Ren Chen

Dr. Ren Chen


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

12Years (2015-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 August 2015 in BMC Public Health
Verified
Journal Article
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FHFu-yong Hu
Fu-yong Hu
LNLi Niu
Li Niu
RCRen Chen
Ren Chen
YMYing Ma
Ying Ma
XQXia Qin
Xia Qin
ZHZhi Hu
Zhi Hu
To investigate the association between social capital and quality of life among type 2 diabetes patients in Anhui province, China. In a cross-sectional study, 436 adults with type 2 diabetes were interviewed. The two domains of Quality of life, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS), were measured using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). A modified instrument scale was used to measure cognitive and structural social capital. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between social capital and quality of life, adjusting for social economic status and risk factors for health. 24.3 % of participants (106) were in poor PCS and 25.0 % (109) in poor MCS. The proportions of participants who had low cognitive and structural social capital were 47.0 % (205) and 64.4 % (281), respectively. Results of logistic regression models showed that cognitive social capital was positively associated with PCS (OR = 1.84; 95 % CI: 1.12, 3.02) and MCS (OR = 1.65; 95 % CI: 1.03, 2.66). However, the associations between structural social capital and PCS (OR = 0.80, 95 % CI: 0.48, 1.34) and MCS (OR = 0.62; 95 % CI: 0.38, 1.01) were not statistically significant. It is the first study in China to investigate associations between quality of life and social capital in type 2 diabetes. Findings document that cognitive social capital is associated with the quality of life of type 2 diabetes patients. Our study suggests that the social capital theory may provide a new approach to increase physical resources in diabetes prevention and control, especially in Low and Middle Income countries (LMICs).

27 February 2021 in Human Resources for Health
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Journal Article
Open access
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GCGuimei Chen
Guimei Chen
LSLingzhi Sang
Lingzhi Sang
JRJian Rong
Jian Rong
HYHuosheng Yan
Huosheng Yan
HLHongzhang Liu
Hongzhang Liu
RCRen Chen
Ren Chen
Background: The shortage of primary medical staff is an important issue in the management of health human resources, and it is also a problem that all countries in the world need to face together. Since 2009, China has implemented a new series of medical system reforms and the shortage and loss of primary medical staff have been alleviated accordingly. However, China has a large population and it is difficult to distribute health human resources evenly across regions. This study aimed to explore the current status of turnover intention and its relationship with psychological capital, social support, and job burnout, as well as how these factors influence turnover intention of primary medical staff in Anhui province, China. Methods: Using structured questionnaires to collect data, including demographic characteristics, turnover intention, psychological capital, social support, and Chinese Maslach Burnout Inventory scale. A total of 1152 primary medical workers of Anhui were investigated. Data were analyzed by t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression model. Results: Total scores of turnover intention, psychological capital, social support, and job burnout of subjects were 14.15 ± 4.35, 100.09 ± 15.98, 64.93 ± 13.23 and 41.07 ± 9.437, respectively. Multiple linear regression showed the related factors of turnover intention were age, job position, work unit, and scores of job burnout. Pearson correlation showed psychological capital and social support were negatively correlated with turnover intention, while the score of job burnout was positively correlated with turnover intention. Conclusion: The improvement of psychological capital and social support and the reduction of job burnout may play an important role in reducing turnover intention of primary medical staff. Primary medical managers should strengthen the humanistic care for primary medical staff, optimize the incentive mechanism, and improve internal management of medical institutions for stability.

23 November 2021 in BMC Health Services Research
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Journal Article
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XCXuefei Chen
Xuefei Chen
LTLing Tang
Ling Tang
LLLiu Liu
Liu Liu
ZBZhongliang Bai
Zhongliang Bai
RCRen Chen
Ren Chen
Objective: Turnover intention of employees in elderly caring social organizations has a significant impact on elderly care service delivery. This study investigated the associated factors of turnover intention among employees of elderly caring social organizations in Anhui Province, China.Methods: A total of 605 participants were selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic, social support, and turnover intention from the participants. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistical analysis, one-way variance analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the factors related to turnover intention.Results: Results of our study showed that the total score of turnover intention, turnover intention I (possibility of quitting a current job),turnover intention II (motivation to find other jobs) and turnover intention III (obtaining the external possibility of work) were 8.84, 2.32, 2.38, and 4.14, respectively. Social support negatively correlated with turnover intention I and turnover intention II. However, it showed positive correlation with turnover intention III and total turnover intention scores; turnover intentionI (coefficient: − 0.082), turnover intention II (coefficient: − 0.071), turnover intention III (coefficient: 0.19), Total score of turnover intention (coefficient: 0.093). Ethnic group, age, education level, and job satisfaction were associated with turnover intention.Conclusion: Improvement of social support play an important role in reducing the turnover intention of employees in elderly caring social organizations. It is important to increase organizational commitment and strengthen psychological empowerment, combined with decreasing job burnout for stability.

