Yonggang Su

Quality of life in Chinese family caregivers for elderly people with chronic diseases.

BackgroundInadequate studies have been conducted in China to examine quality of life in family caregivers. Quality of life in family caregivers for elderly people with chronic diseases was evaluated, and the demographic and characteristic factors of both elderly people and their caregivers were explored.MethodsThe 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess health-related quality of life in 407 family caregivers caring for elderly people with chronic diseases in six communities on the Mainland China. The explanatory variables included family caregivers’ demographic and other caregiving variables related to eldercare. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were used in the data analysis, performed via SPSS 17.0.ResultsMean SF-36 and physical and mental component scores were 66.14 ± 17.50, 70.06 ± 16.49, and 62.22 ± 18.51, respectively. The scores of caregivers’ physical function and bodily pain were significantly higher, while the scores of caregivers’ role limitations due to physical problems, general health, vitality, social function, mental health and role limitations due to emotional problems were significantly lower. Caregivers’ ages, comorbidity, the perceived effects of caregiving on caregivers’ social lives and elderly individuals’ ages, marital status and Activities of Daily Living scores were significantly associated with the physical component score. In addition, caregivers’ age, the affordability of the elderly person’s healthcare expenses, the perceived effects of caregiving on caregivers’ social lives, and elderly people’s marital status and ADL scores were significantly associated with the mental component score.ConclusionFamily caregivers for elderly people with chronic diseases showed poorer mental and better physical well-being. Factors of both elderly people and their caregivers impact the caregivers’ quality of life. These findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health of family caregivers, and of providing economical support and psychological care for them.

Suicidal Ideation and Psychological Strain Among Patients Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer: The Mediation of Psychopathological Factors

Abstract Patients with stomach cancer are at high risk to experience suicidal ideation. Strain theory of suicide assumes that suicide is preceded by psychological strain. Despite wide international acceptance of the theory, its use with a sample of patients with stomach cancer has not previously been reported. The aims were to examine the relationship between psychological strain and suicidal ideation among patients with stomach cancer and to determine whether psychopathological factors act as mediators. A cross-sectional study was undertaken involving subjects with no history of mental disorder, and questionnaires were administered by face-to-face interview. Patients who experienced more psychological strain, especially coping strain, are more likely to experience suicidal ideation. The mediation effects of hopelessness and psychological distress are significant. Psychological strain, hopelessness, and psychological distress may be the vital factors among patients with stomach cancer in the suicide-risk assessment interview and for care planning and psychological intervention.

Social Support Moderates the Effects of Self-esteem and Depression on Quality of Life Among Chinese Rural Elderly in Nursing Homes

HIGHLIGHTSAge, self‐esteem, depression and social support can predict rural elderlys QoL.Social support can moderate self‐esteem and QoL with depression controlled.Social support can moderate depression and QoL when self‐esteem controlled.Family and others support are the moderators in the relation of self‐esteem and QoL.Family support plays moderating effect in the association between depression and QoL.

Psychological distress in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis: the risk factors, protection factors, and cumulative effect

Abstract This study aimed to examine the psychological status among Chronic Atrophic Gastritis (CAG) patients and to find the cumulative effects of risk and protective factors. A sample of 101 CAG patients completed the investigation. Hierarchical linear regression was used to find risk and protective factors, and examine the cumulative effects in risk factor index (RFI) and protective factor index (PFI). Results showed that nine symptoms from SCL-90-R were severer among CAG patients than those in adult norm. Risk factors including positive family history of cancer and higher negative life events could predict higher GSI (β = 0.206, p = 0.023; β = 0.398, p < 0.001; R² = 0.203); more household resistant, positive coping and stronger resilience were protective factors and could predict GSI negatively (β = -0.188, p = 0.020; β = -0.350, p = 0.012; β = −0.066, p = 0.621; R² = 0.190). The GSI was positively correlated with RFI (β = 0.338, p < 0.001; R² = 0.113) and negatively related to PFI (β = −0.378, p < 0.001; R² = 0.133). In conclusion, CAG patients suffered from various psychological distress, and the protective factors should be enhanced cumulatively to protect against psychological distress.

Social Support as a Mediator of Physical Disability and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Elderly

&NA; The relationship between physical disability and depressive symptoms has been associated with social support. Different aspects of social support may play distinct roles in health‐related quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the mediation of social support in the relationship between physical disability and depressive symptoms among old people in Mainland China. Subjective support and utilization of support mediated the relationship between ADL and depressive symptoms, with the indirect effect of subjective support and utilization of support at 0.038 and 0.030 respectively (the total effect was 0.180). Subjective support was negatively associated with depressive symptoms in independent elderly people, utilization of support was negatively associated with depressive symptoms in partially dependent elderly people, and utilization of support had a greater association with geriatric depressive symptoms than subjective support in severely dependent elderly people. Social support mechanism and positive psychological intervention should be established and introduced in accordance with the physical disability of the elderly people, to protect them from depressive symptoms.