants; the effects were both direct and mediated by the value-expressive attitudes. Using detailed attitudinal and moral foundations can provide explanatory adequacy and specificity for environmental research and education efforts.

Slum clearance in a ‘semi-colony’: coercion and restraint in policing practices in 1930s Shanghai

Abstract Slum clearances expose hostility between municipal authorities and residents fighting to claim urban space. In colonial contexts, these processes created conflicts between rulers and the ruled. Focusing on the ‘semi-colonial’ Shanghai International Settlement, this article examines interactions between the Shanghai Municipal Police (SMP) and slum-dwellers amid an evolving crisis of urban governance in the 1930s. This case-study, grounded in Shanghai’s complex socio-political climate, reveals how ordinary Chinese residents negotiated with the authorities and points to the frailties of semi-colonial governance, showing how the SMP deployed coercion only when it was unavoidable in slum clearances.

Chinese consumer perception and purchasing behavior of beef – Mainly in North and East China

Beef is an important food for Chinese people and understanding the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that impact on their satisfaction and purchasing behavior is necessary for industry growth. This was confirmed using an online survey that included 26 questions and 3617 valid responses, mainly from people located in North and East China. It was found that 47.7 % of Chinese residents like to eat beef, and they perceive beef as healthy and of high nutritional value. Chilled beef, exclusive of hot-boned or frozen products, was preferred by the majority (58.2 %) of respondents. Shank was the most popular beef cut for Chinese consumers, reflecting that stewing was found to be the preferred method for cooking beef. There were demographic differences in consumption frequency, purchase location, and the most important sensory qualities of beef for Chinese consumers. Male consumers placed more importance on the marbling of beef compared to female consumers (P < 0.05). Meat color, marbling, and price were ranked as the top three factors considered when respondents were purchasing beef. Eating and cooking habits had the strongest effect on consumer willingness to purchase beef. These findings will help to support consumer orientated beef production and processing in North and East China.

Patterns and predictors of help-seeking intentions for suicidal ideation compared to other health conditions among rural Chinese adults

Psychological help-seeking for suicidal ideation is a critical aspect of effective suicide prevention. Past research has documented low help-seeking amongst rural residents in China. This study investigates the patterns and predictors of help-seeking intentions for suicidal ideation versus mental (depression) and physical (heart disease) health conditions among Chinese rural residents using General Help-Seeking Questionnaire Vignette version. A total of 143 rural participants from sixteen villages in Hubei province of China completed the survey via home-visiting interviews. Results revealed a general trend that the help-seeking intentions decreased as the helping sources shifted from close others (spouses, family, etc.) to professional helpers and online sources. Additionally, rural residents with higher educational levels, high self-efficacy, and more severe suicide ideations were more willing to seek help; and suicide literacy was found to be negatively associated with help-seeking intentions. The implications of the research findings are discussed.

Association Between Changes in Central Blood Pressure and Peripheral Blood Pressure With New-Onset Hypertension in a Chinese Community-Based Population.

Spot central and peripheral blood pressure are predictors for future hypertension, but the associations between central or peripheral systolic blood pressure (SBP) changes and new-onset hypertension are unclear. Annual changes in central and peripheral SBP over a mean interval of 2.36 years were calculated for 815 Chinese community residents without cardiovascular disease and hypertension at the first two visits, with the formula: ([2nd SBP-1st SBP]/1st SBP) × 100%/time interval (years). The independent and joint associations of these SBP changes with new-onset hypertension at the third visit were assessed with multivariable logistic regression models. During a mean follow-up interval of 4.37 years since the second visit, 171 new cases of hypertension were observed. Central and peripheral SBP changes were significantly associated with new-onset hypertension (central SBP change rate: odds ratio [OR]: 1.19 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.13, 1.26]; peripheral SBP change rate: OR: 1.25 [95% CI 1.17, 1.33]), even after adjusting for each other. Compared to the group with neither SBP increased, the group with both SBPs increased showed asignificantly higher risk of new-onset hypertension (OR: 4.52 [95% CI 2.54, 8.04]). The model including both SBP changes had a higher area under the curve (AUC) for predicting hypertension in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses than those with either change alone. Central and peripheral SBP changes are independently and jointly associated with new-onset hypertension. It is recommended to regularly monitor both central and peripheral blood pressures.

Urban housing prices and consumption structure upgrading: Different relationships in urban and rural China

The dynamics of housing prices can play a pivotal role in shaping household behavior. Motivated by the limited research on the impact of housing prices on consumption structure upgrading in China, this paper presents a series of analyses that deploy panel data from 276 Chinese cities between 2005 and 2019 to scrutinize this impact. Firstly, fixed effect models were used to investigate the relationship between urban housing price and the consumption structure upgrading, and it was found that urban housing price has an inverted U-shaped effect on the consumption structure upgrading of Chinese urban residents, while it has an inhibitory effect on the consumption structure upgrading of Chinese rural residents. Then, we conducted multiple robustness tests, all of which corroborated the benchmark results’ reliability. Finally, deeper than existing research, the mechanism of the impact of urban housing prices on the consumption structure upgrading was further explored and it was found that increasing urban housing prices can affect consumption structure upgrading by affecting residents’ marginal propensity to consume in development and enjoyment. Our findings provide key alternatives for China’s government to promote residents’ consumption structure upgrading.

