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Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of users of postpartum care services and compare the factors associated with utilization of these services for users and non-users. The focus was on postpartum physical and mental discomfort, childcare anxiety, qualities of partners regarded as the closest supporters, and the use of instruction in childcare techniques. Methods A longitudinal study using a web-based self-administered questionnaire was conducted from May 2019 to February 2020 with study participants at 35 weeks gestation and one month postpartum. Of the 2,402 women given the research information leaflet at the time of their antenatal checkup, 667 (27.8%) responded to the first self-administered webbased survey, and 448 (18.7%) responded to the second one. The 448 respondents who answered at both time points and indicated whether they used the postpartum care services were included in the analysis. The respondents were divided into two groups: those who answered that they had used the postpartum care services and those who responded that they had not. Chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and student t-tests were performed on the investigation variables. Results Characteristics significantly associated with users of postpartum care services included the following: annual household income of at least 9 million yen, status as an employed woman, desiring to be pregnant, receiving a negative reaction from one's partner when becoming pregnant, first breastfeeding was the day following the birth, a strained relationship with one's partner at one month postpartum, and low scores on the Short Form-8 (SF-8) Japanese version of the Physical Component Summary (PCS) at one month postpartum. Conclusion In this study, the use of postpartum care services was associated with decreased physical quality of life (QoL) after childbirth. In addition to the need for rest, the relationship with one's partner might be related, suggesting the need to consider the relationship with the partner as a factor in deciding whether to use postpartum care services. In addition, financial difficulties associated with using the current postpartum care services also existed. Therefore, physical QoL, the relationship with one's partner, and financial support should be considered so that those needing postpartum care services can access them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to longitudinally examine the effects of parent and peer motivational climate on sport autonomy motivation in early adolescent athletes. We hypothesized that parents’ performance-oriented motivational climate would negatively affect player autonomy, but peers’ mastery-oriented motivational climate would moderate negative effects on player autonomy. Participants were 74 soccer players (66 male, 8 female) who completed the study at two time points separated by one year, with a mean age of 11.04 years (SD=0.71 years) at the first time point. At Time 1, a self-report questionnaire measured soccer competence (The Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale; BNSSS) as a control variable and parent-initiated motivational climate (Parent-Initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire 2; PIMCQ- 2) and peer motivational climate (Peer Motivational Climate in Youth Sport Questionnaire; PeerMCYSQ) as explanatory variables. At Time 2, the level of motivational autonomy (revised Sport Motivation Scale; SMS-II) was measured as an objective variable. After calculating correlations to confirm the relationships between the variables, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted, including an interaction term between parent and peer motivational climate. Results indicated that an anxiety-promoting parental motivational climate predicted low player autonomy under different peer motivational climates and did not support the hypothesis that a mastery-oriented peer motivational climate moderate negative parental influences. We discussed the importance of a mastery-oriented parental motivational climate in supporting player autonomy motivation during the developmental transition from childhood to adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined the effects of the interpersonal environment, including parents, friends, teachers, and neighbors, on longitudinal changes in the antisocial tendencies of youths, using before-and-after surveys conducted during the period of social restrictions against the COVID-19 pandemic. One thousand and ninetyeight grade students from grades four through nine were surveyed before and after the social restrictions in three waves. Their interpersonal environments were assessed by examining parenting, domestic violence, friendship, teacher's leadership, and neighbors' collective efficacy. Antisocial tendencies were measured by examining low self-control, callous-unemotional traits, moral disengagement, self-serving cognitive distortion, and normative beliefs about aggression. Latent profile analysis revealed four interpersonal environment profiles. Analysis of variance was used to compare longitudinal changes in antisocial tendencies among the four profiles. In class 2 (characterized by high parental control), the subjects' self-control increased. Conversely, in classes 1 and 4 (characterized by adaptive environments), the subjects' self-control decreased. In class 1, the score of callous unemotional traits increased. This was construed as indicating that the subjects' opportunities to express empathy were decreased by the restrictions placed on their rich environments. Antisocial cognition indices indicated that the scores of selective moral disengagement, self-serving cognitive distortion, and normative beliefs about aggression decreased. This was construed as indicating that the opportunities these subjects had to learn cognitive biases were decreased by the restrictions placed on their social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a longitudinal study of subjective health perceptions of community elderly during the COVID-19 epidemic and examined the factors that led to the subjective feelings of health to deteriorate for some of the participants in a follow-up survey. The results showed that the rate of “decreased motor function” was significantly higher (p＝0.01) in the “deteriorating health group” compared with the “health maintenance group” and the score of the “old-age-style instrumental independence” factor was lower (p＝0.02) in the deteriorating health group compared to the health maintenance group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the factors related to the subjective sense of health deterioration, and the results showed that “decreased motor function” was significantly associated with the feeling of deterioration of the subjective sense of health (p＝0.04). The results suggest that the subjective sense of health of the elderly was affected even during the short 5-month period of the COVID-19 epidemic. Although lifestyles are now returning to the pre-COVID-19 epidemic levels, there is a need for continued longitudinal investigation of subjective health perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze long- and short-term longitudinal data sets (first wave N＝1,448 and 91, respectively) to identify profiles of change in depression during adolescence and adulthood using a group-based