Psychometric evaluation of Korean version of COVID-19 fear scale (K-FS-8): A population based cross-sectional study

COVID-19-related fear negatively affects the public's psychological well-being and health behaviours. Although psychological distress including depression and anxiety under COVID-19 is well-established in literature, research scarcely evaluated the fear of COVID-19 with a large sample using validated scale. This study aimed to validate a Korean version of fear scale(K-FS-8) using an existing fear scale(Breast Cancer Fear Scale; 8 items) and to measure the fear of COVID-19 in South Korea. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 2235 Korean adults from August to September 2020. The Breast Cancer Fear Scale was translated from English into Korean using forward-backward translation, and then face validity was assessed. Patient Health Questionnaire-4 and Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen for DSM-5 were used for assessing convergent validity of K-FS-8, and item response theory analysis was also conducted to further validate the K-FS-8. This study confirmed the validity and reliability of the K-FS-8. The validity of the scale was confirmed by convergent validity, known-group validity and item response theory analysis, and internal consistency was also examined(Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.92). This study also identified that 84.6% participants had high COVID-19 fear; whilst 26.3%, 23.2% and 13.4% participants had high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The K-FS-8 showed the acceptability measuring the fear of COVID-19 in the Korean population. The K-FS-8 can be applied to screen for fear of COVID-19 and related major public health crises identifying individuals with high levels of fear in primary care settings who will benefit from psychological support.

Transcultural Validation of the 12-Item Scale of Economic Abuse in Chinese Population

The aim of this study was to report translation and transcultural adaptation of the Chinese version of the 12-item scale of economic abuse (C-SEA-12) and evaluate its psychometric properties. Forward translation, backward translation followed by consensus meeting with expert committees were done to create the Chinese version. Then, the translated C-SEA-12 was validated on 399 Chinese adults from a territory-wide household survey in Hong Kong. A second-order factor model of C-SEA-12 was demonstrated with adequate goodness of fit (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .05, comparative fit index [CFI] = .99, Tucker-Lewis Index [TLI] = .98, SRMR = .03) through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability (Cronbach's α coefficient = .92) and validity were satisfactory. The C-SEA-12 was demonstrated to be a reliable and valid measurement to assess economic abuse in Chinese population.

Nonrestorative sleep scale: reliable and valid for the Chinese population

PURPOSE

To conduct a linguistic and psychometric evaluation of a Chinese version of the Nonrestorative Sleep Scale (NRSS).

METHODS

The Chinese NRSS was created from a standard forward-backward translation and trialed on 10 Chinese adults. Telephone interviews were then conducted with 100 adults, who completed the Chinese NRSS, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Toronto Hospital Alertness Test (THAT). A household survey was conducted with 20 subjects, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and a bifactor model was developed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the NRSS.

RESULTS

The bifactor model had the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), and comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.06, 0.06, and 0.97, respectively. Convergent validity was shown from the moderate associations with PSQI (r = - 0.66, P < 0.01), AIS (r = - 0.65, P < 0.01), CES-D (r = - 0.54, P < 0.01), and THAT (r = 0.68, P < 0.01). The coefficient omega (0.92), omega hierarchical (0.81), factor determinacy (0.93), H value (0.91), explained common variance (0.63), and percentage of uncontaminated correlations (0.80) derived from the bifactor CFA supported the essential unidimensionality of NRSS.

CONCLUSIONS

The Chinese NRSS is a valid and reliable essential unidimensional tool for the assessment of nonrestorative sleep in the Chinese population.

Use of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in Chinese male patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

PURPOSE

To test the psychometric properties of the International Prostate Symptom Score (Hong Kong Chinese version 2) (IPSS) in Chinese male patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) under secondary care.

METHODS

A prospective longitudinal study was done by interviewing subjects at baseline, at 2 week after baseline for assessing test-retest reliability and at 26 week after baseline for assessing responsiveness. All subjects were interviewed to complete a structured questionnaire including IPSS, Short Form-12 Health Survey version 2 (SF-12v2) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS).

RESULTS

The IPSS HRQOL score had weak correlations with SF-12v2 summary and DASS domain scores. For reliability analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.90 for the seven symptom-related items. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the IPSS total symptom score and HRQOL score were 0.90 and 0.86, respectively. For sensitivity, statistically significant differences were detected between the subjects with BPH and those without for IPSS total symptom score (effect size = 0.68) but not the IPSS HRQOL score. The areas under ROC curves for the IPSS total symptom and HRQOL scores were 0.67 and 0.60, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The IPSS was valid, reliable instrument in Chinese patients with BPH. The IPSS total symptom score, but not the HRQOL score, is sensitive in differentiating subgroups.

Using the Woman Abuse Screening Tool to Screen for and Assess Dating Violence in College Students

The study aimed to evaluate the measurement properties of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) in Chinese college students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hong Kong. A cutoff score of 10 was found to be able to discriminate between abused and nonabused Chinese young adults. The total score was significantly correlated with total scores for anxiety and depression on the Chinese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Two-factor structure of the WAST was supported by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The Chinese WAST was found to be valid in screening for and assessing intimate partner violence.

