The Effectiveness of Peer Support for Cancer Patients: Potential of activities based on Cancer Philosophy

　　The Objectives of this study is to review various peer support practices of cancer survivors in Japan and to find effective support components. We reviewed the materials on cancer peer support published by the government and research papers on cancer peer support in the fields of psychology and nursing. National peer support activities include training of peer supporters to provide counseling and support by cancer survivors; however, these activities are not very widespread. On the other hand, where peer support activities are carried out effectively, dialogue between the peer who supports cancer patients and the patient receiving the support is on an equal footing. The Cancer Philosophy Clinic Medical Café started by Dr. Okio HINO is one such activity. A medical café has the effect of raising positive emotions and lowering negative emotions, and contribute to cancer education. The perspective of peers supporting and interacting on an equal footing is important for effective peer support activities. In peer support by the government, rather than providing counseling training to those who practice peer support, activities will develop and last longer by creating a relationship in which people can talk freely on the same level as peers

Effect of "Reflecting Diary" on Mental Health

本研究では、「振り返り日記」の継続実施による、精神的健康への影響を検討することを目的とした。本研究では、実験参加者を募り、応募者をランダムに3群（出来事筆記群、感情筆記群、フェルトセンス筆記群）に振り分け、30日間の日記筆記を実施した。出来事筆記群では、一日の出来事を主に記述し、感情筆記群では出来事とそれに関連する感情を記述した。フェルトセンス筆記群では、出来事と感情及び、それらにまつわるフェルトセンスの記述を求めた。また、日記の実施前、実施直後、1カ月後に質問紙調査を実施し、日記終了後に自由記述形式で感想を求めた。日記の内容を確認したところ、教示通りではなかったため、本研究では3群を合わせて質問紙調査の結果を検討することにした。得られたデータを分析した結果、次のことが示された。心理的ストレス反応では、4下位尺度（疲労、怒り、循環器不調、抑うつ）において日記筆記前よりも日記筆記後に有意な低下がみられた。また、GHQ12の「うつ症傾向」、「社会的活動障害」においても有意な低下が確認された。精神的健康へのポジティブな影響としては、「本来感」と「本来的自己感」において、筆記前よりも筆記後に有意に増加していることが示された。さらに、自由記述を検討したところ、79の文章が抽出され、20個のキーワードが作成された。キーワードを類似性によりまとめると、「気持ちの整理」、「新たな気づき・理解」、「前向きな気持ち・考え」、「変化」、「反省」に整理された。これらの結果から、「振り返り日記」の効果について考察した。The purpose of this study was to discuss the effect of a "Reflecting Diary" on mental health. In this study, participants were randomly divided into 3 groups (event writing group, emotional writing group, felt sense writing group) and engaged in 30 days of diary writing. In the event writing group, they mainly described the events of the day, and in the emotion writing group, they described the events and related emotions. In the felt sense writing group, participants were asked to describe events and emotions, and their felt senses. A questionnaire survey was conducted before and after the 30-day diary writing period, and one month later. After finishing the diary, we asked for their impressions in a free-form format. We verified the contents of the diary and found that they were not completed as indicated. The three groups were combined, and the results of the questionnaire survey were examined. Data analysis revealed the following: In the stress reaction scale, there was a more significant decrease after diary writing on the 4 subscales (fatigue, anger, malfunction of the circulatory system, depression) than before diary writing. In addition, a significant decrease in "anxiety and depression" and "social dysfunction" was confirmed through the General Health Questionairre (GHQ-12). As a positive influence on mental health, it was shown that "authentic living" and "authentic self-feeling" increased significantly afterwriting compared to before writing. Furthermore, 79 sentences were extracted and 20 keywords were created from the free-format writing. When summarizing keywords by similarity, they were arranged into "sorting out feelings," "further awareness/understanding," "positive feelings/thoughts," "changes," and "reflections." From these results, we discuss the effect of a "Reflecting Diary."本研究は科学研究費助成事業（学術研究助成基金助成金）の助成を受けた（基盤研究C　課題番号：15K04147）

Incorporating the Symbolization of Felt Sense in Assessing Focusing Attitudes: An Examination of Causal Models for Factor Structure, Gender and Psychological Health

体験過程尊重尺度(FMS)にフェルトセンスの象徴化を測定する項目を加え、フォーカシング的態度測定尺度を作成した。345名の大学生に心理的ストレス反応尺度、主観的幸福感尺度と共に実施した。因子分析により「注意」「距離」「象徴化」「受容」の4 因子が抽出され、信頼性の高い尺度が作成された(α＝.87)。性差の検討を行ったところ、「距離」「受容」は有意に男性が高く、「象徴化」「疲労」「対人緊張」「ストレス反応合計」は女性の方が高かった。フォーカシング的態度の構造を検討するため、フォーカシングのステップに基づき因果モデルを構成し共分散構造分析を行った。「注意」から「距離」「象徴化」「受容」へのパスは有意(β＝.63; β＝.48; β＝.62)であったが、「距離」から「受容」、「象徴化」から「受容」へのパス係数は低かった(β＝.20; β＝.02)。最後に、フォーカシング的態度が心理的ストレス反応、主観的幸福感に影響を及ぼすとする因果モデルを構成し共分散構造分析を行った。フォーカシング的態度から心理的ストレス反応に有意な負のパス(β＝－.47)、心理的ストレス反応から主観的幸福感に有意な負のパス(β＝－.44)、フォーカシング的態度から主観的幸福感には有意な正のパス(β＝.35)が引かれた。フォーカシング的態度の測定、性差、構造、機能について考察した。A Scale to Access Focusing Manner (SAFM) was developed by adding items to measure the symbolizing of the felt sense to the original Focusing Manner Scale (FMS). Three hundred and forty-five university students filled in the SAFM and the Psychological Stress Response and Subjective Happiness Scales. Factor Analysis on the SAFM found four factors: attention, distance, symbolization, and acceptance. Th e reliability of this scale was α=.87. Men scored higher in distance and acceptance while women scored higher in symbolization, fatigue, interpersonal tension, and total stress responses. To investigate the structure of Focusing attitudes, a causal model based on the steps of Focusing was performed using covariance structure analysis. The paths from attention to distance, symbolization, and acceptance were signifi cant (β=.63; β=.48;β=.62), but the path coeffi cients from distance to acceptance and from symbolization to acceptance were low (β=.20; β=.02). Finally, covariance structure analysis was performed on the effects of Focusing attitudes on psychological stress and subjective happiness. Negative paths were drawn from Focusing attitudes to psychological stress response (β=−.47) and from psychological stress response to subjective happiness (β=−.44). A positive path was drawn from Focusing attitude to subjective happiness (β=−.35). Th e assessment, structure, and function of Focusing attitudes and gender were discussed