Childhood adversity and adulthood happiness: Evidence from Japan

In this study, we examined the impact of childhood interpersonal adversity on adulthood subjective well-being, with a focus on the mediating and moderating effects of social support and socioeconomic status (SES). We concentrated on parental maltreatment (abuse and neglect) and bullying in school as childhood adversity variables and on perceived happiness, life satisfaction, and self-rated health as adulthood subjective well-being measures. Our empirical analysis was based on micro data from a survey in municipalities in and around the Tokyo metropolitan area (N = 3,292). We obtained four key findings. First, the experience of childhood adversity had a substantial negative impact on adulthood subjective well-being. Second, social support and SES significantly mediated the impact of childhood adversity. Third, a large proportion of the impact of childhood interpersonal adversity was unexplained by social support and SES mediation effects. Fourth, no social support or SES variable moderated the impact of childhood interpersonal adversity. Hence, we can conclude that childhood interpersonal adversity affects adulthood subjective well-being in a relatively independent manner rather than being substantially mediated or moderated by social support or SES. Accordingly, social policies should aim at reducing incidents of childhood maltreatment and bullying in addition to helping people enhance levels of social support and SES in later life.Childhood adversity, adulthood subjective well-being, mediation analysis, Japan

Mediating effects of social support and socioeconomic status on the association between childhood interpersonal adversity and adulthood mental health in Japan

In this study, we examined how the impact of child adversity on adulthood mental health is mediated by perceived social support and socioeconomic status (SES) in Japan, using micro data collected from surveys conducted in four municipalities in the Tokyo metropolitan area (N = 3,305). We focused on the self-reported experience of parental maltreatment and bullying in school. Our moderation analysis revealed that perceived social support and SES mediated 9-21% and 6-13%, respectively, of the impact of child adversity on selected mental health variables. The results highlight the mediating roles of social support and SES on the impact of adverse events in childhood on adulthood mental health. However, a large proportion of the impact is unexplained by either social support or SES, underscoring the need for reducing risks of parental maltreatment and bullying in school.Child adversity, Social support, Socioeconomic status, Adulthood mental health, Mediation analysis, Japan

The immediate effects of 10-minute relaxation training on salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and mood state for Japanese female medical co-workers

This study examined the effects of relaxation training on salivary IgA (s-IgA) and mood state in Japanese female medical workers. Participants were enrolled and assigned to relaxation or control groups. The relaxation group Japanese female medical workers (n = 38, mean age = 33.5 years, SD = 9.6) participated in a lecture on stress for 1 h and had 10 min of relaxation training. The control group (n = 41, mean age = 35.0 years, SD = 8.6) participated in only the lecture. S-IgA was measured, and a self-report mood questionnaire administered before the lecture and then again after the relaxation training for the relaxation group. The control group was measured before and after the lecture. The results showed that s-IgA levels significantly increased after relaxation training in the relaxation group compared with the control group (p = 0.03). A marginally significant intervention effect was observed for mood state (p = 0.06) ; indicating that the relaxation group was more likely to reduce any fatigue and confusion than was the control group. These findings suggest that short-time relaxation training is effective in relaxing mood and causes changes in immunological function

Nutrition and Depressive Symptoms in Community-dwelling Elderly Persons in Japan

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the association between dietary intake and depressivesymptoms in community-dwelling elderly persons. Five-hundred elderly persons aged 65 to 75 years were randomly selected from the population of O city in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Among 401 respondents (response rate, 80.0%), data from 279 (133 males, 146 females) who completed the questionnaire concerning dietary intake and depressive state were analyzed using logistic regression. Each of 17 dietary intakes was classified into tertiles:high intake, moderate intake, and low intake. The Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression scale (CES-D) was used. Among males, the observed odds ratios (the 95% confidence intervals) for the depressive state were 0.36 (95% CI:0.13-0.98) in the highest tertile of carotene intake, 0.33 (95% CI:0.12-0.93) in the highest tertile of vitamin C intake, 0.29 (95% CI:0.10-0.85) in the highest tertile of carbohydrate intake, and 0.33 (95% CI:0.12-0.92) in the medium tertile of vitamin E intake. Among females, similar results were observed, but these results were not statistically significant. The results suggested that carbohydrate, carotene, and vitaminC intakes are associated with lowering depressive symptoms among elderly persons dwelling in communities in Japan.</p

Вариационный принцип для температурной задачи теории упругости в напряжениях

При расчетах деталей и элементов конструкций на прочность часто используется вариационная формулировка задачи. В работе предлагается вариационный принцип, уравнениями Эйлера которого являются дифференциальные уравнения термоупругости в напряжениях.При розрахунках деталей та елементів конструкцій на міцність часто використовується варіаційне формулювання задачі. Пропонується варіаційний принцип, рівняннями Ейлера якого є диференціальні рівняння термопружності в напруженнях.Strength calculation for parts and structural elements often involves a variational formulation of the problem. We propose the variational principle, wherein Euler equations are represented by differential equations of thermoelasticity in stresses

Effects of a job crafting intervention program on work engagement among Japanese employees: a pretest-posttest study

