Chinese Rural Community Research Articles

Gender-specific association between snoring and total sleep duration with type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural adults.

To investigate the separate and joint association between snoring and total sleep duration with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in both genders within Chinese rural community. The Henan Rural Cohort Study included a total of 28093 participants. Data on snoring and total sleep duration were obtained through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Binary logistic regression was employed to assess the correlation between snoring and total sleep duration with T2DM. The prevalences of T2DM were 8.53% in males and 9.27% in females. Males exhibited a higher prevalence of snoring (34.90%) compared to females (22.42%), and the median of total sleep duration was also longer in males (8.83h) than in females (8.67h), respectively (P < 0.001). Females who snored had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for T2DM of 1.19 (1.06, 1.35) when contrasted with non-snorers. Compared with optimal total sleep duration (6-8h), longer total sleep duration (≥ 8h) increased the prevalence of T2DM by 17% (95%CI: 3%, 32%) in females. Additionally, the participants with shorter total sleep duration (< 6h) and snoring have the highest risk of T2DM, with an increase of 91% (95%CI: 20%, 204%) than those with optimal total sleep duration and non-snorers in females. These significant associations were not found in males. Snoring and longer total sleep duration independently elevated the prevalence of T2DM. Meantime, a synergistic relationship was observed between snoring and total sleep duration with a higher prevalence of T2DM. These associations exhibited gender-specific differences.

A Changing Representation: “Personal Writing” in Artistic Intervention in Chinese Rural Communities

As socially engaged art has played a vibrant role in responding to the crisis of the postmodernist art regime, the current post-Occupy condition has manifested itself in artistic interventions in rural China. In contrast to social writing, which encompasses street art, designers going to the countryside, and industrial empowerment to construct “good cultural governance” or “good cultural taste,” the term personal writing as used here describes a type of avant-garde intervention that has sparked interest in vernacular communities. It provides a socially minded critique of art production as bifurcated from the remaking of everyday social relations and subjectivities, political and cultural possibilities, and the rural Chinese future. Grounded in a contextual analysis of the social turn in Chinese contemporary art and the lingering “rural problem” under post-socialism, this article takes artist Mao Chenyu's Paddy Film project as an example of personal writing and proposes this artist's activisms at Dongting Lake as a specific intervening field, visual ethnography as a method, paddy rice as a distinctive “thing,” and archival practices as a deconstructive pathway that together have promoted the emergence of a resistance narrative in artistic intervention in Chinese rural communities.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Workplace Wellness Programs in Promoting Healthy Behaviors and Reducing Absenteeism in Chinese Companies

Background: Health disparities in rural Chinese communities remain a significant concern. This study aims to determine the role of socioeconomic status in influencing these disparities. Methods: Data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) for the years 2009, 2014, and 2019 were analyzed. An ordinal complementary log-log model was employed to investigate health inequality and its determinants within China. Results: The analysis revealed that health status varies significantly with different social and individual factors. Key determinants of health disparities included gender, region, residential area, ethnicity, and income level. Notably, individuals with lower socioeconomic status demonstrated poorer health outcomes compared to those with higher socioeconomic status. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the significant impact of socioeconomic factors on health disparities in rural China. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals, potentially informing strategies to reduce health inequalities within the country.

Longitudinal validation of cognitive reserve proxy measures: a cohort study in a rural Chinese community

BackgroundWhile evidence supports cognitive reserve (CR) in preserving cognitive function, longitudinal validation of CR proxies, including later-life factors, remains scarce. This study aims to validate CR’s stability over time and its relation to cognitive function in rural Chinese older adults.MethodsWithin the project on the health status of rural older adults (HSRO), the survey included baseline assessment (2019) and follow-up assessment (2022). 792 older adults (mean age: 70.23 years) were followed up. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was constructed using cognitive reserve proxies that included years of formal education, social support, hobbies, and exercise. We examined the longitudinal validity of the CR factor using confirmatory factor analyses and measurement invariance and explored the association of CR with cognition using Spearman’s correlation and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).ResultsThe results showed that CR’s CFA structure was stable over time (T0, χ2/df: 3.21/2; RMSEA: 0.02, and T1, χ2/df: 7.47/2; RMSEA: 0.05) and that it accepted both configural and metric invariance (Δχ2/df = 2.28/3, P = 0.52). In addition, it was found that CR had a stable positive relationship with cognitive function across time (T0, r = 0.54; T1, r = 0.49). Furthermore, longitudinal CR were associated with MMSE (β = 2.25; 95%CI = 2.01 ~ 2.49).ConclusionsThis study provided valuable evidence on the stability and validity of cognitive reserve proxy measures in rural Chinese older adults. Our findings suggested that cognitive reserve is associated with cognitive function over time and highlighted the importance of accumulating cognitive reserve in later life.

