Oi Kwan Joyce Chung

Relationships among Mental Health, Self-esteem and Physical Health in Chinese Adolescents An exploratory study

This study explored the relationships among mental health, self-esteem and physical health in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. Chinese students (N = 1945) between the ages of 12 and 19 from four secondary schools of different regions were invited to participate in the study. This study revealed that a significant number of adolescents in Hong Kong are experiencing depressive symptoms. The overall results indicated that self-esteem of adolescents was correlated to and a predictor of their physical and mental health. Health care professionals should take a more assertive role in promoting relevant health education to the community with emphasis on helping adolescents develop positive self-esteem.

The impact of cancer on children's physical, emotional, and psychosocial well-being.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are a stressful and threatening experience, which can be emotionally devastating to children. Despite the improved prognosis, the course of cancer treatment has tremendous impact on children. This article aims to examine the impact of cancer on physical, emotional, and psychosocial well-being of Hong Kong Chinese children, an area of research that has been underrepresented in the literature. Ninety-eight Hong Kong Chinese children aged 7 to 15 years, admitted for treatment of cancer in 2 pediatric oncology units of 2 different hospitals, were invited to participate in the study. Findings from this study indicated that the children scored considerably high state anxiety on admission, and more than half of the participants presented some depressive symptoms during their stay in the hospital. Moreover, semistructured interviews indicated that nearly all children expressed different degrees of sadness and worry. The findings suggested that there is a room for improvement in existing nursing intervention regarding preparing children for hospitalization and treatment of cancer. There is an imperative need for nurses to evaluate appropriate nursing interventions that can help children resume their normal growth and development, in particular, to help them ease the physical, emotional, and psychological burden of life-threatening disease.

Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children: psychometric testing of the Chinese version

AIM This paper is a report of psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children. BACKGROUND The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that accurately detects depressive symptoms in children is crucial before any psychological intervention can be appropriately planned and evaluated. There is no such an instrument for Chinese children. METHODS A test-retest, within-subjects design was used. A total of 313 primary school students between the ages of 8 and 12 years were invited to participate in the study in 2009. Participants were asked to respond to the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, short form of the State Anxiety Scale for Children and Rosenbergs Self-Esteem Scale. The internal consistency, content validity and construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children were assessed. RESULTS The newly-translated scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency, good content validity and appropriate convergent and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis added further evidence of the construct validity of the scale. CONCLUSION Results suggest that the newly-translated scale can be used as a self-report assessment tool in detecting depressive symptoms of Chinese children aged between 8 and 12 years.

Effectiveness of an integrated adventure-based training and health education program in promoting regular physical activity among childhood cancer survivors

There is growing concern about declining levels of physical activity in childhood cancer survivors. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an integrated adventure‐based training and health education program in promoting changes in exercise behavior and enhancing the physical activity levels, self‐efficacy, and quality of life of Hong Kong Chinese childhood cancer survivors.

The Relationship Between Children's Locus of Control and Their Anticipatory Anxiety

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the relationship between childrens locus of control and their state anxiety scores, and determined whether childrens locus of control could predict their state anxiety scores before academic examinations. DESIGN A test-retest within subjects design was used. SAMPLE 519 school children were invited to participate in the study. MEASUREMENTS Participants were asked to respond to the Chinese version of the Nowicki-Strickland locus of control scale and state anxiety scale for children in stressful and nonstressful situations. The data were collected in 2005. RESULTS There were significant strong positive correlations between the state anxiety and locus of control scores in the period before academic examinations. Multiple regression analysis showed that the Nowicki-Strickland locus of control score was a good predictor of childrens state anxiety in a stressful situation. CONCLUSIONS This study supports the use of the Nowicki-Strickland locus of control scale as a screening tool to identify school children who are most likely to exhibit high levels of anxiety before academic examinations. Understanding childrens locus of control in advance is a necessary step toward designing appropriate interventions to reduce their stress and bolster their coping mechanisms.

Coping strategies used by children hospitalized with cancer: an exploratory study

Objectives: The treatment of cancer is a stressful and threatening experience, particularly for children. Knowing how children cope with cancer is a crucial step toward designing appropriate psychological interventions that help them ease the burden of cancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the coping strategies used by Chinese children hospitalized with cancer, an area of research that is under‐represented in the existing literature.