trajectory approach and investigate the extent to which two personality traits (Behavioral Activation and Inhibition Systems; BAS and BIS) measured at the first wave predicted these trajectories. Three distinct trajectories, low, moderate, and high depression, were identified via group-based trajectory modeling . Multinomial regression analysis revealed that the two personality traits contributed to the development of depression, with lower BAS and higher BIS sensitivity leading to greater levels of depression in both longitudinal data sets. These results indicate that there is heterogeneity in longitudinal profiles of change in depression and that personality traits are predictive of the patterns in the development of depression. These findings may facilitate the early identification of those at greater risk of following the higher-depression trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed social conditions, with concerns about its impact on childrenʼs mental health and socioemotional development . However, only a few Japanese studies have offered a comparison of childrenʼs behaviors before and during the pandemic or analyzed longitudinal changes as the pandemic was taking place. Therefore, we present cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, conducted by the authors, that examined socioemotional behavior (among children 4 to 9 years old) and psychological distance to caregivers and others (among children 0 to 9 years old) at four time points: prepandemic (T0), April 2020 (T1), October 2020 (T2), and February 2021 (T3) . According to the results of these studies, childrenʼs socioemotional behavior hardly changed at these four time points and that their psychological distance from caregivers and others was influenced by the pandemic. These findings were discussed considering the issues surrounding cross-sectional and longitudinal research methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response to instruction （RTI） is the prevention and remediation model through research-based, effective instructions, and increasingly intense interventions. In the USA, the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) in 2004 allows school districts to implement RTI models for LD identification. In this paper, we reviewed the studies based on longitudinal data to reveal recent issues in the RTI model. We also introduce school-based practices and studies conducted in Japan. In the USA, where RTI intervention is closely linked to LD identification, the determination of nonresponders and prediction of long-term outcomes are important topics for studies, and a substantial number of longitudinal studies have been conducted. On the other hand, in Japan, RTI intervention is emphasized as an “intervention without identification,” and research mainly focused on the effect of interventions. Although only a few studies have targeted Tier 3 intervention, both in the US and Japan, our study revealed consistent results with those in the USA. Further studies will be required to reveal how the remediation of word-reading skills relates to future reading comprehension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental research is a dynamic discipline aiming to clarify how and by what mechanisms various functions change over time. Longitudinal studies demonstrate their effectiveness when examining individual differences in interrelationships, including developmental changes. The idea that relationships between elements create developmental changes is also consistent with the recently developed dynamic systems theory. This paper first describes the relevant theoretical viewpoints and then discusses the challenges arising in actual longitudinal research and the potential for using longitudinal data in heuristic research. Finally, given that the current research environment makes longitudinal research unfeasible, we question whether open access could be provided to the data previously accumulated in longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A longitudinal cohort study design for health science research is most desirable for a life-course developmental approach. Longitudinal studies have revealed that early life stress may be associated with subsequent negative mental and physical health across individualsʼ lifespan. The author has provided additional evidence of long-term negative effects of adverse childhood experiences (both in domestic and out-of-home settings), including bullying, on adult health by employing United Kingdom longitudinal birth cohort data. Various studies have elucidated potential malleable protective/compensatory factors for mitigating these long-term negative effects. It is recommended that future research employ cross-cohort and cross-cultural comparisons to verify such findings. Advantages and disadvantages of conducting large-scale longitudinal studies in Japan are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives　This study aimed to longitudinally determine the eating behavior and food group intake of female students to examine the relationship between eating behaviors and intention to improve eating habits (change in eating habits stages) and help health education use the behavior change theory.Methods　This one-year longitudinal study included 130 female students from Japanese colleges. The stage at which eating habits and behaviors (skipping breakfast, eating out, instant food intake, and snacking) and intake of food groups rich in protein, calcium, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fats and oils were assessed. The stages were as follows; pre-contemplation or contemplation (lower group), preparation (middle group), and action or maintenance (upper group). A self-assessment questionnaire was administered to evaluate eating behaviors and food group intake frequencies using a 5-point Likert scale. P-values of <.05 were considered statistically significant.Results　A cross-sectional comparison of eating behaviors and food group intake scores demonstrated significant differences between the stages only in snacking behavior. The upper group consumed snacks significantly less frequently than the middle and lower groups. After one year, a longitudinal comparison of eating behaviors and food group intake scores revealed significant differences in the intake of food groups rich in vitamins and minerals (green and yellow vegetables), fats and oils in the pre-contemplation stage, intake of food groups rich in vitamins/minerals (green and yellow vegetables) and frequency of skipping breakfast in the preparation stage, and frequency of eating out and snacking in the action stage. Each stage demonstrated a decreasing trend in food intake and an increasing trend in the frequency of skipping breakfast, eating out, and snacking. The percentages of students whose eating habits stage dropped during the second year were 49.0%, 100%, and 77.8% in the preparation, action, and maintenance stages, respectively. This indicates that there are cases in which readiness reverses in stages with improved eating habits.Conclusion　In health education on eating habits, it is vital to understand the changes in eating habit stages for each eating behavior and details of actual eating behaviors and habits. Thus, health education should align to the needs of each individual to support them in transforming and maintaining a higher stage of change in their eating habits.