A bidirectional relationship between cognitive reserve and cognition among older adults in a rural Chinese community: a cross-lagged design.

The concept of cognitive reserve (CR) plays a crucial role in understanding cognitive aging and resilience. Accumulating evidence revealed the influence of CR proxy on cognitive function, but it remains unknown whether a reverse association or reciprocal effect exists. The aim of this study is to observe the bidirectional relationship between cognitive reserve proxies and cognitive function among older adults in rural Chinese communities, providing a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and potential moderating factors involved. This longitudinal study analyzed 792 older adults (70.23 ± 5.87 years; 59.8%female) aged 60 years and older from the health status of rural older adults (HSRO) study over a 3-year period. Cognition was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cross-lagged panel modeling was utilized to analyze the interrelationship between cognitive reserve proxies and cognitive performance. Additionally, latent profile analysis was employed to identify different subtypes of neuropathic load within the study population. Our cross-lagged analyses revealed significant associations between CR at T0 and MMSE scores at T1 (β = 0.81), as well as between MMSE scores at T0 and CR at T1 (β = 0.04). However, when conducting stratified analyses, we found no significant lagged relationships among individuals with high neuropathic load or those at an advanced age (p > 0.05). Furthermore, our longitudinal comparisons indicated changes in the contribution of CR proxy factors over time. The findings suggested a bidirectional relationship between cognitive reserve and cognitive performance in older adults. These results emphasized the importance of implementing timely public health measures to enhance cognitive reserve and cognitive performance ultimately promoting healthier aging among older adults.

Children's interpretations of parental responses to children's negative emotions in Chinese urban and rural communities

AbstractChildren's interpretations of parenting behaviors offer valuable insights into cultural meanings of parenting. This study examined how Chinese urban and rural children interpreted six different types of parental responses to children's negative emotions (PRCNE), which have traditionally been identified as supportive (e.g., emotion‐focused responses, problem‐focused responses, and expressive encouragement) versus nonsupportive ones (e.g., minimization, parental distress, punitive responses) in Western cultures. Based on surveyed samples of 976 children, demographically matched samples of 102 urban (Mage = 14.23 years) and 100 rural (Mage = 14.38 years) children were generated for analysis, using propensity score matching (PSM). Results revealed that compared with rural children, urban children rated problem‐focused responses as more normative, whereas parental distress and punitive responses as less normative. Additionally, urban children evaluated emotion‐focused responses, problem‐focused responses, expressive encouragement, and minimization as less negative, and parental distress as less positive than rural children. In urban communities, emotion‐focused responses, problem‐focused responses, and encouragement were evaluated most positively and least negatively, followed by minimization, and lastly parental distress and punitive responses. In rural communities, emotion‐focused responses and problem‐focused responses were evaluated most positively and least negatively, followed by encouragement and minimization, and lastly parental distress and punitive responses. The findings highlight the diverse interpretations children have towards PRCNE across different cultural contexts.

Building rural community disaster resilience in developing countries: insights from a Chinese NGO's Safe Rural Community Program.

As rural areas in developing countries are generally more vulnerable to disasters triggered by natural hazards than urban areas, it has become critical to strengthen rural community disaster resilience (CDR) to reduce the disaster risks. Using follow-up interviews, surveys, and secondary data, this study reviewed the "Safe Rural Community" (SRC) program implemented by One Foundation, a Chinese civilian NGO, after the 2013 Lushan earthquake in China. The study focused on five main key resilience elements; networks, infrastructure, institutions, capabilities, and culture. It was found that the SRC program successfully developed standardized, systematic, interrelated, and practical activities, such as local volunteer rescue teams, emergency supplies, disaster reduction training, community emergency plans, and regular emergency rescue drills. Third-party evaluations and a 2022 Lushan earthquake test revealed that this NGO-led, community-based, and team-oriented program had been effective. The SRC program in Lushan, therefore, provides some guidance on the development of effective CDR programs in rural communities in developing countries.

