A Reflection of the Inclusive Attitude towards Homosexuality from the Buddhist Perspective

Although homosexuality is controversial, particularly in conservative communities, many Buddhists accept those whose sexual orientation is different from the majority. In light of scriptures, the Buddhist wisdom reveals compassion towards sentient beings, regardless of sex, age, and social class. This study discusses the Buddhist views on sexual minority, and on how Buddhists react to this challenge. It reveals the significance of inclusiveness in contemporary society

Community Health Awareness Model: Discussion Revisited on How Hong Kong People are Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic

There is a relatively low number of infections and COVID-19-incurred deaths in Hong Kong, with no city lockdown, despite unfavourable factors such as it having a busy transportation centre, directly adjacent borders, a high population density and a poor living environment. Even worse, confused, inconsistent policies and tactics have created more difficulties for citizens to defeat this health crisis. Having experienced SARS 17 years ago, the Hong Kong people are self-motivated and self-empowered to adopt prevention measures, including face masks, social distancing and personal hygiene. The civic synergy between the people, non-governmental organisations and the community forms a community health awareness model that mitigates risks of infection and protects residents, frontline workers, the community and the healthcare system. This compassionate and altruistic approach sheds light on the significance of humanity in coping with public health threats and attaining health equity amongst cultural diversity and social class variations. However, burnout is a potential peril in the case of long-term anti-pandemic efforts

Discussing the Injustice of the COVID-19 Vaccine Pass Imposed on Medical Consultation in Public Hospitals in Hong Kong

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated public health, economy and social life all over the world, especially wherever a vaccine pass scheme has been implemented. Many countries have begun to relax schedules to return to normal activities. In contrast, Hong Kong continues to tighten the utilisation of a vaccine pass for medical services in order to boost vaccination rates. Such a practice not only significantly challenges ethical and operative concerns but also threatens health equity and social justice for healthcare decision-makers and practitioners, consequently hurting public health and community well-being. This discussion analyses the various arguments, reviews vaccine hesitancy and suggests a holistic approach for solutions (aside from vaccination and medications) to strengthen individual immunity and therefore to deal with this disease more effectively, efficiently and ethically, including personal hygiene and lifestyle

The traditional Chinese Baduanjin exercise for the enhancements in health of older adults: a narrative review

Health debilitation negatively impacts the physical and psychiatric states of ageing persons, consequently increasing individual, familial, and social burdens. Physical exercise is an effective measure to cope with this problem, and Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, is one of the choices. This narrative review analyses 58 clinical studies, which indicate the efficacy of Baduanjin for the health of old adults, including in physiological refinement, bone diseases, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary illnesses, metabolic disorders, digestive sicknesses, cognitive impairment, and mental disorders. The results not only reveal the rehabilitative and preventive functions of Baduanjin, but also suggest health promotion through this physical activity for the ageing population. It also proposes improvements in methodological design and practical implications for the well being of seniors and successful ageing

INTERTWINED IMMERSION: THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE BUDDHIST MASTER COSTUMES AS AN EXAMPLE

Cultural pluralism and diversity give rise to debates on conflicts and inclusiveness. Scholars largely investigate how people manage their culture of origin within their host culture, and how the host culture helps them adapt to the changes they experience within their new environment. However, both cultures can merge peacefully and the involved cultures can flourish as a result. The evolvement of jiasha, the attire of Chinese Buddhist masters, illustrates intertwined immersion, in which traditional Chinese (domestic) and Buddhist (imported) cultures show their openness, tolerance, and acceptance to foreign cultures. Finally, while maintaining the significance of Indian Buddhist clothing, jiasha has adopted Chinese dress style, incorporating local cultural and environmental characteristics. This manifests great respect for both traditional Chinese and Buddhist cultures, harmoniously achieving this hybrid product that mutually rejuvenates and enriches native and foreign cultures

A Marathon Search for My Deserved Body: How a Chinese Male-to-Female Manages Gender Nonconformity

The hegemony of dichotomous gender identity dominates the discourse on the issues of sex and gender. Through this means, irrational fear brings about prejudice, stigmatisation, discrimination, and exclusion towards individuals who suffer from gender nonconformity. Despite relevant substantial literature, there is a paucity of research on Chinese transgender people. This case study investigates how a Chinese trans-woman deals with her gender incongruence and anxiety through sex realignment surgery. It conducts in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and processes data by means of interpretative phenomenological analysis, with the help of a computerised qualitative data analysis package. It also carries out member checking to enrich triangulation effects. The results unmask the way the participant is being incrementally liberated from being a pretend man in her current state of half-man-non-woman, and her efforts in achieving the gender that she desires. This study reveals factors that influence the embodiment of bodily integrity and psychological adjustments against distress induced by gender nonconformity, therefore supporting the development of a gender-affirming society that benefits both individuals and public interests