The play behaviors of 10 Japanese boys with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and without intellectual disability or language delay and 10 children with typical development (TD) were observed across three sessions with intervals of approximately six months beginning at age 2;6 to 3;6. The study obtained three indices, namely, (a) frequency and repertoire of symbolic play, (b) frequency and repertoire of play themes, and (c) sequential organization of play. Analyses using a generalized linear mixed model with chronological age (CA) as a covariate displayed significant interactions between CA and the group for the repertoire of symbolic play and sequential organization of play. The repertoire of symbolic play and sequential organization of play were found to remain constant with the increase in the age of children with ASD, whereas these indices increased with the increase in age of children with TD. The results demonstrated that children with ASD and without intellectual disability or language delay gradually exhibited qualitative differences from children with TD in terms of symbolic play behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on feelings of lethargy and examined the realities of student apathy-like lethargy in general students from a longitudinal survey. A total of 121 university students who participated in the three surveys responded to questionnaires, including the low motivation scale, the lethargy scale, and the mental comfort scale. An analysis based on a conditional latent curve model was performed to examine the effect of the decline in academic motivation at the time of the first measurement on the intercept and slope. In the section, there was a negative effect on mental satisfaction/openness and comfort with others, but there was no effect on feelings of urgency/fatigue. In terms of inclination, neither satisfaction/openness nor sense of urgency/fatigue was affected by the decline in academic motivation. In other words, it was shown that a decrease in the motivation to study reduces the relaxation of the mind, but it is not accompanied by negative feelings. However, it was also clarified that the decrease in motivation did not affect the subsequent increase or decrease in mental space, and the characteristics of student apathy-like lethargy were found. In the future, support should be considered for the lethargy of university students based on the above characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rigakuryoho Kagaku is the property of International Press Editing Center Incorporation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics related to participation status in the Ibaraki Cohort Study and discuss ways to support the continuation of the survey. Although there were no significant differences in age or number of pregnant weeks among the registration group, dropout group, and continuation group, the results of binomial logistic analysis showed that the number of consulting partners were related to survey continuation (p<.10). It was suggested that connection with others was important for the continuation of the survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study comprehensively examined the causal effects of various free-time activities (learning, reading, playing outdoors, viewing television, playing video games, and using cellular phones) on academic achievement and emotional-behavioral adjustment (prosocial behavior, peer relationships, depression, and aggression) using large-scale longitudinal data obtained from 5,408 elementary and junior high school students (2,729 boys and 2,679 girls). Results from the two models (lagged effects and simultaneous effects models) used to test the causal relationships among variables were highly consistent. The findings showed the following: (1) learning and reading positively affected, while playing outdoors negatively affected academic achievement; (2) playing outdoors and learning positively affected, while reading and playing video games (solo playing) negatively affected emotional-behavioral adjustment. These results suggest that indoor activities requiring large amounts of cognitive processing contribute to academic development and that activities performed with friends or parents lead to emotional-behavioral development. Notably, since the above results were not necessarily consistent with previous findings in Western countries, they may reflect sociocultural factors specific to Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined how new computer technologies influence the methodologies of developmental psychology. Focusing on sensor-based activity-recognition technology, we divided previous studies into two categories: those that focused on “places” where sensors were placed (on the human body or in the environment) and those that focused on a “research goal.” The research goal category was further divided into two subcategories: （i） constructing a developmental theory or model for explaining the developmental process and （ii） supporting child rearing and caring. Using this categorization, we reviewed previous studies that focused on childrenʼs behavioral development processes using sensors. The problems of adopting sensing technologies included the following: （i） recognition inaccuracies, （ii） temptation to use all available sensors without deep consideration, （iii） lack of participants ʼ privacy, and （iv） risk of sensor data affecting the direction of educational practice. The advantages of using these technologies include the following: （i） enhanced understanding of the impact of childrenʼs everyday experiences on their developmental process, （ii） new possibilities for research on childrenʼs activities that are difficult to observe, and （iii） prompt feedback to the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rigakuryoho Kagaku is the property of International Press Editing Center Incorporation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: