Longitudinal Trajectories of Social Mobility Beliefs among Chinese Adolescents: The Protective Roles of Parental Academic Involvement and Adolescent Future Orientation

Social mobility beliefs play a significant role in shaping adolescents' adaptive developmental outcomes, including well-being and academic functioning. Nevertheless, existing research may not cast light on the distinct trajectories and potential protective factors of social mobility beliefs. The present study aims to identify heterogeneity in trajectory patterns of social mobility beliefs among Chinese adolescents (Mage = 12.45, SDage = 2.60; 55.1% boys; 40.0% rural adolescents) in a four-wave (i.e., fall 2017, fall 2018, spring 2019, and fall 2019) longitudinal design, and examines the protective roles of parental academic involvement and adolescent future orientation. Three distinct trajectories of social mobility beliefs were identified: high-increasing (35.1%; a positive trajectory with the best developmental outcomes, including the lowest problem behaviors and depression symptoms, and the highest life satisfaction and academic competence), moderate-stable (49.8%), and low-decreasing (15.1%; a negative trajectory with the worst developmental outcomes, including the highest problem behaviors and depression symptoms, and the lowest life satisfaction and academic competence). Apart from the main effects of parental academic involvement and future orientation, a significant interaction effect of these two protective factors and adolescent group was detected, and only rural adolescents who reported both high levels of parental academic involvement and future orientation have a greater chance of being placed in the high-increasing trajectory than the low-decreasing trajectory. These findings highlight the significance of clarifying individual differences in the dynamic process of social mobility beliefs during adolescence, and elucidate rural-urban disparities in the influences of protective factors on social mobility beliefs trajectories, and inform individualized intervention strategies.

Family socioeconomic status and adolescent depression in urban and rural China: A trajectory analysis

Background

Depression is increasingly prevalent among Chinese adolescents, with socioeconomic status (SES) serving as a significant predictor. Understanding the link between family SES and depression is of paramount concern. This study aimed to delineate the developmental paths of depressive symptoms among urban and rural Chinese adolescents, focusing on the influence of family SES on these trajectories.

Methods

Data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) for 2012, 2016, and 2018 were used in this study. Participants were individuals aged 10 to 15 in the 2012 wave who also participated in the 2016 and 2018 waves (N = 1214). Family SES was measured by household income, parental education, and occupational status, while depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Employing the Growth Mix Model (GMM) unveiled depression trajectories, while logistic regression scrutinized the impact of family SES on these trajectories.

Results

The study identified three depression trajectories in urban adolescents: high-decreasing, low-stable, and low-rising levels of depressive symptoms, and two depression trajectories in rural adolescents: high-decreasing and low-stable levels of depressive symptoms. On average, rural adolescents reported higher depression levels than urban peers. In urban areas, adolescents with higher maternal education and parental occupation were more likely to be classified in the low-stable trajectory, while in rural areas only maternal education had predictive power for depression trajectories.

Conclusions

Depression trajectories differ between urban and rural in China. Maternal education is an important factor influencing rural sample grouping. Targeted interventions could be implemented to reduce depression in adolescents.

Rural-urban differences in associations between air pollution and cardiovascular hospital admissions in Guangxi, southwest China

Epidemiological studies found that exposure to air pollution increases cardiovascular hospitalizations. However, studies on rural-urban differences in associations between hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases and air pollution are limited. The generalized linear model (GLM) was applied to investigate the associations between cardiovascular hospitalizations and air pollution (SO₂, NO₂, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, and O₃) in Guangxi, southwest China, in 2015 (January 1-December 31). The relative risk of pollutants (SO₂, NO₂) on cardiovascular hospital admissions was significantly different between urban and rural areas. The effect of SO₂ on cardiovascular hospitalizations was higher in urban areas than in rural areas at lag0 to lag3 and cumulative lag01 to lag03. In urban areas, there were positive associations between NO₂ and cardiovascular hospitalizations at lag0, lag1 and cumulative lag01, lag02. In contrast, the effect of NO₂ on cardiovascular hospitalizations was not significant in rural areas. Urban residents were more sensitive than rural residents to SO₂ and NO₂. Subgroup analyses showed statistically significant differences between rural and urban areas in the association between SO₂ and NO₂ and cardiovascular hospitalizations for males. For age groups, people aged ≥ 65 years appeared to be more vulnerable to SO₂ and NO₂ in urban areas. The effects of PM_2.5 PM₁₀, CO, and O₃ on cardiovascular hospitalizations were consistently negative for all groups. Our findings indicated that there were rural-urban differences in associations between cardiovascular hospitalizations and air pollutants. In rural areas, the risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations was mainly influenced by SO₂. Therefore, we expect to pay attention to protecting people from air pollution, particularly for those aged ≥ 65 years in urban areas.

