Role salience and support as moderators of demand/conflict relationships in China

This study examined the effects of role demand on both work–family conflict and family–work conflict, and the moderating effects of role salience and support on these relationships. Based on 391 dual-career (managerial and blue-collar employees) couples from a Taiwanese company in China, the results of this survey study showed clear gender differences in the patterns of relationships observed. For men, the most important demands that negatively impacted on work–family conflict were frequency of overtime and frequency of socializing for work purposes (yingchou), and supervisory support buffered the negative impact of frequent overtime. For women however, strong supervisory support and low work role salience were more important for reducing work–family conflict, and there was no significant main effect found for any of the role demand factors. Furthermore, women with high work role salience were more likely to feel the impact of yingchou on work–family conflict. In the family domain, the most influential demand for men was hours spent on household tasks, but for women, it was the frequency of family-related leave. Interestingly, males reported higher family role salience than females and spouse support intensified rather than buffered the positive impact of hours spent on household tasks on family–work conflict for males.

Baseline study of alcohol dependence among general drivers and drunk driving offenders in Guangzhou, China

This study aimed to investigate drink driving in a sample of general drivers and convicted drunk driving offenders in Guangzhou, China. The study also aimed to explore some potential factors that impact on alcohol-related driving behaviour. Samples of 406 general drivers and 101 drunk driving offenders were recruited between May and October 2012. A survey was used to collect information about demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and practices related to drink driving. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to assess possible drinking problems. The average age reported for starting to drink alcohol for both groups of participants was around 19 years old. The mean AUDIT score of general drivers was 7.4 (SD = 5.4) representing a low level of alcohol problems, and for convicted drunk driving offenders was 11.1 (SD = 5.9) representing a medium level of alcohol problems (significant difference between means, t = 5.75, p < 0.001). AUDIT scores indicated that a substantial proportion (65%) of the offenders had medium to high levels of alcohol use disorders, compared with 38.5% among general drivers. Offenders who knew the drunk driving legal limit had a lower AUDIT score (M = 9.8, SD = 5.16) than those who did not know it (M = 12.2, SD = 6.257, t = -1.987. p = 0.05). In addition, offenders who were novice drivers (licensed less than 2 years) had a higher AUDIT score (M = 16.4, SD = 7.6) than the other three driver experience categories used.

Exploring the challenges to industrialized residential building in China

Industrialised building (IB) is considered by many to have an important role to play in China's residential construction industry due to its potential for improved quality, productivity, efficiency, safety and sustainability. It is surprising, therefore, that although a large number of construction programmes have been completed in the country in recent years, very few have been built in this manner. Quite why this situation exists is unknown. The well-known problems with IB, such as the constraints placed on designer freedom, may be the cause. It is equally possible that, as is typical with developing countries such as China, cost or government issues dominate. On the other hand, in comparison with other countries, the construction industry in China has been widely criticised for its lack of modernity. Either way, there is an urgent need to assess and understand the hindrances to the adoption of IB in residential construction in order to identify what corrective measures, if any, need to be taken. Towards this end, we first identify a set of critical factors (CFs) for assessing the hindrances to IB adoption in China. This involves the analysis of research data collected by a questionnaire survey of experienced housing developers and professionals working in China's construction industry sector. Fuzzy set theory is used in the selection of the CFs. These CFs comprise, in rank order: higher initial cost; lack of skilled labour in IB; manufacturing capability and involvement issues and product quality problems; lack of supply chain; lack of codes and standards; and lack of government incentives, directives and promotion. The establishment of the CFs provides a basis for local construction sectors to better equip themselves for future implementation of IB. The findings also indicate a current need for formulating improved policies and strategies to encourage the further development of IB in China at present.

Revisiting the trajectories of special teacher education in China through policy and practice

The preparation, recruitment, work, and career of teachers are important in education. This is no exemption for special education. However, the shortage of qualified teachers serving students with disabilities has long been an international problem. In China, both the quantity and the quality of special education teachers are of concern. This places unrelenting pressure on special teacher education. Given its growing size and challenges, special teacher education has received increasing attention from research, policy, and practice. However, there is a dearth of scholarship published in English to address these issues. To the best of our belief and knowledge, there is no systematic, comprehensive, and contextualised examination of special teacher education in China to date. This paper aims to make a contribution in this regard. First, we present the complexities of the Chinese context in which special teacher education is situated. Second, we synthesise recent literature on special teacher education in China through an extensive review of the relevant studies scattered in English publications. Third, we provide insights into special teacher education in China, regarding its trajectory of policy making, its history of development, and its strategies and challenges. Finally, we conclude our paper with some practical recommendations to aid the future development of special teacher education.