Sheung-Tak Cheng

Age and subjective well-being revisited: A discrepancy perspective

The hypothesis that the age effect on subjective well-being was entirely mediated by goal discrepancies (GDs) was tested with structural equation modeling. Six GDs grouped into 3 broad categories (relationships, health, and others) were differentially related to age. Whereas GD relationships and GD others (e.g., materials) decreased with age, GD health increased with age. GD health had smaller effects on subjective well-being than GDs in relationships and other life domains. Hence, the net effect of all the GDs on well-being was positive. GD variations because of age could completely explain the age trends in life satisfaction and positive affect, and partially the age trend in negative affect.

Generativity in Later Life: Perceived Respect From Younger Generations as a Determinant of Goal Disengagement and Psychological Well-being

It was hypothesized that actions to benefit the next generation would not lead to well-being unless they are perceived to be valued and respected and that the lack of perceived respect would further lead to disengagement from generative goals. Older persons responded to measures of generative concern, action, perceived respect, and psychological well-being at 2 time points 12 months apart. Structural equation modeling showed that at both time points, the effect of action on well-being was completely mediated by perceived respect. Moreover, a lack of perceived respect at baseline predicted a decrease in generative concern 12 months later, suggesting that, in later life, continuing concern is partly dependent on the attitudes of younger generations. When their attitudes are unfavorable, a downward spiral in generativity development and well-being is possible.

AN ERROR IN THE USE OF TRANSLATED SCALES: THE ROSENBERG SELF-ESTEEM SCALE FOR CHINESE

Problems in syntax may occur when a scale is translated into another language. The psychometric property of the translated scale may be adversely affected when such problems occur. This article discusses this problem with reference to the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale.

Age differences in forgiveness: the role of future time perspective.

This study investigated whether the age trend in forgiveness is partly attributable to age differences in time perspective. Eighty-nine younger and 91 older adults were randomized into 3 experimental conditions: time-expanded, time-limited, and neutral. They responded to hypothetical offensive scenarios and rated the degree to which they would forgive the perpetrator. Results showed that older adults were more forgiving than younger adults, but regardless of age, those in the time-limited condition were more forgiving than those in the time-expanded or the neutral condition. An Age x Time perspective interaction showed that only in older adults did a time-expanded manipulation lead to lower forgiveness than the neutral condition.

The Development and Validation of an Index of Emotional Disposition and Mood State: The Chinese Affect Scale:

A short measure of trait and state negative and positive affect (Chinese Affect Scale) was developed for Chinese-speaking people. From indigenously derived affect markers the characteristic two-factor structure of affect was derived in both a student and an adult sample in Hong Kong. Scores from the resulting negative (NA) and positive (PA) affect scales had reasonable internal and retest reliabilities and high convergent and discriminant validity, with NA correlating with neuroticism, negative self-appraisal, stress, and pessimism; and PA correlating with extraversion, positive self-appraisal, optimism, and self-esteem. Both state NA and PA versions of the scales were shown to be sensitive to episodal mood changes over life events (daily log), to laboratory mood induction, and to movie themes for moviegoers in a field setting. The psychometric properties of the CAS were replicable in the student and adult samples.

Predicting Antipollution Behavior The Role of Molar Behavioral Intentions, Past Behavior, and Locus of Control

The moderating effect of past behavior and locus of control in the relationship between attitudes and multiple behavioral intentions were investigated among Chinese students to test the theory of reasoned action. Measures of locus of control, past proenvironmental behavior, attitude, social norm, and personal control toward the act of signing an antipollution petition were compared to the actual act of signing a relevant petition to government in a 5-week follow-up. Past behavior and attitude, but not locus of control, predicted behavioral intentions. A specific attitude-multiple intention model fitted petition signing behavior extremely well, with more than 90% accuracy. The relevance of past behavior and more general measures of intended commitment to proenvironmental behavior are discussed.

Self-efficacy Is Associated With Less Burden and More Gains From Behavioral Problems of Alzheimer’s Disease in Hong Kong Chinese Caregivers

PURPOSE To test the effects of different self-efficacy beliefs on caregiver appraisals and depressive symptoms. We hypothesized that self-efficacy has a direct effect on depression while moderating the effects of behavioral problems on both negative (i.e., burden) and positive (i.e., uplifting) appraisals. DESIGN AND METHODS Ninety-nine Chinese caregivers of relatives with Alzheimers disease responded to measures of self-efficacy, positive gains, burden, depression, and care recipient behavioral problems. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis supported a 3-factor structure for the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (obtaining respite, responding to disruptive behaviors, and controlling upsetting thoughts). Interaction effects in regression showed that caregivers with higher self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts had more positive gains and less burden when confronted with more behavioral problems. Self-efficacy in obtaining respite had direct effects on burden and depression, and self-efficacy in responding to disruptive behaviors had a direct effect on positive gains, but not moderating effects. IMPLICATIONS The results supported the multidimensional structure of caregiver self-efficacy and showed that efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts was most important in buffering the effects of behavioral problems on burden and positive gains among Chinese caregivers. Interventions for dementia caregivers may be more effective if more emphasis is given on changing negative thoughts.

Shame, internalized heterosexism, lesbian identity, and coming out to others: A comparative study of lesbians in mainland China and Hong Kong.

The purpose of this study was to investigate coming out to family and friends and their relationships to shame, internalized heterosexism, lesbian identity, and perceived social support in Chinese lesbians from 2 different cultural settings-Mainland China (N = 244) and Hong Kong (N = 234). Results of structural equation modeling showed that, in both samples, a sense of shame was related to internalized heterosexism and a devaluation of ones lesbian identity, which in turn was related to a decreased likelihood of coming out to others. Shame was also associated with a reduced perception of support from friends, which seemed in turn to exacerbate internalized heterosexism among lesbians. Family support was generally unrelated to outness, except for outness to friends in the Hong Kong sample. Results are discussed in relation to the cultural stigma attached to same-sex orientation and the cultural practice of shaming that parents use to socialize children.

Social Exchanges and Subjective Well-being: Do Sources of Positive and Negative Exchanges Matter?

OBJECTIVES To decompose the effects of positive and negative social exchanges on well-being in terms of relationship type (vertically extended family, horizontally extended family, or nonfamily) and subjective closeness (close vs. peripheral). METHODS One thousand and five Chinese older adults rated each network member on positive and negative exchanges, which were aggregated for each relationship type and closeness category. Regression analyses estimated the influences of positive and negative exchanges on well-being, controlling for network size, health, and demographic factors. RESULTS Social exchanges with close and peripheral vertical family members as well as close horizontal family members were associated with well-being, whereas exchanges with nonkin did not contribute independent effects. These results were similar for both positive and negative exchanges. DISCUSSION Well-being is determined not just by social exchanges but also by where they come from. In this regard, the vertical family, the horizontal family, and the nonfamily represent a hierarchy of preference for Chinese older adults, which, to some extent, reflects the influence of familism.

Factorial Structure of the Kidcope in Hong Kong Adolescents

Abstract The Kidcope (A. Spirito, L. J. Stark, & C. Williams, 1988), a brief screening measure of coping strategies for children and adolescents, was subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in a sample of adolescents in Hong Kong. A 2-factor model was found to fit the data when only the 2 emotional regulation items were treated separately and were allowed to load on the 2 different factors. Further analyses showed that factor loadings, factor variances, and factor covariance were invariant across age and gender. On the basis of the factor analyses, the authors created 2 composite scores, representing control-oriented and escape-oriented coping strategies. Implications for the use of the Kidcope in research and preventive intervention are discussed.