This study clarified the association between the amount of physical activity and apathy after one year among community-dwelling older adults., Methods: Two hundred community-dwelling older adults (mean age: 74.3±5.0 years old, female: 52.5%) who participated in the 2018 and 2019 "Kasama Longevity Health Examination" were included. Apathy was assessed using the Apathy Scale (0-42 points; the higher the score, the lower the motivation), physical activity by Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS). The 2018 PASE data were grouped into tertiles. A multiple regression analysis was performed with the 2019 Apathy Scale as the dependent variable and the 2018 PASE as the independent variable, and the sex, age, years of education, economic situation, body mass index, chronic illness, smoking history, alcohol drinking habits, physical function, cognitive function, GDS, and the 2018 Apathy Scale as adjustment variables. The PASE subcategories (leisure-time, household, and work-related activities) were examined using a similar method., Results: The mean Apathy Scale in 2019 was 14.0±6.2 for the low physical activity group, 12.8±6.0 for the medium physical activity group, and 10.1±5.9 for the high physical activity group. The high physical activity group showed a significant negative association with the Apathy Scale (B=-1.56, 95% confidence interval=-2.91 to -0.21, p=0.023). No association was found for any activity of the PASE sub-items., Conclusions: A high level of physical activity may protect against apathy among community-dwelling older adults.

As the ratio of elderly people increases worldwide, it is becoming more important to understand cognitive aging. Older adults show much greater interindividual differences than young adults. These differences grow with age, making it impossible for some older adults to participate as research volunteers in aging studies. Relatedly, results of cognitive aging studies are affected by sampling and by selection of cross-sectional/longitudinal research methods. These issues are discussed in the context of several behavioral and neuroimaging studies. Factors affecting increased interindividual differences are also reviewed. Researchers should pay attention to these factors and to characteristics of research methods when planning and interpreting the results of studies on cognitive aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present studv focused changes in social skills and weather affiliation motives moderate the efrect o f perspective taking on the changes in social skills. A total o f 468 junior high school students participated in the survey with a half-year interval. The results o f regression analysis showed a significant moderation role o f affiliation motives for the effect o f perspective taking on changes in social skills. The results or simple slope analysis indicated that perspective taking promoted social skills when affiliation motives were relatively high. Meanwhile, the results also showed that perspective taking did not facilitate social skills when affiliation motives were relatively low. Discussion describes how to encourage social skills in junior high school students through considering the viewpoint o f perspective taking and affiliation motives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the late 1990s, Japanese psychiatrists have reported new types of depressive syndromes (NTD), which have different features from the traditional form of depression, that is, melancholic depression. Previous studies have reported that the Interpersonal Sensitivity/Privileged Self are personality traits related to NTD, and the Interpersonal Sensitivity/Privileged Self Scale was developed to measure them. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the Interpersonal Sensitivity/Privileged Self generates interpersonal stress, thereby contributing to the development of depressive symptoms. This study employed a longitudinal method, with a sample of 116 undergraduates as participants. The results of the path analyses supported the hypothesis, which suggests that Interpersonal Sensitivity/Privileged Self influences depression, via interpersonal stress. These findings indicate that NTD can be explained by the stress generation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development or prosociality and a trajectory in prosocial behaviors have been a major interest amone developmental psychologists. The present study investigates age-related changes in prosocial behaviors from middle childhood to early adolescence based on the relational approach, emphasizing relations with the recipients o f the prosocial behaviors (i.e., prosocial behavior toward family, strangers, and friends). A total o f 1,829 Japanese students (944 boys and 885 girls) from mid-elementary and junior high schools (ages 9 — 14 at the time o f the first measurement) participated in a one-year longitudinal study. This sample consisted o f five cohorts: the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade samples. The results o f the latent difference score model showed a decrease in prosocial behaviors once, as mean level o f individual changes; while at the same time, the model indicated a bounce-back in prosociality after the middle o f the junior high school period. Additionally, we found unique changes in prosocial behaviors toward family in the form not following the overall developmental trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the longitudinal changes in social skills among junior high school students. A total of 505 students (boys = 266, girls = 239) participated in a questionnaire survey every year from the first to third year of junior high school. The results of latent growth curve model indicated a decrease in kakawari skills consisting of assertion and developing relationships with peers, and an increase in hairyo skills consisting of compassion and maintaining relationships with peers. The model