A descriptive study of the psychosocial well-being and quality of life of childhood cancer survivors in Hong Kong

Background: Research indicates that increased survival rates are accompanied by an increase in associated psychosocial problems. Whereas much of the attention has focused on the physiological care of childhood cancer survivors, the consequences of cancer and its treatments on psychosocial well-being and quality of life remain relatively underexplored. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the psychosocial well-being and quality of life of Hong Kong Chinese childhood cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was used. A total of 137 childhood cancer survivors (9- to 16-year olds) who underwent medical follow-up in the outpatient clinic were invited to participate in the study. Results: A significant number of childhood cancer survivors had low self-esteem and experienced high levels of depression. The study also indicated that greater symptoms of depression in childhood cancer survivors were associated with higher state anxiety, lower self-esteem, and poor quality of life. Conclusions: Cancer and its treatments can have adverse effects on the psychosocial well-being and quality of life of survivors. Implications for Practice: It is essential for nurses to develop and evaluate interventions with the aim of promoting psychosocial well-being and quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. Knowing the self-esteem and coping behavior of survivors can help design appropriate and effective psychosocial interventions to promote their psychosocial well-being.

Coping behaviour checklist for Chinese children: development and psychometric testing

AIM This paper is a report of development and psychometric testing of the coping behaviour checklist for Chinese children. BACKGROUND An understanding of the coping behaviour of children is an essential prerequisite for the design of an appropriate psychological intervention to enhance childrens ability to cope with stressful medical procedures and hospitalization. Review of literature reveals that there is lack of child-sensitive measurement tools in the Chinese culture for assessing coping behaviours of children with good psychometric properties. METHODS An instrument development and validation study was conducted. Phase 1 was designed to develop a checklist of coping behaviour for Chinese children, while in phase 2 the psychometric properties of the new scale were tested. A total of 168 (phase 1) and 236 (phase 2) children between the ages of 7 and 12 years, were invited to participate in this study in 2008 and 2009, respectively; 228 completed both phases of data collection. RESULTS On the basis of the results of qualitative interview data, the coping behaviour checklist for Chinese children was developed. The newly developed scale had adequate internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability, high content validity and appropriate construct validity. Confirmatory factor analysis further added evidence of the construct validity of the scale. CONCLUSION The instrument can be used to identify the coping behaviour of Hong Kong Chinese children aged between 7 and 12 years. Knowing the coping behaviour of children in advance can help nurses to shape and design appropriate psychological interventions that can help children better cope with stressful medical procedures and hospitalization.

Predisposing Factors to the Quality of Life of Childhood Cancer Survivors

The aim of this study was to examine the predisposing factors to the quality of life of Hong Kong Chinese childhood cancer survivors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 153 survivors (9-16 years of age) during follow-up at the oncology outpatient clinic. The study found that depressive symptoms are a strong predictor of quality of life in childhood cancer survivors and that systematic screening of this population is important. It is essential for health care professionals to develop, plan, and evaluate interventions with the aim of alleviating depressive symptoms for childhood cancer survivors so as to enhance their quality of life.

Sustainability of an Integrated Adventure-Based Training and Health Education Program to Enhance Quality of Life Among Chinese Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Physical activity is of paramount importance to enhance the quality of life of childhood cancer survivors. Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine the sustainability, feasibility, and acceptability of an adventure-based training and health education program in changing the exercise behavior and enhancing the physical activity levels, self-efficacy, and quality of life of childhood cancer survivors. Methods: A follow-up study (12 and 18 months) of a previous study was conducted. Participants in the experimental group (n = 33) joined a 4-day integrated adventure-based training and health education program. The control group (n = 36) received the standard medical care. Changes in exercise behavior, levels of physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life were assessed from the time of recruitment, and at 12 and 18 months after starting the intervention. Process evaluation was conducted to determine whether the program was feasible and acceptable to participants. Results: From baseline to 18 months after the intervention, the experimental group reported statistically significant differences in the stages of change in physical activity and higher levels of physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life than did the control group. The results of process evaluation revealed that the program was both feasible and acceptable to participants. Conclusions: The program was found to have substantial effects on enhancing the physical activity levels, self-efficacy, and quality of life of childhood cancer survivors over at least 18 months. Implications for Practice: Healthcare professionals should consider adopting such programs to promote the regular physical activity among childhood cancer survivors.