Workplace Social Capital and Mental Health among Chinese Employees: A Multi-Level, Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Whereas the majority of previous research on social capital and health has been on residential neighborhoods and communities, the evidence remains sparse on workplace social capital. To address this gap in the literature, we examined the association between workplace social capital and health status among Chinese employees in a large, multilevel, cross-sectional study. Methods: By employing a two-stage stratified random sampling procedure, 2,796 employees were identified from 35 workplaces in Shanghai during March to November 2012. Workplace social capital was assessed using a validated and psychometrically tested eight-item measure, and the Chinese language version of the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to assess mental health. Control variables included sex, age, marital status, education level, occupation status, smoking status, physical activity, and job stress. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore whether individual- and workplace-level social capital was associated with mental health status. Results: In total, 34.9% of workers reported poor mental health (WHO-5,13). After controlling for individual-level sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, compared to workers with the highest quartile of personal social capital, workers with the third, second, and lowest quartiles exhibited 1.39 to 3.54 times greater odds of poor mental health, 1.39 (95% CI: 1.10– 1.75), 1.85 (95% CI: 1.38–2.46) and 3.54 (95% CI: 2.73–4.59), respectively. Corresponding odds ratios for workplace-level social capital were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.61–1.49), 1.14 (95% CI: 0.72–1.81) and 1.63 (95% CI: 1.05–2.53) for the third, second, and lowest quartiles, respectively. Conclusions: Higher workplace social capital is associated with lower odds of poor mental health among Chinese employees. Promoting social capital at the workplace may contribute to enhancing employees’ mental health in China

Accuracy of steps measured by smartphones-based WeRun compared with ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometer in free-living conditions

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of steps tracked by smartphone-based WeChat app compared with Actigraph-GT3X accelerometer in free-living conditions.DesignA cross-sectional study and repeated measures.MethodsA total of 103 employees in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China, participated in this study. The participants wore an ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometer during the period of August to September 2019 (Time 1), December 2019 (Time 2) and September 2020 (Time 3). Each time, they wore the ActiGraph-GT3X accelerometer continuously for 7 days to assess their 7-day step counts. The smartphone-based WeRun step counts were collected in the corresponding period when subjects wore accelerometers. The subjects were invited to complete basic demographic characteristics questionnaires and to perform physical examination to obtain health-related results such as height, body weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure.ResultsBased on 103 participants' 21 days of data, we found that the Spearman correlation coefficient between them was 0.733 (P < 0.01). The average number of WeRun steps measured by smartphones was 8,975 (4,059) per day, which was higher than those measured by accelerometers (8,462 ± 3,486 per day, P < 0.01). Demographic characteristics and different conditions can affect the consistency of measurements. The consistency was higher in those who were male, older, master's degree and above educated, and traveled by walking. Steps measured by smartphone and accelerometer in working days and August showed stronger correlation than other working conditions and time. Mean absolute percent error (MAPE) for step counts ranged from 0.5 to 15.9%. The test-retest reliability coefficients of WeRun steps ranged from 0.392 to 0.646. A multiple regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, and MVPA/step counts measured during Time 1 showed that body composition (body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and hip circumference) was correlated with moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity, but it was not correlated with WeRun step counts.ConclusionsThe smartphone-based WeChat app can be used to assess physical activity step counts and is a reliable tool for measuring steps in free-living conditions. However, WeRun step counts' utilization is potentially limited in predicting body composition

The Association between walking and perceived environment in Chinese community residents: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The neighborhood environment, as a determinant of walking, has been assessed in several developed countries. However, few studies have investigated these associations in Chinese populations. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between the perceived neighborhood environment and walking for recreation or transportation purposes among Chinese community residents. METHODS: We used a multi-stage stratified random sampling design to conduct a cross-sectional study of 1528 Chinese adults in Shanghai. Environmental and walking variables were assessed using a revised Abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Chinese subjects and a long version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Self-reported demographic variables including gender, age, employment status, and location of community were also collected. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the association between the neighborhood environment and walking. RESULTS: Based on the results of IPAQ, 13.7% of the overall subjects were physical inactive, which was considered to be lowly active. For all participants, accessibility to services was significantly associated with walking for both recreation and transportation (odds ratio=1.062, 95% confidence interval: 1.016, 1.110; odds ratio=1.053; 95% confidence interval: 1.008, 1.100, respectively). In males, accessibility to services was significantly associated both with walking for recreation and walking for transportation. However, a significantly negative association was found between the neighborhood surroundings and walking for recreation. In contrast, females who perceived good traffic safety tended to walk for recreation. Data also revealed a difference between working and retired individuals. Among working participants, perceived environmental variables were not significantly associated with walking for recreation and transportation. CONCLUSIONS: The association between neighborhood environment and walking varied depending on the reason for walking and the characteristics of the participants. Our findings suggest that interventions to promote walking in community residents should include improving the neighborhood environment, particularly accessibility to services such as building more stores, parks, and public transit facilities

The roles of health culture and physical environment in workplace health promotion: a two-year prospective intervention study in China

