ObjectivesTo assess the internal consistency, latent structure and convergent validity of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) among adolescents in Vietnam.MethodAn anonymous, self-completed questionnaire was conducted among 1,745 high school students in Hanoi, Vietnam between October, 2013 and January, 2014. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the latent structure of the DASS-21. Factorial invariance between girls and boys was examined. Cronbach alphas and correlation coefficients between DASS-21 factor scores and the domain scores of the Duke Health Profile Adolescent Vietnamese validated version (ADHP-V) were calculated to assess DASS-21 internal consistency and convergent validity.ResultsA total of 1,606/ 1,745 (92.6%) students returned the questionnaire. Of those, 1,387 students provided complete DASS-21 data. The scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach α: 0.761 to 0.906). A four-factor model showed the best fit to the data. Items loaded significantly on a common general distress factor, the depression, and the anxiety factors, but few on the stress factor (p<0.05). DASS-21 convergent validity was confirmed with moderate correlation coefficients (-0.47 to -0.66) between its factor scores and the ADHP-V mental health related domains.ConclusionsThe DASS-21 is reliable and suitable for use to assess symptoms of common mental health problems, especially depression and anxiety among Vietnamese adolescents. However, its ability in detecting stress among these adolescents may be limited. Further research is warrant to explore these results.

Experiences of polyvictimization among children and adolescents in LALMIC are more prevalent than in high- and upper-middle-income countries and contribute to the burden of poor health among children and adolescents. Most LALMIC lack local data, and research is required to address this knowledge gap.

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Low-melting ionic liquid, IL, based on small aliphatic quaternary ammonium cations ([R(1)R(2)R(3)NR](+), where R(1), R(2), R(3) = CH(3) or C(2)H(5), R = C(3)H(7), C(4)H(9), C(6)H(13), C(8)H(17), CF(3)C(3)H(6)) and imide anion were prepared and characterized. The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of these ILs, including melting point, glass transition, and degradation temperatures; viscosity; density; ionic conductivity; diffusion coefficient; and electrochemical stability, were determined. Heteronuclear Overhauser NMR spectroscopy experiments were also performed to point out the presence of pair correlation between the different moieties. The LiTFSI addition effect on the IL properties was studied with the same methodology. Some nanoscale organization with segregation of polar and apolar domains was observed. ILs with small alkyl chain length or fluorinated ammonium exhibit very high electrochemical stability in oxidation.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, it aims to clarify the moderating role of self-esteem (SE) and susceptibility to normative influence (SNI) in the relationship between brand love and brand loyalty. Second, the study proposes modeling the mediation role of brand love and outlining how SE and SNI affect the consumer-brand relationship. Finally, the study explores the impact of brand love on brand loyalty: the moderating role of self-esteem and social influences, as the literature regarding this is still lacking. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected via an online survey, which yielded 218 responses. Structural equation modeling was used to predict the research model. Findings The findings indicate that both SE and SNI mediate the relationship between brand love and brand loyalty. Additionally, consumers love the focal brands positively relates to SE and SNI. In return, SE and SNI lead to brand loyalty. The tight relationship of SE and SNI affects the connection between brand love and brand loyalty. Research limitations/implications The data has been collected in Vietnam, which creates a limitation regarding the study’s cross-cultural nature and the economic context. Thus, the study should be conducted in different cultures and economies (both developing and developed countries) to enhance the generalizability in consumer-brand relationships. Practical implications Brand managers should conduct more advertising in brand communities to enhance the influence of SNI and emphasize unique features of the brands, to attract consumers through the overlap of SE. Social implications The findings can contribute to enhancing unique brand identity and self-motivation will increase consumer loyalty, increasing the revenue of a specific brand. Moreover, as acceptable peers contribute to making purchase decisions, boosting the brand community will maintain current consumers and attract additional potential consumers from the current consumer relationships. Originality/value This study contributes to consumer psychology by indicating both SNI and SE as the mediators in the relationship between brand love and brand loyalty and how the consumer-brand relationship can be enabled.

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BackgroundExposure to multiple forms of violence, including abuse and crime is termed poly-victimisation. There has been increasing research interest in poly-victimisation among children and adolescents in high income countries. However, experiences among adolescents living in low- and lower-middle-income countries are yet to be examined.AimsTo establish the prevalence of lifetime exposure to poly-victimisation and demographic characteristics of victims among high school students in Vietnam.MethodsA cross-sectional survey with a self-report, anonymous questionnaire was conducted in ten high schools in Hanoi, Vietnam between October 2013 and January 2014. Poly-victimisation was assessed using the Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire Revised 2 (JVQ R2).ResultsA total of 1,606/1,745 (92.0%) eligible students provided data and were included in the analyses. Lifetime exposure to at least one form of victimisation was reported by 94.3% (95%CI: 92.5-95.4%) of participants and lifetime exposure to more than 10 forms by 31.1% (95%CI: 27.8-33.5%). Poly-victimisation was associated with experiencing more adverse life events, having a chronic disease or disability, living with a step-parent, experiencing family life as unhappy, being disciplined at school, and living in a rural area. Poly-victimisation experiences differed among students from the three types of high schools in Vietnam.ConclusionsThese data reveal the prevalence and multi-factorial risks of exposure to poly-victimisation among adolescents in Vietnam. Prevalence rates of different forms of victimisation among Vietnamese students, including those previously un-investigated, were higher than those reported in other settings. Poly-victimisation was also common among them. There were certain subgroups who were more vulnerable to poly-victimisation. Further research to understand the broader aspects of adolescence in Vietnam, including poly-victimisation, is thus recommended. Special attention should be paid to specific subgroups in the prevention of violence against children and adolescents in this setting. Education to raise awareness about poly-victimisation among the community is needed.

In this work silica (SiO2) and sulfonic acid-functionalized silica (sul-SiO2) were synthesized by sol–gel method from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-mercatopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) with various ratios between them. The synthesized materials were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystalline structure, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) specific surface area analysis, transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) for particle size analysis, and ion exchange capacity (IEC) for determining sulfur content in Sul-SiO2 materials. The initial results showed that the average particle size of amorphous SiO2 and Sul-SiO2 at different TEOS: MPTMS ratios are in narrow distribution with average diameter about 20–30 nm. The particle size of Sul-SiO2 is almost unaffected by the content of MPTMS while IEC depends strongly on it. Composite membranes of 60 μm thickness were successfully prepared from blending of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and synthesized amorphous SiO2. It was shown that the latter may be used as a reinforced phase for composite membrane electrolytes based on PVDF.