Abstract Background Job crafting, an employee-initiated job design/redesign, has become important for employees’ well-being such as work engagement. This study examined the effectiveness of a newly developed job crafting intervention program on work engagement (as primary outcome), as well as job crafting and psychological distress (as secondary outcomes), using a pretest-posttest study design among Japanese employees. Methods Participants were managers of a private company and a private psychiatric hospital in Japan. The job crafting intervention program consisted of two 120-min sessions with a two-week interval between them. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (Time 1), post-intervention (Time 2), and a one-month follow-up (Time 3). The mixed growth model analyses were conducted using time (Time 1, Time 2, and Time 3) as an indicator of intervention effect. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results The program showed a significant positive effect on work engagement (t = 2.20, p = 0.03) in the mixed growth model analyses, but with only small effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.33 at Time 2 and 0.26 at Time 3). The program also significantly improved job crafting (t = 2.36, p = 0.02: Cohen’s d = 0.36 at Time 2 and 0.47 at Time 3) and reduced psychological distress (t = −2.06, p = 0.04: Cohen’s d = −0.15 at Time 2 and −0.31 at Time 3). Conclusions The study indicated that the newly developed job crafting intervention program was effective in increasing work engagement, as well as in improving job crafting and decreasing psychological distress, among Japanese managers. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000024062 . Retrospectively registered 15 September 2016

Effects of Alcohol-related Health Education on Alcohol and Drinking Behavior Awareness among Japanese Junior College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving Japanese junior college students aimed at investigating the effects of a single session of alcohol health education concerning the effects of alcohol, alcohol-related health problems, and drinking behavior. Students were randomly assigned to an intervention (n=38) or a control group (n=33). The intervention group attended a 90-minute alcohol health education session that included demonstration of an ethanol patch test, watching videos, and a lecture by an ex-alcoholic. The control group received health education regarding smoking. The students. knowledge regarding alcohol, their drinking behavior, and problem drinking (CAGE) were measured by a self-administered questionnaire at the baseline and at a two-month follow-up. A repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) of those who completed the follow-up indicated the education sessions. significant intervention (group*time) effect on the scores related to knowledge of alcohol-related health problems (p=0.035), with a greater increase in the scores of the intervention group at the follow-up. No significant intervention eff ect was observed regarding drinking behavior or problem drinking as measured by CAGE (p&#62;0.05). Alcohol-related education can be considered an effective way to increase awareness of alcohol-related health problems, but less effective for changing drinking the behavior of Japanese junior college students.</p

Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Recovery Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ) among mental health providers: a questionnaire survey

The Japanese version of the 7-item Recovery Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ). (DOCX 31 kb

Associations among workplace environment, self-regulation, and domain-specific physical activities among white-collar workers: a multilevel longitudinal study

BackgroundPsychological and environmental determinants have been discussed for promoting physical activity among workers. However, few studies have investigated effects of both workplace environment and psychological determinants on physical activity. It is also unknown which domains of physical activities are promoted by these determinants. This study aimed to investigate main and interaction effects of workplace environment and individual self-regulation for physical activity on domain-specific physical activities among white-collar workers.MethodsA multi-site longitudinal study was conducted at baseline and about 5-month follow-up. A total of 49 worksites and employees within the worksites were recruited. Inclusion criteria for the worksites (a) were located in the Kanto area, Japan and (b) employed two or more employees. Employee inclusion criteria were (a) employed by the worksites, (b) aged 18 years or older, and (c) white-collar workers. For outcomes, three domain-specific physical activities (occupational, transport-related, and leisure-time) at baseline and follow-up were measured. For independent variables, self-regulation for physical activity, workplace environments (parking/bike, signs/bulletin boards/advertisements, stairs/elevators, physical activity/fitness facilities, work rules, written policies, and health promotion programs), and covariates at baseline were measured. Hierarchical Linear Modeling was conducted to investigate multilevel associations.ResultsOf the recruited worksites, 23 worksites and 562 employees, and 22 worksites and 459 employees completed the baseline and the follow-up surveys. As results of Hierarchical Linear Modeling, stairs/elevator (γ=3.80 [SE=1.80], p<0.05), physical activity/fitness facilities (γ=4.98 [SE=1.09], p<0.01), and written policies (γ=2.10 [SE=1.02], p<0.05) were significantly and positively associated with occupational physical activity. Self-regulation for physical activity was associated significantly with leisure-time physical activity (γ=0.09 [SE=0.04], p<0.05) but insignificantly with occupational and transport-related physical activity (γ=0.11 [SE=0.16] and γ=−0.00 [SE=0.06]). Significant interaction effects of workplace environments (physical activity/fitness facilities, work rules, and written policies) and self-regulation were observed on transport-related and leisure-time physical activity.ConclusionsWorkplace environments such as physical activity/fitness facilities, written policies, work rules, and signs for stair use at stairs and elevators; self-regulation for physical activity; and their interactions may be effective to promote three domain-specific physical activities. This study has practical implications for designing multi-component interventions that include both environmental and psychological approaches to increase effect sizes to promote overall physical activity