The Vitality of Public Space and the Effects of Environmental Factors in Chinese Suburban Rural Communities Based on Tourists and Residents

The vitality of public space in rural communities is an important symbol of rural revitalization, especially in suburban rural communities. Previous studies focused on rural industries and ignored the effects of the spatial environment on different groups of people. Hence, this study takes the public space of suburban rural communities as an example and uses Global Positioning System (GPS) and cognitive mapping data to establish a new vibrancy assessment system for tourists and residents, respectively. The effects of the public space environment and space vitality in suburban rural communities are revealed through ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. The results suggested that: (I) There were pronounced seasonal changes and spatial distribution differences in the space vitality of tourists, while residents were concentrated in fixed public spaces. (II) For tourists, the public space vitality in rural communities was affected by seven factors, including accessibility, seats, green looking ratio, recreational facilities, water area, plant species richness, and plant color composition. Green looking ratio and water area had a negative impact. For residents, the public space vitality in rural communities was affected by five factors, including shelter facilities, seats, accessibility, space type, fitness facilities. Only fitness facilities had a negative effect. Our research proposed a feasible and effective method to assess the vitality of rural public space in rural communities, and the finding from this study provides significant implications for the development and planning of suburban rural communities oriented by vitality.

Dietary patterns, oxidative Stress, inflammation and biological variation in hemoglobin A1c: Association and Mediation analysis in a rural community in north China

ObjectiveThe aim is to assess the relationship between the hemoglobin glycation index(HGI) and dietary patterns, and investigates whether inflammation and oxidative stress mediate the relationship. MethodsCross-sectional data were collected from 453 dwellers in a Chinese rural community. Diet was assessed using 24 h food recalls. Based on the energy intake ratio from three macronutrients, dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis. The HGI was defined as the observed HbA1c minus predicted HbA1c. Indicators of inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed. Result3 dietary patterns were clustered, namely “fat(n = 100)”, “balance(n = 186)” and “carbohydrate(n = 167)”. The fat dietary patterns had lower HGI than the other two dietary patterns. TNFα was higher in the carbohydrate dietary pattern. Linear regression analysis suggested that the carbohydrate dietary pattern was correlated with higher HGI levels(β = 0.204,95 %CI(0.071,0.338)), compared with the fat dietary pattern. The relationship disappeared after accounting for biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Mediation analyses indicated that TNFα might explain for 19.15 % effects of the carbohydrate dietary pattern on HGI, compared with the fat dietary pattern. ConclusionThe carbohydrate dietary pattern had positive associations with HGI and TNFα. TNFα partly mediated the relationship between dietary patterns and HGI.

The Influence of State Presence in Rituals on the Reconstruction of Chinese Rural Community—— Comparative study based on “Wu Village Sowing Festival” and “Wei Village Drum Runs Cart Culture and Art Festival”

After completing the task of poverty elimination campaign, reconstructing the rural community has become one of the core issues of the rural revitalization strategy in order to cope with the developmental predicament of China

Association of β-cell function and cognitive impairment in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism

BackgroundInsulin has been demonstrated to play an important role in the occurrence and development of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in those with diabetes. β cells are important insulin-producing cells in human pancreas. This study aimed to investigate the association between β-cell dysfunction and cognitive impairment among patients over 40-year-old with abnormal glucose metabolism in Chinese rural communities.MethodsA sample of 592 participants aged 40 years or older from the China National Stroke Prevention Project (CSPP) between 2015 and 2017 were enrolled in this study. Abnormal glucose metabolism was defined when hemoglobin Alc ≥ 5.7%. Cognitive function was assessed by the Beijing edition of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale. Homeostasis assessment of β-cell function was performed and classified into 4 groups according to the quartiles. A lower value of HOMA-β indicated a worse condition of β-cell function. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between β-cell function and cognitive impairment.ResultsIn a total of 592 patients with abnormal glucose metabolism, the average age was 60.20 ± 7.63 years and 60.1% patients had cognitive impairment. After adjusting for all potential risk factors, we found the first quartile of β-cell function was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (OR: 2.27, 95%CI: 1.32–3.92), especially at the domains of language (OR: 1.64, 95%CI: 1.01–2.65) and abstraction (OR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.46–3.58).ConclusionsOur study showed that worse β-cell function is associated with cognitive impairment of people over 40-year-old with abnormal glucose metabolism in Chinese rural communities, especially in the cognitive domains of abstraction and language.

