Charles C. Chan

Optimism, positive affectivity, and salivary cortisol

OBJECTIVES Research on stress and salivary cortisol has focused almost exclusively on the effects of negative psychological conditions or emotional states. Little attention has been drawn to the impact associated with positive psychological conditions, which have been shown recently to have significant influences on neuroendocrine regulation. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of optimism and positive affect on salivary cortisol with the effects of their negative counterparts controlled for. DESIGN Optimism and pessimism, and positive and negative affectivity were studied in relation to the diurnal rhythm of salivary cortisol in a group of 80 Hong Kong Chinese, who provided six saliva samples over the course of a day on two consecutive days. The separate effects of optimism and positive affect on two dynamic components of cortisol secretion, awakening response, and diurnal decline were examined. METHODS Optimism and pessimism were measured using the Chinese version of the revised Life Orientation Test while generalized affects and mood states were assessed by the Chinese Affect Scale. An enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay kit (EIA) developed for use in saliva was adopted for the biochemical analysis of cortisol. Testing of major group differences associated with positive psychological conditions was carried out using two-way (group by saliva collection time) ANOVAs for repeated measures with negative psychological conditions and mood states as covariates. RESULTS Participants having higher optimism scores exhibited less cortisol secretion in the awakening period when the effect of pessimism and mood were controlled. This effect was more apparent in men than in women who had higher cortisol levels in the awakening period. Optimism did not have similar effect on cortisol levels during the underlying period of diurnal decline. On the other hand, higher generalized positive affect was associated with lower cortisol levels during the underlying period of diurnal decline after the effects of negative affect and mood states had been controlled. Generalized positive affect did not significantly influence cortisol secretion during the awakening period. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that positive psychological resources including optimism and generalized positive affect had higher impact on cortisol secretion than their negative counterparts, and point to the need for increased attention to the potential contribution of positive mental states to well-being.

Coping strategies and social support-seeking behaviour among Chinese caring for older people with dementia

ABSTRACT The study reviewed coping and help-seeking behaviour among Hong Kong Chinese family care-givers of older people diagnosed with dementia. A convenience sample of those caring for family members with dementia (N=11) was recruited in Hong Kong. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and analysed using NVivo. The study found evidence of distinct Chinese coping strategies that focused upon internal self-regulation, forbearance and family obligations. In terms of help-seeking behaviour, these care-givers expressed great concern about bothering their family members. When there is a desperate need for help, they turn to community services. Results are discussed in the context of both traditional Chinese cultural values as well as the modern transformations of the Chinese society. In particular, Eastern philosophical teachings tend to focus on changing personal inner perception and thoughts rather than attempting to change the environment. Although family obligations have been traditionally upheld, many modern Chinese societies are undergoing social and demographic changes, resulting in marked decline in multi-generational households. Our findings can have applications not only for Chinese cities but also may have implications to the West as strong well-established Chinese communities are widespread.

Unintentional residential child injury surveillance in Hong Kong.

Objectives:  To provide an overall pattern of morbidity in unintentional residential childhood injuries (URCI) in Hong Kong.

Empathy, coping, social support, and mental health in local and migrant adolescents in Beijing

Abstract While identity formation is evolving during adolescence, migration poses additional demands and challenges as well as new choices. Apart from the coping and social support, there is growing interest in the effect of social competence factors on the mental health of migrants. The current study aims to examine mental health and the relevant correlates among local and migrant adolescents in China. It is hypothesized that empathy would have incremental influence on the local and migrant students’ mental health on top of the commonly known coping and social support variables. Two hundred and eighty six junior secondary school students were recruited from a public school in Beijing. Hierarchical regression was conducted to observe the influences of these variables on their mental health. The coping variables were entered as the first block and the perceived social support variables were entered as the second. Empathy (including perspective taking and empathetic concern) variables were entered as the third block to determine their unique contribution to understanding the mental health value. Empathy explained additional variances of mental health on top of coping and perceived social support factors for both local and migrant students. Results are discussed in the context of enhancing perspective taking to help with migrants’ adjustment.