Abstract Background To understand the potential influencing factors on the effectiveness of workplace health promotion interventions and examine whether workplace health culture and physical environment can mediate the relationship between workplace health promotion and intervention effectiveness. Methods A total of 719 participants from 10 Chinese government agencies were recruited for a prospective self-controlled trial. Questionnaires, qualitative interviews, and direct observation were used for the baseline evaluation, process evaluation, and effectiveness evaluation. Based on the results of the need assessment and risk assessment at each workplace, a two-year comprehensive health intervention was conducted by each workplace. Health outcomes including self-rated health (SRH) and mental health were measured at baseline and 24 months. Health culture was measured at 24 months. Physical environment and intervention implementation were measured at 12 months and 24 months. Results Compared with the baseline, the means of SRH and mental health increased significantly by 0.302 and 2.698, respectively. The SRH scores were different before and after intervention; furthermore, the differences varied by workplace. Health culture mediated the relationship between intervention implementation and intervention effectiveness, including SRH and mental health improvement, but physical environment did not. Physical environment quality was significantly negatively correlated with SRH improvement and mental health improvement. Under the relatively high-quality interventions with scores higher than 4.047 or 4.151 (out of 5), better health culture may led to greater SRH and mental health improvements. Conclusions Health culture may mediate the relationship between intervention implementation and intervention effectiveness, whereas physical environment does not seem to mediate this relationship. Under relatively high-quality interventions, a better health culture may lead to more positive improvements in SRH and mental health. Future studies will need to examine the physical environment as a moderating effect rather than mediating effect. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Trial registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-16010059. Date of registration: Dec 1, 2016

Evaluation of Dietary Quality Based on Intelligent Ordering System and Chinese Healthy Eating Index in College Students from a Medical School in Shanghai, China

We intended to precisely evaluate the dietary quality of male and female medical college students using canteen data from the “Intelligent Ordering System” (IOS), combined with the supplemental food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) and the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) in Shanghai, China, to explore the potential factors influencing dietary quality. A total of 283 college students with the average age of 24.67 ± 3.21 years and Body Mass Index of 21.46 ± 3.49 kg/m2 in the medical school were enrolled in this study, and an online questionnaire investigation was conducted to collect the general information, lifestyle behavior, and SFFQ. The dietary data of the study participants from the school canteen were exported from the IOS of the Information Office of Fudan University. The CHEI consists of 17 components and the total score is 100, with a maximum score of each component of 5 or 10. We calculated each component score of the CHEI and aggregated the total score for male and female study participants. The Chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were employed in comparing the differences between the demographic characteristics and CHEI component scores of males and females. Univariate and multiple linear regression models were employed to examine the potential influencing factors of the total CHEI score. The CHEI median score was 66.65, and the component score for total grains was relatively low. Added sugars was the most overconsumed CHEI component. There were relatively serious deficiencies, based on the CHEI component scores, in fruits, soybeans, fish and seafood, and seeds and nuts in both sexes. Females had significantly higher CHEI scores than males (68.38 versus 64.31). The scores for tubers, total vegetables, dark vegetables, fruits, fish and seafood, dairy, and red meats were significantly higher in females than in males. Influencing factors including sex, education, dietary health literacy, and amount of time spent sedentarily were significantly associated with CHEI score. Our research revealed that the overall dietary quality needs to be further improved for college students at the medical school in Shanghai, China, with low intakes of total grains, fruits, soybeans, fish and seafood, and seeds and nuts, and high intakes of added sugars. Compared with males, females showed higher diet quality and conformed more strongly with the recommended Dietary Guideline for Chinese. Education, dietary health literacy, and amount of time spent sedentarily should be noted for improving the dietary quality of college students

Socioeconomic mechanisms of myopia boom in China: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Objectives To assess the association between socioeconomic development and the myopia boom in China.Design Nationwide cross-sectional study.Setting We used data from the China Family Panel Study (CFPS 2010), and the Chinese National Survey on Students’ Constitution and Health (CNSSCH 2010).Participants Participants included 33 600 individuals and 14 226 families from the CFPS 2010, and 86 199 students aged 7–12 years from the CNSSCH 2010.Measures The main measure was students’ visual impairment (defined as Snellen visual acuity ≤20/25 (0.8) in the worse eye) rate of each province (or municipality or autonomous region); other measures included the Gini coefficient of property, logarithm of average property, Gini coefficient of education, average education duration and return-to-education rate of each province (or municipality or autonomous region). The visual impairment rate was calculated using students’ data, aged 7–12 years, from the CNSSCH 2010. The Gini coefficient of property and logarithm of average property were calculated using the families’ data from the CFPS 2010; the Gini coefficient of education, average education duration and return-to-education rate were calculated using individuals’ data aged 18–44 years from the CFPS 2010.Results The urban environment (coefficient: 0.209; p<0.001), Gini coefficient of property (coefficient: 1.979; p=0.005), logarithm of average property (coefficient: 0.114; p<0.001), average education duration (coefficient: 0.041; p<0.001) and return-to-education rate (coefficient: 0.195; p<0.001) were positively associated with the logit function of visual impairment rate.Conclusions Economic development may promote an increased desire to pursue wealth. Regarding high return to education and a fairly competitive education system, individuals are likely to pursue wealth through education, which is associated with a heavier education burden and higher prevalence rates of myopia

Experimental Study on a Prefabricated Lightweight Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular Framework Composite Slab Structure Subjected to Reversed Cyclic Loading

A building structure comprising a prefabricated lightweight concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) framework composite slab structure is proposed. Five full-scale specimens (i.e., one empty framework and four-walled frameworks) were tested under reversed cyclic loading to study their earthquake-resistance performance. Of the four wall specimens, three were walled using composite slabs, one had no openings, one had a window opening, and one had a door opening. One was walled with a concealed steel-truss slab. A comparative study on the strength, stiffness, ductility, hysteresis characteristics, and dissipated energy of the specimens was performed. The working mechanism of the framework and slab was then analyzed. The results show that, if reasonably assembled and connected, the framework and slab work in a well-coordinated manner. The walled framework had greater lateral load-bearing capacity, better energy-dissipation, greater stiffness reduction, and better deformability than an empty framework. The area and type of slab opening had a significant impact on structural performance because a door or window opening contributed to a smaller lateral load-bearing capacity and initial secant stiffness of the structure. However, this had no clear impact on the accumulative dissipated energy of the structure