To conceal or reveal: ethical tensions and concerns in participatory action research-the relational adventures in a rural China village community research project

ABSTRACT The author reviewed her involvement in a participatory action research project for child protection in a rural Chinese community in this paper. Numerous observations and reflections on ethical tensions and decision-making are discussed. These discussions raise awareness about the ethical implications of a participatory action-inquiry process. Everyday ethical issues in research should be addressed collaboratively and relationally.

Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms among older adults in rural China: the moderating roles of age, living alone, and chronic diseases

BackgroundWhile depressive symptoms are recognized as major mental health problems in later life, there is a lack of study in examining potential moderators in the association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms, especially in social contexts with low socioeconomic status and inadequate formal public support. This study set out to examine the association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms among older adults in rural Northeast China, and the potential moderating roles of age, living alone, and number of chronic diseases on this link.MethodsA quota sampling approach was used to recruit 448 respondents aged 60 and above from rural Chinese communities. Depressive symptoms were the dependent variable. Intergenerational emotional, instrumental, and financial support were the main independent variables. Age, living alone, and number of chronic diseases were the moderators. Multiple linear regression models with interaction terms were conducted to test the proposed model.ResultsThe results showed that intergenerational emotional support was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in older adults when instrumental and financial support and covariates were controlled (β = -0.196, p < .001). Age was found to have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between intergenerational instrumental support and depressive symptoms (β = -0.118, p < .05). Among older respondents aged 74.51 years and older, instrumental support was positively associated with depressive symptoms, but this association was not significant for younger respondents. Furthermore, living alone and number of chronic diseases suffered moderated the association between intergenerational financial support and depressive symptoms, which was statistically significant only for those living alone and with more chronic diseases (interaction term between living alone and intergenerational financial support: β = -0.082, p < .05; interaction term between number of chronic diseases and intergenerational financial support: β = -0.088, p < .05.ConclusionsThe findings not only highlight the important role of intergenerational support in promoting mental health in later life in rural Chinese contexts, but also identify within-population heterogeneity in the identified associations. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.

Social exclusion and conflict in a rural tourism community: A case study from Likeng Village, China

Social exclusion is a dynamic process in which an individual or a group becomes isolated from an organization or community and deprived of their due rights and entitlements. This study analyzed a case of social exclusion and tourism conflict in Likeng village, Wuyuan, a rural Chinese community that is economically reliant on the tourism industry. Thematic analysis of interviews with 15 Likeng villagers across two time periods (2010 and 2016) revealed that residents experienced various dimensions of social exclusion. A lack of opportunities for effective participation in economic opportunities, political decisions, and community relationships related to the development of tourism in the community were key features of social exclusion, eventually leading to conflict. Linkages between local problems, policies, and community life should be established and opportunities for meaningful resident input in tourism development decision making should be utilized in order to decrease social exclusion and conflict.

Effects of a family dyadic partnership program for people with hypertension in a rural community: A pilot randomised controlled trial.

To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a theory-based patient-family carer partnership intervention for people with hypertension in a Chinese rural community. A pilot randomised controlled trial using pretest and post-test design. Rural China PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four hypertensive patients and their family carers (family dyads) were randomly recruited from a village clinic located in China between November 2019 and January 2020. Participants were randomised to either an intervention group receiving a five-session patient-family carer partnership intervention over 10weeks or a control group receiving usual care. The feasibility and acceptability of patient-family carer partnership intervention and the changes in patients' systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and percentage of normal controlled blood pressure. The patient-family carer partnership intervention was a feasible and acceptable program with high recruitment (81.5%) and completion rates (95.5%) and positive feedback from participants. Greater improvement in the percentage of normal controlled blood pressure was identified in the intervention group tested by the χ2 tests, with P=.03. Two-way ANOVA results indicated its interaction (Group×Time) effects on patients' systolic blood pressure (P<.001), diastolic blood pressure (P<.001), dyadic partnership quality (P=.002), self-care (P<.001), self-efficacy (P=.02), antihypertensive drug treatment rate (P=.02), prescription adjustment (P=.03), perceived anxiety (P<.001) and health-related quality of life (EuroQol five-dimensional five-level: P=.02; EuroQol visual analogue scale: P<.001); family carers' dyadic partnership quality (P=.002), perceived depression (P=.04) and health-related quality of life (P=.02) were significant. Our findings support the feasibility and acceptability of the patient-family carer partnership intervention and indicate benefits in improving patients' blood pressure control, dyadic relationship and psychological well-being of family dyads in rural area. Further research to test the longer-term effect in a large-sized population is recommended.

