Association between Social Integration and Face Mask Use Behavior during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Japan: Results from U-CORONA Study

Face mask use is a critical behavior to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to evaluate the association between social integration and face mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic in a random sample of households in Utsunomiya City, Greater Tokyo, Japan. Data included 645 adults in the Utsunomiya COVID-19 seROprevalence Neighborhood Association (U-CORONA) study, which was conducted after the first wave of the pandemic, between 14 June 2020 and 5 July 2020, in Utsunomiya City. Social integration before the pandemic was assessed by counting the number of social roles, based on the Cohen’s social network index. Face mask use before and during the pandemic was assessed by questionnaire, and participants were categorized into consistent mask users, new users, and current non-users. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between lower social integration score and face mask use. To account for possible differential non-response bias, non-response weights were used. Of the 645 participants, 172 (26.7%) were consistent mask users and 460 (71.3%) were new users, while 13 (2.0%) were current non-users. Lower social integration level was positively associated with non-users (RRR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.82). Social integration may be important to promote face mask use

Characteristics of Long COVID: Cases from the First to the Fifth Wave in Greater Tokyo, Japan

Purpose: Approximately 25–60% of COVID-19 patients develop long-term sequelae of the condition known as long COVID. This study aimed to examine sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of long COVID in Japan. Methods: The data of long COVID patients, defined as those who were symptomatic after 28 days from onset, were collected in an outpatient clinic in Tokyo, Japan between 6 January 2020 and 2 October 2021 (N = 1891). Information on age, sex, employment, infection waves, vaccination, impairment in activities of daily living, and symptoms were obtained from electronic medical records. We used linear regression to analyze the association of patients characteristics with performance status. Results: The mean number of days from onset was 77.6 (SD: 71.3). Female, those who had their work hours reduced, on leave, dismissed or retired or not working, were associated with lower performance status. Fatigue, depressive symptom, brain fog, dyspnea, palpitation, body pain, loss of appetite, fever—but not headache, insomnia, loss of smell, loss of taste, hair loss, or cough—were associated with the lower performance status. Conclusion: Sex and employment status were associated with lower performance status in long COVID patients. Studies are needed to elucidate the full picture of the characteristics of long COVID patients

Stressors and coping strategies among single mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ObjectivesIncreased levels of stress have been reported among parents due to the factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although social support is known as a protective factor for the stressors, restrictions due to the pandemic could influence the provision and forms of social support. To date, few qualitative studies have examined the stressors and coping strategies in detail. In particular, the role of social support for single mothers during the pandemic remains largely unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the stressors and coping strategies of single parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on social support as a coping strategy.MethodsIn-depth interviews with 20 single mothers were conducted in Japan between October and November 2021. Data were deductively coded using thematic coding based on codes related to stressors and coping strategies, focusing on social support as a coping strategy.ResultsMost interviewees recognized additional stressors after the COVID-19 outbreak. Five stressors were mentioned by the participants: (1) fear of infection, (2) financial concerns, (3) stress caused by interactions with their children, (4) restrictions on childcare facilities, and (5) stress related to staying at home. The major coping strategies were (1) informal social support from family, friends, and coworkers, (2) formal social support from municipalities or nonprofit organizations, and (3) self-coping strategies.ConclusionSingle mothers in Japan recognized additional stressors after the COVID-19 outbreak. Our results support the importance of both formal and informal social support for single mothers, either in-person or online, to cope with stress during the pandemic

Association between Cooperative Attitude and High-Risk Behaviors on the Spread of COVID-19 Infection among Medical Students in Japan

The impact of high-risk behaviors on the spread of COVID-19 infection among young people is an important problem to address. This study analyzed the association between cooperativeness and high-risk behaviors. We conducted a cross-sectional study among fourth-year medical students at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. The students were asked about cooperative attitude in a hypothetical situation of performing a task together with an unfamiliar classmate, who did not cooperate to complete the task previously. The response items were as follows: “cooperate”, “don’t want to cooperate and do it alone (non-cooperative)”, and “don’t want to cooperate and let the partner do it alone (punishment)”. Eating out and vaccine hesitancy were also treated as high-risk behaviors. Poisson regression was used to investigate the association between cooperative attitude and each high-risk behavior, adjusted for demographics. Of the 98 students, 23 (23.5%), 44 (44.9%), and 31 (31.6%) students chose “noncooperative”, “cooperative”, and “punishment”, respectively. Cooperative-type students exhibited 2.77-fold (PR: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.03–7.46), and punishment-type students exhibited 3.16-fold greater risk of eating or drinking out (PR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.14–8.75) compared with those of the noncooperative type. Among medical students, the “cooperative” type and “punishment” type comprised the high-risk group for eating out during the pandemic

