12 research outputs found
Marital Satisfaction and Perceived Family Support in Families of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Dyadic Analysis
No full textBackground: Raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) causes tremendous stress for parents that may lead to marital conflict and relationship dissatisfaction. Many factors are associated with parent relationships including severity of autistic behaviors and social support. This study aimed to investigate whether severity of autistic behaviors, perceived family support, and complementarity of interpersonal styles between husbands and wives predicted couple satisfaction among the parents of children with ASD. Method: Seven hundred ninety-seven parent dyads of children aged 7–14 years old with ASD participated in the study. Measurements used included couple satisfaction index, perceived family support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, inter-personal style using the inventory of interpersonal problems, the ABC autism checklists as well as sociodemographic and related factors. The Actor Partner Interdependence Model estimated by multilevel modeling was used for analysis. Results: Perceived family support was relevant in married couples regarding their marital relationship, but the effects on husbands and wives differed. Husbands’ relationship satisfaction was predicted by how they perceived being supported by family. The severity of autistic behaviors predicted relationship satisfaction but only actor effect. Negative prediction of interpersonal complementarity on couple satisfaction was observed. In addition, time spent on raising children had a negative impact on the quality of the relationship. Partner effect of time spent was observed among women. Conclusion: Dyadic analysis using an actor–partner independence model confirmed perception of family support predicts relationship satisfaction among parents of children with ASD in addition to the severity of autistic behaviors and time spent caring for children. Complementarity of individual interpersonal style had no effect on couple satisfaction. This research suggests implications for interventions regarding building skills that elicit support from family members
Brecht and China : a mutual response
No full textThis thesis deals with the cross-cultural relations between Brecht and China
through an analysis of how Brecht responded to the traditional Chinese theatre and
how his drama was received in turn by modern Chinese theatre. It attempts to
examine the respective socio-cultural or political contexts wherein such kind of crosscultural
contacts were needed, and the consequent aesthetic-theatrical as well as
socio-cultural or political changes brought about by these contacts that have produced
two distinctively independent yet related forms of theatre.
It is argued that Brecht's search for a theatre style of his own amidst the sociocultural
as well as political crises between the two world wars made him look to the
East for inspirations, and his direct encounter with Mei Lanfang enabled him to
interpret the latter's acting in such a way that he responded to it with his postulation of
the alienation effect and modification of a gestic performance style. His repudiation
of the well-made dramatic theatre brought his epic theatre closer to the traditional
Chinese theatre whose aesthetic principles he shared in constructing a non-
Aristotelian episodic form of drama. In his experimentations with new modes of
theatrical expressions, he did not simply borrow or copy the forms and content of
classical Chinese drama; he appropriated, transformed and renewed them, for
example, in The Caucasian Chalk Circle, for the particular purpose of instructing
audiences in a scientific age.
China! s reception of Brecht has had much to do with the country's changing
socio-cultural as well as political situations. Chinese theatre practitioners responded
to him because he was a politically, culturally and aesthetically suitable figure. His
epic drama provided an alternative style for the Chinese in their attempt to innovate
their realist spoken drama imported from the West, and was also introduced into local
forms of performing arts in hope that the traditional Chinese theatre could be
resurrected. Furthermore, he prompted Huang Zuolin to theoretically re-examine
Chinese operas, which the latter integrated with techniques of Brecht and
Stanislavsky into spoken drama to establish a new theatre style called Xieyi drama
Social Inhibition and Depressive Symptoms among Couples with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Mediating Role of Perceived Family Support
No full textBackground and Objectives: A limited understanding exists regarding the intricate dynamics between the levels of social inhibition exhibited by both wives and husbands concerning their perceived family support and depressive symptoms, particularly within couples who are parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and Methods: This study used the actor–partner interdependence mediation model to analyze data collected from 397 pairs of Chinese parents with children diagnosed with ASD. Results: The findings of the study revealed significant indirect actor effects, indicating that the levels of social inhibition exhibited by both wives and husbands were associated with their own depressive symptoms through their respective perceptions of family support. In general, the study did not find significant partner effects, except for some indirect effects of wives on their husbands’ depressive symptoms through the wives’ perceived social support. Conclusions: In line with related studies, social inhibition was associated with depressive symptoms. At the same time, perceived family support could be a mediator of depression. Gender differences in emotional expression, influenced by cultural norms and distinct role expectations within the family context, may elucidate why only wives’ perceived family support could impact husbands’ depressive symptoms. These results underscore the potential importance of interventions aimed at addressing social inhibition and enhancing perceived family support to alleviate depressive symptoms in this population. Additionally, encouraging family support for both wives and husbands’ involvement in collaboration may be of benefit in improved outcomes for both parents and children within families affected by ASD
Innovation: Chinese Folk Music Influence in Contemporary Clarinet Repertoire