Area effects on the level and development of social exclusion in later life

Social exclusion in later life is associated with decreased quality of life and poorer health outcomes. Reducing the number of people at risk of exclusion is a key theme in European social policy, but there is limited understanding of the relationship between neighbourhood characteristics, personal attributes and the level and development of social exclusion in later life. In this paper, cross-classified multilevel growth curve models for predicting exclusion are fitted to seven waves of data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, collected between 2002 and 2015, allowing for the investigation of causal mechanisms linking area characteristics and exclusion in later life, including access to services and amenities, participation in civic, cultural and leisure activities and relationships with friends and family. Results show that living in a deprived area is associated with increased levels of exclusion, and this explained the higher levels of exclusion found for urban compared with rural areas. Population turnover among local residents did not impact on exclusion levels, but length of residence and the degree to which a person feels attached to their neighbourhood did, with ageing in place and stronger attachments predicting lower levels of social exclusion. In terms of individual characteristics, men, those in poor health, people with low levels of wealth or education, and those aged 80 or older, were more likely to experience increased levels of exclusion, while retirement and marriage provided a protective effect. The paper contributes new insights into the pathways through which characteristics of both individuals and neighbourhoods predict social exclusion in later life, and concludes by discussing the policy implications raised by the research.

Older adult social participation and its relationship with health: Rural-urban differences

In an aging world, there is increased need to identify places and characteristics of places that promote health among older adults. This study examines whether there are rural-urban differences in older adult social participation and its relationship with health. Using the 2003 and 2011 waves of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (n=3006), I find that older adults living in rural counties are less socially active than their counterparts in more-urban counties. I also find that relationships between social participation and health vary by the type of activity and rural-urban context.

Is geographical distance a barrier in the use of public primary health services among rural and urban young adults? Experience from Northern Finland

OBJECTIVES

To study the role of distance in public primary health service use in rural and urban local residential areas (1 km² grids) among the young adults of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (N = 4503).

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of a cohort born in Northern Finland in 1966.

METHODS

Use of local health centres was surveyed by postal questionnaire in 1997, and distance from study subjects' home to health centre was calculated along road network. The crude and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated for distance, predisposing and illness-level variables. Distance-related health inequity indices were calculated.

RESULTS

The IRRs indicated 1.5-fold higher rate of health centre visits among subjects living farther than 10 km compared to subjects living within 2 km from health centre in urban areas. In rural areas, IRRs indicated no significant association with distance and health centre use. No distance-related inequity in the use of health centre services was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Distance does not seem to be major barrier in health service use among these 31-year old adults. However, closer study of some groups, such as the rural unemployed, might be valuable.

Diseases of ageing in Ghana

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the paper was to outline the chronic non-communicable disease burden of older adults and predict the odds of living with a chronic non-communicable disease in Ghana.

DESIGN

The paper utilized descriptive and analytical statistical methods to assess the level of chronic noncommunicable diseases among older adults.

SETTING

Data from the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) conducted in 2005 in Ghana were used. It comprises 507 individuals aged 50 years and over across the country.

RESULTS

The result shows that 45% had oral health problems, 33% were hypertensive, 14% reported having arthritis; 7% had been diagnosed with diabetes, 6% had a cardiovascular condition (Angina) and 4.9% were receiving treatment for stroke or had been diagnosed with stroke. The odds ratio of having a chronic non-communicable condition for those who lived in a rural area was twice as likely as those who reside in an urban area.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic non-communicable disease will have significant health and economic implications for the individual, family and the country. The paper posits that the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases among the elderly in the country will increase.