Pet Ownership and Children’s Emotional Expression: Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Longitudinal Data from Japan

With many children and young adolescents reporting strong emotional bonds with their pets, the impact of pet ownership on child/adolescent health—especially on their emotional development—has garnered increasing scientific interest. We examined the association between pet ownership in toddlerhood (age 3.5 years) and poor emotional expression in later childhood (age 5.5 years) using propensity score matching within a longitudinal cohort dataset from Japan (n = 31,453). A propensity score for pet ownership was calculated by logistic models based on a comprehensive list of each child’s observed characteristics, including sex, household income, parental education, mother’s employment status, residential environment, number of siblings, and living arrangement. Log-binomial regression analyses using matched samples revealed that children who owned pets during the toddler years were 6% less likely to have a poor emotional expression in later childhood (prevalence ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval = 0.90–0.99) compared to those without pets. This suggests that owning pets may provide children with opportunities to control their emotions, and lead to a lower prevalence of poor emotional expression. Pet ownership in toddlerhood may contribute to the development of expression

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with SARS-CoV-2 N501Y Variants in General Practitioner Clinic in Japan

The clinical characteristics of patients with N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 variants (N501YV) is not fully understood, especially in the setting of general practice. In this retrospective cohort study, COVID-19 patients admitted to one general practitioner clinic between 26 March and 26 May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The characteristics, clinical symptoms and radiological findings before treatment were compared between N501YV and wild-type 501N. Twenty-eight patients were classified as wild-type 501N and 24 as N501YV. The mean (±standard deviation) age was 37.4 (±16.1) years, with no significant difference between groups. Among clinical symptoms, prevalence of fever of 38 degrees Celsius (°C) or higher was significantly higher in the N501YV group than in the wild-type 501N group (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that fever of 38 °C or higher remained significantly associated with N501YV (adjust odds ratio [aOR]: 6.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68 to 21.94). For radiological findings, the lung involvement area was significantly larger in patients infected with N501YV (p = 0.013). In conclusion, in the N501YV group, fever of 38 °C or higher and extensive pneumonia were more frequently observed compared to the wild-type 501N group. There was no significant difference in terms of other demographics and clinical symptoms

Associations between Paternal Anxiety and Infant Weight Gain

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between parental anxiety (father-only, mother-only, or both) and infant weight change. We performed a secondary data analysis among 551 children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a birth cohort with weight measurements collected prospectively at 4, 8, and 12 months of age. Paternal and maternal anxiety symptoms were based on the eight-item anxiety subscale of the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index. Scores in the top 15% at 8 weeks postpartum were classified as high anxiety. Generalized Estimating Equations were employed to estimate the joint association between parental anxiety and change in child weight-for-age z-score. Children who had fathers, but not mothers, with anxiety showed a 0.15 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.29) greater increase in weight-for-age z-score than children with neither parent anxious. This result suggests that paternal anxiety, not maternal anxiety, was associated with increases in child weight gain in the first year of life. Public health practitioners and clinicians should consider the use of robust measures of both maternal and paternal anxiety in the postpartum period, in addition to the suggested screening for postpartum depression. Given the limitations of the study, this study should be considered preliminary and hypothesis generating

Associations between demographic factors and the academic trajectories of medical students in Japan.

BACKGROUND:Group-based trajectory modeling is a useful tool for categorizing students' academic trajectories and their determinants. Using insights gained from the analyses, we can identify students at risk for poor academic performance and monitor them to provide support. To date, studies investigating the associations between demographic factors and academic performance trajectories among medical students are scarce. The study objective was to examine the associations between demographic factors and academic performance trajectories in medical students using group-based trajectory modeling. METHODS:Participants included all medical students admitted to Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan in 2013 and 2014 (n = 202). Academic performance was evaluated by biannual grade point average (GPA) scores in preclinical years. We used group-based trajectory modeling to categorize students into GPA trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between the odds of being in a certain GPA trajectory group and demographic factors such as high school type, high school geographical area, admission test type, high school graduation year, whether the student was a biology major, and sex. RESULTS:Students' GPA trajectories were classified into four trajectory groups as well as another group that consisted of students who withdrew or repeated years. We found that students whose high school geographical area was outside the National Capital Region were 7.2 times more likely to withdraw or repeat years in comparison with students whose school was inside the National Capital Region (OR: 7.21, 95% CI: 1.87, 27.76). In addition, admission test type, high school graduation year, and sex were associated with GPA trajectories. CONCLUSIONS:High school geographical area, admission test type, high school graduation year, and sex were associated with GPA trajectories. These findings provide important insights into identifying students at risk for poor academic performance and strategies for monitoring them to provide adequate and timely support