No full textabstract: Several contemporary clarinet works use Chinese folk music elements from different regions in new compositions to entice listener's and performer's appreciation of Chinese culture. However, to date, limited academic research on this topic exists. This research paper introduces six contemporary clarinet works by six Chinese composers: Qigang Chen's Morning Song, Yan Wang's Mu ma zhi ge (The Song of Grazing Horses), An-lun Huang's Capriccio for Clarinet and Strings Op. 41, Bijing Hu's The Sound of Pamir Clarinet Concerto, Mei-Mi Lan's Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra with Harp and Percussion, and Yu-Hui Chang's Three Fantasias for Solo Clarinet in B-flat. They are examined from different perspectives, including general structure, style, and rejuvenated folk music use. The focus of this research paper is to investigate the use of Chinese folk music in several works in collaboration with the composers. The author found that although contemporary composers use Chinese folk music differently in their works (i.e., some use melodies, others use harmony, while others use modes), each work celebrates the music and culture of the folk music on which the pieces are based. It is the author's hope to stimulate people's interest in music using Chinese folk music elements, and bring these lesser known works into the common clarinet repertoire.Dissertation/ThesisMorning SongMu ma zhi ge (The Song of Grazing Horses)Capriccio for Clarinet and Strings Op. 41The Sound of Pamir Clarinet Concerto movement IThe Sound of Pamir Clarinet Concerto movement IIThe Sound of Pamir Clarinet Concerto movement IIIConcerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra movement IConcerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra movement IIThree Fantasias for Solo Clarinet in B-flat movement IThree Fantasias for Solo Clarinet in B-flat movement IIThree Fantasias for Solo Clarinet in B-flat movement IIID.M.A. Music 201
The Mediating Role of Inner Strength in the Relationship Between Biological Factors and Depressive Symptoms
No full textBackground: Depression is a significant public health concern, with working mothers at greater risk due to combined biological and psychosocial stressors. Recent evidence suggests that inner strength may play a mediating role in the link between biological risks and depression. Objectives: The primary objective was to determine whether inner strength mediates the relationship between biological risk factors (hormonal fluctuations, smoking, alcohol use, family psychiatric history, and physical diseases) and depressive symptoms among Chinese working mothers. A secondary objective was to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in this population, measured with the OI-Depression subscale (Outcome Inventory-21). Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 330 Chinese working mothers aged 30–45 years, using validated instruments to measure depression, inner strength, and parental stress. Mediation analysis evaluated the indirect effect of inner strength, while covariate-adjusted regression analyses explored associated factors. Results: Biological risk factors showed a significant direct effect (β = 0.584, p < 0.001) and an indirect effect through inner strength (indirect effect = 0.623, 95% CI [0.294, 0.962]. The Sobel test indicated that the indirect effect of biological risk factors on depressive symptoms through inner strength was statistically significant (z = 3.67, p < 0.001). The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was 38.2%. Conclusions: Biological factors significantly contribute to depressive symptoms, but inner strength partially mediates this relationship, suggesting that interventions to enhance inner strength may help reduce depression risk in working mothers. Further research should investigate strategies to build inner resilience in this population
Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Core Symptom Index: A Study among Chinese Parents of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
No full text(1) Background: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders often experience psychological distress, which can affect the quality of childcare they provide. It is crucial to screen for psychiatric symptoms among these parents. The core symptom index (CSI) is a widely recognized tool used to assess general symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and somatic issues. It has proven validity and reliability across diverse Thai populations. Given the cultural similarities between Thai and Chinese populations, the CSI has been successfully implemented within the Chinese population. Nevertheless, it is crucial to research its validity and reliability in the general Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the CSI among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). (2) Methods: A total of 794 Chinese parents raising children with autism participated in this study. All completed the CSI, along with the social inhibition subscale of the Interpersonal Problems Inventory and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Factorial validity was assessed using CFA to determine how well the bifactor three-factor model fits the data. Various structural models were compared using model fit indices. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined by exploring correlations with the social inhibition subscale and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Invariance testing of the CSI was conducted across multiple groups based on gender, age, and education using CFA. The reliability of the CSI was evaluated using McDonald’s omega coefficients. (3) Results: The bifactor model emerged as the best-fitting model for the data, suggesting that the total score of the CSI adequately represents overall psychiatric symptoms. The CSI exhibited significant correlations with the social inhibition subscale (r = 0.41, p r = −0.16, p < 0.05), indicating both convergent and discriminant validity. The invariant test results support scalar invariance levels based on gender and age but only partial invariance for education. The Chinese version of the CSI demonstrated high consistency, with McDonald’s omega coefficients ranging between 0.86 and 0.95. (4) Conclusions: The bifactor model of the Chinese version of the CSI is validated, making it a suitable tool for measuring depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms among parent(s) of children with autism spectrum disorders. Further research on other Chinese populations is encouraged