A Comparative Study of Bazaar Cultural Spaces in Central Asia and China

With the advancement of modernization, traditional bazaars have encountered challenges, such as diminished vitality. Concurrently, the trend of integrating cultural spaces into bazaars has become increasingly evident. Understanding the relationship between bazaars and cultural spaces, as well as the preferences of users of these spaces, is crucial for enhancing bazaar vitality. Employing field research, questionnaire surveys, cross-analysis, and the narrative preference method, this paper compares the bazaar cultural spaces of Central Asia and Chinese from four perspectives: the current state of the bazaar, development overview, user preferences, and cultural space type preferences. This aims to deepen the understanding of the commonalities and differences between the two regions, and to explore the development trends of bazaars and their cultural spaces. The study reveals that (1) Spaces with diversified functions, high accessibility, and openness can enhance the vitality of the bazaar; (2) There exists a synergistic, mutually beneficial relationship between the bazaar and the cultural spaces; (3) Central Asian residents place greater emphasis on the environmental quality of the bazaar and the engaging content of its cultural spaces. In contrast, Chinese residents are more focused on the accessibility of the bazaar and the openness of the cultural spaces; (4) The function of art and culture is the preferred type of cultural space in the bazaar among residents of both regions. This study significantly contributes to the planning, design, and optimization of bazaars and their cultural spaces.

Attitudes and preferences of the Chinese public towards products made from recycled materials: A text mining approach

Products made from recycled materials, as an environmentally friendly option, have attracted public attention. Understanding public attitudes and preferences towards such products is crucial for their market development. In order to explore the Chinese residents’ attitude and emotional tendency, we analyzed public discussions and topics on products made from recycled materials from Sina Weibo. Meanwhile, LDA and BERT deep learning models were employed to assess the level of public attention, hot topics, and sentiment tendencies in China. Results show a significant upward trend in public interest in products made from recycled materials. Although the fact that most people have a positive attitude towards the environmental concept of products made from recycled materials and support such products, there is not a significant demand for products made from recycled materials, i.e., there is a green attitude-behaviour gap. Results further reveal that factors such as the price of products made from recycled materials, branding, and public skepticism about the sustainability of the products are the main reasons for the gap between environmental awareness and consumer behaviour. By analyzing the public's cognitive structure and psychological characteristics regarding products made from recycled materials through social media data, this paper can help recycling manufacturers understand consumers' needs and expectations, as well as assist policymakers in formulating better circular economy policies.

Reconsidering ‘Sook Ching’ victimhood: A microhistory of Singapore’s Nishimura trial

Abstract This article highlights the cross-disciplinary methodological potential of Third World approaches to international law (TWAIL) and microhistory by studying the active and complex exercise of agency by victims in an understudied historical instance of post-war justice, namely, the Singapore ‘Sook Ching’ trial or Nishimura trial. This trial dealt with the arbitrary massacre of Chinese residents by the Japanese military during the Second World War. Using TWAIL and microhistory methods, this article analyses trial transcripts and archival material on the Nishimura trial, with a focus on the trial experiences of witnesses, survivors, and community representatives. By studying the Nishimura trial as mobilization and meaning-making opportunity, this microhistory draws attention to the exercise of social and political agency by the Chinese community under difficult post-war conditions and British colonial rule. Chinese community leaders represented the community as collectively victimized and united in the pursuit of post-war justice. However, a close analysis of trial transcripts reveals tensions within the community and the need for a more complex understanding of victimhood.

Retraction Note: Forecasting the annual household electricity consumption of Chinese residents using the DPSO-BP prediction model.

Retraction Note: Forecasting the annual household electricity consumption of Chinese residents using the DPSO-BP prediction model.

The impact of subjective intergenerational mobility on well-being: evidence from China

Although social mobility has been shown to be essential for subjective well-being, empirical evidence on the relationship between subjective intergenerational mobility and well-being in the developing world is relatively limited and needs to be more comprehensive and conclusive. The primary purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of subjective intergenerational mobility on the well-being of Chinese residents. Using data from the China Labor Force Dynamics Survey conducted from 2012 to 2016, the results revealed an upward trend in the subjective intergenerational mobility of Chinese residents. Specifically, subjective intergenerational elasticity increased from 0.264 in the 1950s to 0.390 in the 1980s. Subjective intergenerational mobility positively influences well-being. In particular, it exerts an indirect positive effect on the well-being of Chinese residents through the self-evaluation of health and social inequality. This study also proves that the subjective Great Gatsby Curve exists in China. The practical implications of this research are that the human capital of Chinese residents should be improved and that restrictive institutional systems should be discontinued to improve residents’ subjective social status.