Intensive Community Mentoring Scheme in Hong Kong: Nurturing Police-Youth Intergenerational Relationships

. The Intensive Community Mentoring Scheme (ICM) is a preventive, intergenerational psychological program jointly organized by the Network for Health and Welfare Studies (NHWS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Hong Kong Police Force. Funded by the Quality Education Fund (a designated fund for education reform administered by the Education Manpower Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government), the program serves 124 students from three middle to low banding schools in Hong Kong. Located in low socio-economic and crime-prone neighborhoods, the schools have a substantial proportion of . students exhibiting the following characteristics: (1) low motivation in learning; (2) compulsive behavior; (3) psychological disturbances caused by family problems; and (4) lack of a positive outlook on the future. The

A review of features and outcomes of the Hong Kong Child Development Fund

Highlighting the policy background and programme innovations of the HKD 300 million Child Development Fund Pioneer Projects, this article presents results from a quasi-experimental study of 750 adolescents in the first-batch projects. The projects combine a matched-savings programme, a mentorship programme and personal development plans. These features demonstrate the impact of financial and non-financial assets developed over a three-year period, so that participating children are more likely to leave poverty in the long term. Findings are largely positive, showing a high rate of saving completions and identifying programme effects on life-goal planning. Reciprocal and mutual trust between mentor and mentee are associated with adolescent psychosocial development. Furthermore, the community becomes more prepared to use an asset-building approach to alleviate intergenerational poverty. Nevertheless, the results suggest that training and support for mentors and financial literacy for parents need to be strengthened to increase the programmes influence.

Towards Culturally Sensitive EAP Counseling for Chinese in Hong Kong

Abstract With the economic recession in Hong Kong, employee assistance programs (EAP) have become increasingly imperative. This paper reviews the existing methods of operation of EAP counseling in Hong Kong. Two models of operation-internal and external-are identified. While each model has its strengths and weaknesses, neither has taken into account the importance of cultural context. Most EAP counseling services in Hong Kong reflect an unrefined attempt to adapt Western theories to the Chinese cultural context of Hong Kong. The result is often a mismatch between the theoretical framework and the cultural realities. This paper suggests a non-normative, culturally sensitive model that concentrates on the strengths of the employees and the organization. The model is based on a solution-focused framework that integrates cultural, organizational factors and intervention approaches.

Validating narrative data on residential child injury

Abstract Problem: Devising a systematic method for analyzing and disseminating narrative descriptions of residential child injuries in Hong Kong. Method: Narrative descriptions of the injury events, sampled from a university teaching hospital, were categorized by three variables related to a residential child injury event. Four raters coded the descriptions. Results were tested on multirater reliability. Results: Satisfactory multirater kappa in coding “childs action (CA)” and “object becoming hazard (OBH)” variables confirms stability within these categories. Low agreement in coding the “other human agent (OHA)” variable revealed the conceptual and technical complexity in the definition of appropriate child supervision. Impact on industry: This study presented a systematic method for the analysis and dissemination of narrative injury data on residential child injuries, offering empirically derived content for local injury prevention programs. Results from this study address the etiology of residential childhood injuries from a process analytic perspective and bring forth intervention that acknowledges the effect of a persons environment interaction.

The relevance of executive functioning to academic performance in Hong Kong adolescents

Abstract The wide-ranging abilities falling under the umbrella of executive functioning (EF) have been suggested to be associated with the capacity to perform well academically. The present study explored the association between various aspects of EF, including conceptual flexibility, monitoring and inhibition, and academic performance in a local adolescent sample. Results lent support to the multidimensionality of EF. Specifically, motor inhibition and cognitive inhibition were identified as separable components of the construct of inhibition. Among the three EF dimensions, conceptual flexibility was found to have significant contribution in predicting academic achievement. Findings were discussed with reference to the local education context and the methodological issues involved in the present study.

Community Response to SARS in Hong Kong: A Fresh Research Agenda

The cause of immense social cohesion among Hong Kong citizens and organisations during the SARS epidemic and the existing literature were reviewed. The authors argue that the key to success in community involvement and mobilisation toward infectious disease control requires a closer research study especially by psychosocial professionals working in synchrony with the medical and scientific community. The agenda for such fresh area of research must be fully appreciated.