A Better Way to Boil: Comparing Methods of Purifying Water at Home.

A Better Way to Boil: Comparing Methods of Purifying Water at Home.

Collaborative Leadership, Collective Action, and Community Governance against Public Health Crises under Uncertainty: A Case Study of the Quanjingwan Community in China.

In the face of a public health crisis full of uncertainty, how should the community respond in order to effectively reduce the negative impact of the epidemic on public health? This article takes a Chinese rural community located near Wuhan City as an example to explore the mechanism of how collaborative leadership enhanced collective action in community governance against the COVID-19 pandemic. Early blockading to prevent transmission into the community, strict maintenance of social distance to prevent internal diffusion, timely elimination of public panic, and efficient guarantees of household supplies have proven effective in preventing the spread of the epidemic. Our research shows that collaborative leadership can achieve these goals mainly by effectively integrated local knowledge, modern information technology, and social self-organization, and then promoting the realization of collective action of community epidemic prevention and control. The lessons and implications for public health are discussed.

The Protection and Landscape Characteristics of Traditional Villages in Coastal Areas of SW China

Cai, Z.; Li, J., and Wang, J., 2020. The protection and landscape characteristics of traditional villages in coastal areas of SW China. In: Liu, X. and Zhao, L. (eds.), Today's Modern Coastal Society: Technical and Sociological Aspects of Coastal Research. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 111, pp. 331–335. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Traditional villages are part of the cultural heritage of Chinese rural communities, with histories extending thousands of years. It is necessary to establish a system of indicators that can accurately measure the value of traditional villages and allow objective assessment of the current state of conservation. This paper takes the traditional village of Quanzhou City, a coastal city in SW China, as an example. Relying on documentary data analysis, GIS spatial analysis, and relevant mathematical and statistical methods, the distribution patterns of traditional villages are revealed. The index system for the evaluation of the current conservation state of traditional villages is constructed based on the combination of elements of building materials, elevations, and decoration styles. Thus, it can reflect the current status and control direction of the conservation and utilization of buildings in traditional villages. Therefore, it provides basic theoretical research about and support for the conservation and utilization of traditional villages and buildings in the SW coastal area.

Coping Mechanisms and Resilience in Later Life: The Role of Family and Friendship Ties in Diverse Settings

The papers in this symposium explore different aspects of social ties and how they act as critical coping mechanisms in the face of negative circumstances in later life. Using data from diverse settings, including China, Singapore, and the U.S., these papers underscore the importance of strong family and friendship ties, as they offer older adults with strong protection against social isolation and adverse health outcomes. Gupta and Pilai explore the similarity and differences in coping strategies/resilience among a diverse group of 30 U.S. older adults. Results point to the saliency of support from friends, regardless of race/ethnicity. Visaria addresses the relationship between the expression of loneliness and objective measures of social networks among older adults in Singapore. The findings shed light on how meaningful companionship and desired social connection offer powerful buffers against isolation in later life. Ruan and Chen explore which types of social ties offer the strongest protection when Chinese older adults are coping with the aftermath of negative life events. Findings point to the need to look beyond filial obligations and to consider the interplay among various forms of social support, including family, friends and the broader community. Zhang et al. examine the role of family and friendship ties in a rural Chinese community where many older adults were left behind by migrant children. The results suggest that those who are isolated from friends experience more depressive symptoms while those with close-knit friendship ties are the most resilient.

Social Control of the Tendency of Migration from Chinese Post-Substantial Rural Community

Social Control of the Tendency of Migration from Chinese Post-Substantial Rural Community