Examination of Landslide Susceptibility Modeling Using Ensemble Learning and Factor Engineering
No full textCurrent research lacks an in-depth exploration of ensemble learning and factor engineering applications in regard to landslide susceptibility modeling. In the Three Gorges Reservoir area of China, a region prone to frequent landslides that endanger lives and infrastructure, this study advances landslide susceptibility prediction by integrating ensemble learning with systematic factor engineering. Four homogeneous ensemble models (random forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost) and two heterogeneous ensembles (bagging and stacking) were implemented to evaluate 14 influencing factors. The key results demonstrate the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) as the dominant factor, while the stacking ensemble achieved superior performance (AUC = 0.876), outperforming single models by 4.4%. Iterative factor elimination and hyperparameter tuning increased the high-susceptibility zones in the stacking predictions to 42.54% and enhanced XGBoost’s low-susceptibility classification accuracy from 12.96% to 13.57%. The optimized models were used to generate a high-resolution landslide susceptibility map, identifying 23.8% of the northern and central regions as high-susceptibility areas, compared to only 9.3% as eastern and southern low-susceptibility zones. This methodology improved the prediction accuracy by 12–18% in comparison to a single model, providing actionable insights for landslide risk mitigation
Biopsychosocial determinants of anxiety and depression among working mothers in China: A public mental health perspective
No full textWorking mothers often face dual demands from work and parenting, increasing their risk for anxiety and depression. However, the prevalence and contributing factors among Chinese working mothers remain underexplored. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and biopsychosocial determinants of anxiety and depression in this population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 17 and November 21, 2024 through WeChat online among 330 working mothers aged 30–45 years old using validated instruments, including the Outcome Inventory-21 (OI-21), Parental Stress Scale (PSS), Experiences in Close Relationships-revised (ECR-R-10), Inner Strength-based Inventory (I-SBI), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Sociodemographic, socioeconomic and biological factors, including age, marital status, annual income, and physical disease, were also collected through a self-administered general information questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical linear regression. This study found the prevalence was 26.1% for anxiety symptoms and 38.2% for depression symptoms in this group based on the screening tools. Anxiety was significantly associated with both biological (e.g., hormonal changes, family psychiatric history) and psychological factors (e.g., attachment anxiety, parental stress). At the same time, depressive symptoms were primarily predicted by psychological and lifestyle-related factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol use). Notably, inner strength was a protective factor across both conditions. The findings highlight the importance of early detection and integrative care strategies for addressing mental health concerns in working mothers. Incorporating psychological screening, lifestyle assessment, and resilience-building interventions into workplace and community-based healthcare services may improve work-family balance outcomes in this population
Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the core symptom index: a study among chinese parents of children with autistic spectrum disorders
No full text(1) Background: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders often experience psychological distress, which can affect the quality of childcare they provide. It is crucial to screen for psychiatric symptoms among these parents. The core symptom index (CSI) is a widely recognized tool used to assess general symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and somatic issues. It has proven validity and reliability across diverse Thai populations. Given the cultural similarities between Thai and Chinese populations, the CSI has been successfully implemented within the Chinese population. Nevertheless, it is crucial to research its validity and reliability in the general Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the CSI among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). (2) Methods: A total of 794 Chinese parents raising children with autism participated in this study. All completed the CSI, along with the social inhibition subscale of the Interpersonal Problems Inventory and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Factorial validity was assessed using CFA to determine how well the bifactor three-factor model fits the data. Various structural models were compared using model fit indices. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined by exploring correlations with the social inhibition subscale and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Invariance testing of the CSI was conducted across multiple groups based on gender, age, and education using CFA. The reliability of the CSI was evaluated using McDonald’s omega coefficients. (3) Results: The bifactor model emerged as the best-fitting model for the data, suggesting that the total score of the CSI adequately represents overall psychiatric symptoms. The CSI exhibited significant correlations with the social inhibition subscale (r = 0.41, p < 0.01) and smaller correlation coefficients with the Couple Satisfaction Index (r = −0.16, p < 0.05), indicating both convergent and discriminant validity. The invariant test results support scalar invariance levels based on gender and age but only partial invariance for education. The Chinese version of the CSI demonstrated high consistency, with McDonald’s omega coefficients ranging between 0.86 and 0.95. (4) Conclusions: The bifactor model of the Chinese version of the CSI is validated, making it a suitable tool for measuring depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms among parent(s) of children with autism spectrum disorders. Further research on other Chinese populations is encouraged
High expression of c‑Met and EGFR is associated with poor survival of patients with glottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
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