Associations among stressors, perceived stress, and psychological distress in nursing students: a mixed methods longitudinal study of a Hong Kong sample

BackgroundNursing students are at risk for high-stress levels and psychological distress. Limited longitudinal studies have been conducted examining factors associated with stress levels and psychological distress of nursing students in their course of study.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the levels of stress and corresponding stressors, particularly those predicting psychological distress, among nursing students over their 5 years of study.MethodsA longitudinal design, using questionnaires and focus group interviews of a single cohort of nursing students in Hong Kong and following them over their 5 years of training. The Stressors in Nursing Students Scale-Chinese version and the Chinese version of General Health Questionnaire-12 were used to assess stress levels and psychological distress, respectively.ResultsNinety-seven participants completed the questionnaires 5 times. Quantitative findings revealed that the overall stress levels of the nursing students increased over 5 years (from mean = 3.08 to 3.33), with the highest levels in the second wave (mean = 3.33). Nursing students experienced higher stress during years 2 (p = 0.006) and 4 (p = 0.037). Psychological distress was the highest in year 3 (sum score = 18.47) (p = 0.002) but declined from year 4 (p < 0.001). Thematic analysis revealed that academic performance issues, coping challenges, unfavorable learning environments, relationships were identified as the stressors. However, nursing students also used positive coping strategies to pursue success and seek support.ConclusionThis study suggests that the year of study is a significant predictor of stress levels among nursing students, especially during the first and senior years due to heavy academic workload. Psychological distress was observed among nursing students, and those who worked more part-time jobs tended to report higher levels of distress. The junior year was associated with higher levels of distress related to financial and time-related stress, while academic and personal problems were more prevalent during the senior year

Association of Genetic Variants Related to Combined Exposure to Higher Body Mass Index and Waist-to-Hip Ratio on Lifelong Cardiovascular Risk in UK Biobank

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the individual and combined association of body mass index (BMI) and 7 waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk using genetic scores of the 8 obesity measurements as proxies. DESIGN: A 2×2 factorial analysis approach was applied, with participants divided into four groups of lifetime exposure to low BMI and WHR, high BMI, high WHR, and high BMI and WHR based on weighted genetic risk scores. The difference in CVD risk across groups was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. SETTING: Cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 408,003 participants were included from the prospective observational UK Biobank study. RESULTS: A total of 58,429 of CVD events were recorded. Compared to the low BMI and WHR genetic scores group, higher BMI or higher WHR genetic scores were associated with an increase in CVD risk (high BMI: odds ratio (OR), 1.07; 95%CI, 1.04-1.10; high WHR: OR, 1.12; 95%CI, 1.09-1.16). A weak additive effect on CVD risk was found between BMI and WHR (high BMI and WHR: OR, 1.16; 95%CI, 1.12-1.19). Subgroup analysis showed similar patterns between different sex, age (<65, ≥65 years old), smoking status, Townsend deprivation index, fasting glucose level and medication uses, but lower systolic blood pressure was associated with higher CVD risk in obese participants. CONCLUSIONS: High BMI or WHR were associated with increased CVD risk, and their effects are weakly additive. Even though there were overlapping of effect, both BMI and WHR are important in assessing the CVD risk in the general population

Prevalence and correlates of subjective cognitive impairment in Chinese psychiatric patients during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong

IntroductionThe extent of cognitive impairment and its association with psychological distress among people with pre-existing mental illness during COVID-19 is understudied. This study aimed to investigate prevalence and correlates of subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) in Chinese psychiatric patients during fifth-wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong (HK).MethodsFour-hundred-eight psychiatric outpatients aged 18–64 years were assessed with questionnaires between 28 March and 8 April 2022, encompassing illness profile, psychopathological symptoms, coping-styles, resilience, and COVID-19 related factors. Participants were categorized into moderate-to-severe and intact/mild cognitive impairment (CI+ vs. CI-) groups based on severity of self-reported cognitive complaints. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to determine variables associated with CI+ status.ResultsOne-hundred-ninety-nine participants (48.8%) experienced CI+. A multivariate model on psychopathological symptoms found that depressive and post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms were related to CI+, while a multivariate model on coping, resilience and COVID-19 related factors revealed that avoidant coping, low resilience and more stressors were associated with CI+. Final combined model demonstrated the best model performance and showed that more severe depressive and PTSD-like symptoms, and adoption of avoidant coping were significantly associated with CI+.ConclusionAlmost half of the sample of psychiatric patients reported cognitive complaints during fifth-wave of COVID-19 in HK. Greater depressive and PTSD-like symptom severity, and maladaptive (avoidant) coping were found as correlates of SCI. COVID-19 related factors were not independently associated with SCI in psychiatric patients. Early detection with targeted psychological interventions may therefore reduce psychological distress, and hence self-perceived cognitive difficulties in this vulnerable population