Controlling Anxiety Mediates the Influence of Childhood Adversities on Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Emerging Adults

Relatively little research has assessed the exposure-response relationship of childhood adversities on engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Also, no previous research has examined the interrelationship among childhood adversities, adult anxiety and depressive symptoms, and risky sexual behaviors. This study aimed to investigate their interrelationships. We used data from a multisite survey of emerging adults aged 18 to 29 studying at four universities in Hong Kong between September and December 2015. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the pathways from childhood adversities to risky sexual behaviors. Participants who had higher childhood adversity scores reported more severe adult anxiety symptoms (β = 0.20, p = 0.002); and adult anxiety symptoms were associated with significantly more risky sexual behaviors (β = 0.46, p < 0.0001). The model with adult anxiety symptoms as the mediator between childhood adversities and risky sexual behaviors showed good fit (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.04, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.96, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.94 and standardized root mean square residual [SRMSR] = 0.04). However, adult depressive symptoms failed to mediate between childhood adversities and risky sexual behaviors. This study demonstrates the link between childhood adversities and risky sexual behaviors via adult anxiety but not adult depressive symptoms. It is essential to reduce anxious symptoms in dealing with emerging adults who have risky sexual behaviors to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy.

The Impacts of Using Smartphone Dating Applications on Sexual Risk Behaviours in College Students in Hong Kong

Dating applications (apps) on smartphones have become increasingly popular. The aim of this study was to explore the association between the use of dating apps and risky sexual behaviours. Data were collected in four university campuses in Hong Kong. Subjects completed a structured questionnaire asking about the use of dating apps, sexual behaviours, and sociodemographics. Multiple linear and logistics regressions were used to explore factors associated with sexual risk behaviours. Six hundred sixty-six subjects were included in the data analysis. Factors associated with having unprotected sexual intercourse with more lifetime sexual partners included use of dating apps (β = 0.93, p<0.01), having one’s first sexual intercourse before 16 years of age (β = 1.74, p<0.01), being older (β = 0.4, p<0.01), currently being in a relationship (= 0.69, p<0.05), having a monthly income at least HKD$5,000 (β = 1.34, p<0.01), being a current smoker (β = 1.52, p<0.01), and being a current drinker (β = 0.7, p<0.01). The results of a multiple logistic regression analysis found that users of dating apps (adjust odds ratio: 0.52, p<0.05) and current drinkers (adjust odds ratio: 0.40, p<0.01) were less likely to have consistent condom use. Users of dating apps (adjust odds ratio: 1.93, p<0.05), bisexual/homosexual subjects (adjust odds ratio: 2.57, p<0.01) and female subjects (adjust odds ratio: 2.00, p<0.05) were more likely not to have used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse. The present study found a robust association between using dating apps and sexual risk behaviours, suggesting that app users had greater sexual risks. Interventions that can target app users so that they can stay safe when seeking sexual partners through dating apps should be developed.

Dating violence, quality of life and mental health in sexual minority populations: a path analysis

PURPOSE

Theories explaining the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on mental health have focused on heterosexual relationships. It is unclear whether mental health disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority people are due to IPV or factors related to sexual orientation. The present study aimed to investigate pathways of how sexual orientation influenced quality of life and mental health.

METHODS

The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 1076 young adults in a university population (934 heterosexual and 142 sexual minority groups). Structural equation modelling was used to examine the pathways of sexual orientation, dating violence, sexual orientation concealment, quality of life and mental health (perceived stress, anxiety and depression).

RESULTS

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, quality of life in sexual minority people was poorer [estimate -2.82, 95 % confidence interval (CI) -4.77 to -0.86, p = 0.005], and stress (estimate 2.77, 95 % CI 1.64-3.92, p < 0.0001), anxiety (estimate 1.84, 95 % CI 1.13-2.56, p < 0.0001) and depression levels (estimate 0.62, 95 % CI 0.05-1.2, p < 0.0001) were higher than in heterosexual people. Dating violence and sexual orientation concealment were mediators, with the models showing a good fit.

CONCLUSION

Our study has progressed investigation of the link between sexual orientation and quality of life and mental health in the Chinese context. It has helped identify health disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority people and determined specific factors affecting their quality of life and mental health.

The Impacts of Using Smartphone Dating Applications on Sexual Risk Behaviours in College Students in Hong Kong

Dating applications (apps) on smartphones have become increasingly popular. The aim of this study was to explore the association between the use of dating apps and risky sexual behaviours. Data were collected in four university campuses in Hong Kong. Subjects completed a structured questionnaire asking about the use of dating apps, sexual behaviours, and sociodemographics. Multiple linear and logistics regressions were used to explore factors associated with sexual risk behaviours. Six hundred sixty-six subjects were included in the data analysis. Factors associated with having unprotected sexual intercourse with more lifetime sexual partners included use of dating apps (β = 0.93, p<0.01), having one's first sexual intercourse before 16 years of age (β = 1.74, p<0.01), being older (β = 0.4, p<0.01), currently being in a relationship (= 0.69, p<0.05), having a monthly income at least HKD$5,000 (β = 1.34, p<0.01), being a current smoker (β = 1.52, p<0.01), and being a current drinker (β = 0.7, p<0.01). The results of a multiple logistic regression analysis found that users of dating apps (adjust odds ratio: 0.52, p<0.05) and current drinkers (adjust odds ratio: 0.40, p<0.01) were less likely to have consistent condom use. Users of dating apps (adjust odds ratio: 1.93, p<0.05), bisexual/homosexual subjects (adjust odds ratio: 2.57, p<0.01) and female subjects (adjust odds ratio: 2.00, p<0.05) were more likely not to have used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse. The present study found a robust association between using dating apps and sexual risk behaviours, suggesting that app users had greater sexual risks. Interventions that can target app users so that they can stay safe when seeking sexual partners through dating apps should be developed.