8 September 2022 in Frontiers in Public Health
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Journal Article
Open access
ZBZhongliang Bai
Zhongliang Bai
JYJing Yang
Jing Yang
ZWZijing Wang
Zijing Wang
WCWenwen Cao
Wenwen Cao
CCChenglin Cao
Chenglin Cao
RCRen Chen
Ren Chen
Background: It is less known about whether the association of social capital with self-rated health (SRH) varies by the presence of health conditions and how social capital, together with other variables, is linked to self-rated health in later life.Objectives: This article aimed to explore the association of social capital with self-rated health and to examine whether the association varies among older people with and without health conditions, with a special focus on how social capital and relevant factors have an effect on self-rated health among community-dwelling older adults.Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from a survey that commenced from July to September 2017 in Anhui Province. Data on socio-demographic information, social capital (six dimensions), and self-rated health were analyzed. Binary logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) models were used to estimate the association.Results: Based on the findings, we found that social capital regarding less social support (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.21–2.04), and less reciprocity (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.29–2.31) were associated with self-rated health among general older adults. Social capital as measured by less social participation (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.06–2.27), less cohesion (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42–0.94), and less reciprocity (AOR =1.77, 95% CI: 1.17–2.68) were linked to self-rated health among older people with health conditions. While social capital regarding less social support (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.39–3.33) was related to self-rated health among older people without health conditions. We observed the interacting effect of social capital in the CART model, an implication that much focus should be geared toward vulnerable subgroups, especially depressed and lonely older people, as they have low reciprocity and little cohesion.Conclusion: This work demonstrates that social capital may be relevant in devising programs and measures to improve self-rated health among community-dwelling older adults with comorbidity.

1 December 2023 in BMC Geriatrics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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LZLanlan Zhao
Lanlan Zhao
FXFuqin Xu
Fuqin Xu
XZXin Zheng
Xin Zheng
ZXZiwen Xu
Ziwen Xu
BOBenjamin Osten
Benjamin Osten
RCRen Chen
Ren Chen
Background: Diabetes has become a prominent global public health problem, which is an important cause of death, disease burden, and medical and health economic burden. Previous studies have reported that majority of persons diagnosed with diabetes later presented with psychological and mental health diseases. The study aimed to explore the mediation role of anxiety on social support and depression among diabetic patents in elderly caring social organizations (SOs). Methods: A multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used in this cross-sectional study, and a questionnaire consisting of demographic questionnaire, MSPSS, GAD-7, and CES-D-10 was utilized to gather data. SPSS 22.0 and MPLUS 7.4 were used for statistical analysis. Spearman correlation analysis was employed to investigate correlations of key variables. A generalized linear model was used to exam factors associated with depression. Finally, the mediation effect among study variables was investigated by structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: The average scores of social support, anxiety, and depression were 58.41 ± 14.67, 2.95 ± 3.95, and 7.24 ± 5.53, respectively. The factors of gender, social support, and anxiety were identified as significantly influential factors related to depression among diabetic patients in elderly caring SOs. The effect of social support on depression was significantly mediated by anxiety (β = -0.467, 95%CI: -0.813 to -0.251). Furthermore, anxiety partially mediated the relationship between family support and depression (β = -0.112, 95%CI: -0.229 to -0.012), and anxiety functioned as a complete mediator in the effect of significant others' support and depression (β = -0.135, 95%CI: -0.282 to -0.024). Conclusions: The indirect effect of social support on depression through anxiety among diabetic patients in elderly caring SOs was elucidated. Social support played a key role in maintaining and regulating their mental health, particularly from family and significant others. Social support provided by both family and significant others exerted an important influence on maintaining and regulating their mental health. In light of this pathway, the elderly caring SOs should enhance the magnitude of social support from these two sources, thereby diminishing the likelihood of experiencing anxiety and depression.

21 June 2023 in BMC Public Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SDShuo Ding
Shuo Ding
GLGuoqing Liu
Guoqing Liu
FXFuqin Xu
Fuqin Xu
KJKai Ji
Kai Ji
LZLanlan Zhao
Lanlan Zhao
RCRen Chen
Ren Chen
Background: With the deepening of China’s aging population, higher demands have been placed on the supply of elderly care services. As one of the main sources of providing elderly care services, the quality of service provided by elderly caring social organizations (SOs) directly affects the quality of life of the elderly. In recent years, mental health issues among the elderly have become increasingly prominent, especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Necessitating the need to pay much more attention to the social support and mental health of this population. This study, therefore, explores the mediating role of institutional satisfaction between the social support and anxiety levels of elderly people in Chongqing’s elderly caring SOs.Method: This study employed a multi-stage stratified random sampling method to survey 1004 service recipients in elderly caring social organizations from July to August 2022. The self-made sociodemographic questionnaire, institutional satisfaction questionnaire, MSPSS, and GAD-7 were used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, institutional satisfaction, social support, and anxiety levels of older adults. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to test construct validity and scale reliability, respectively. Data features were described with One-Way Analysis of Variance, while Multiple Linear Regression and Structural Equation Modeling were used to evaluate relationships between social support, institutional satisfaction, and anxiety levels.Results: The average institutional satisfaction score for elderly people in elderly caring SOs was 48.14 ± 6.75. Specifically, the satisfaction score for environmental quality and the satisfaction score for service quality were 16.63 ± 2.56 and 31.52 ± 4.76, respectively. In terms of socio-demographic variables, the presence of visits from relatives, personal annual average income, and self-rated health status all have significant effects on anxiety. Elders who receive visits from relatives have lower levels of anxiety compared to those who do not. Personal annual average income and self-rated health status are negatively correlated with anxiety levels. Social support had significant positive effect on institutional satisfaction, while institutional satisfaction had significant negative effect on anxiety. Institutional satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between social support and anxiety.Conclusions: Our research demonstrates that improving the quality of organizational services in elderly caring SOs and increasing institutional satisfaction among the elders has significant potential for reducing anxiety levels among the elderly. Additionally, the social support by visits from family members cannot be overlooked. We encourage increasing the frequency of family visits through various means to enhance the support provided to elderly individuals.