also revealed a positive relation between longitudinal changes in kakawari and hairyo skills. However, the results of growth mixture model extracted a profile characterized by increase in both skills and another profile characterized by a decrease in kakawari skills only. Considering the estimated mean level and changes o f both skills, we found a widening gap in social skills among students. Furthermore, multi-group analysis for the growth mixture model indicated a sex-based difference in the changes. Overall, educational practices to facilitate kakawari skills are necessary for junior high school students, particularly for girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between athletes’ mindfulness and future decrements in performance. Participants were 116 university athletes (male = 63, female = 53, unknown = 3, mean age = 19.25, SD = 0.98). The participants completed a questionnaire comprising a few questions related to socio-demographic variables, the Athletes Mindfulness Questionnaire (AMQ), and the Athletes Performance Decrement Questionnaire (APDQ) at time 1 and time 2 (4-7 months after time 1). The results of a cross-lagged effects model revealed that AMQ score at time 1 was positively associated with AMQ score at time 2 and negatively associated with APDQ score at time 2. However, APDQ score at time 1 was positively associated only with APDQ score, but not AMQ score, at time 2. This study’s results indicated that athletes’ mindfulness is unidirectionally associated with decrements in performance. This implies that increasing mindfulness may be an effective method for preventing impairments in athletic performance arising from psychological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of teaching has become a serious issue. However, factors affecting quality of teaching have not been investigated in detail. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between learning motivation for subject instruction and perception of teaching skill and learning time in a half-year short-term longitudinal study with novice teachers (n=128). The results showed that (a) perception of teaching skill was positively affected by orientation toward children and skill orientation, (b) learning time during a workday was positively affected by orientation toward children, (c) learning time during a holiday was positively affected by skill orientation and intrinsic motivation, (d) indifference was positively and skill orientation was negatively affected by perception of teaching skill, and (e) sense of duty was negatively affected by learning time during a holiday. This study indicated that believing in the significance of learning and learning for children would be good motivation for teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rigakuryoho Kagaku is the property of International Press Editing Center Incorporation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This longitudinal study examined whether maternal cognition of infant emotions predicted infant attachment security beyond the variance explained by maternal sensitivity. Maternal cognition of infant emotions was assessed by the Japanese version of the IFEEL Pictures, and maternal sensitivity was observed during free play, at 2 months. Infants' attachment security was then assessed with the Attachment Q-Sort on the basis of home observations at 18 months. The results showed that infants of mothers who were more likely to interpret joy or sad precisely on the IFEEL pictures at 12 months scored higher on attachment security at 18 months. Maternal cognition of infant emotions also accounted for variance in attachment security beyond the variance explained by maternal sensitivity. These findings suggest the important role of maternal cognition of infant emotions for infant attachment development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controversy remains about whether social skills predict school outcomes. To address this issue, this study investigated the capability of social skills to predict school satisfaction through a 2-year longitudinal survey. A total of 317 junior high school students (190 boys and 127 girls) participated in this survey. The results of structural equation modeling through comparison for 16 potential models supported the hypothesis, revealing that social skills in 7th grade could predict school satisfaction in 9th grade with hypothesizing auto regression path. Specifically, (a) social skills relating to forming relationship with peers (termed kakawari skills) had a positive effect on the sense of adjustment, and (b) social skills relating to manners or respect towards peers (termed hairyo skills) had a negative effect on the sense of maladjustment. We discuss the role of social skills on school satisfaction in terms of longitudinal perspective and the need for an additional testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state in which physical and mental functions are deteriorated with aging is called frailty, and decrease in muscle mass and muscle strength with aging accompanying deterioration of physical function is called sarcopenia. Frailty and sarcopenia are found in older adults, which is a major obstacle to achieve healthy longevity. Estimation of prevalence and number of patients, as well as elucidation of risk factors in frailty and sarcopenia are important for the prevention of frailty and sarcopenia. The prevalence of frailty determined by criteria based on the method of Fried et al. was 5.2% for men and 20.9% for women in a cohort of randomly selected community-living population, and the estimated number of people with frailty was about 0.77 million men and 2,22 million women among the population aged 65 years and over in Japan. The prevalence of sarcopenia by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria was 9.6% for men and 7.7% for women. The number of people aged 65 years and over with sarcopenia in Japan was estimated to be 1.64 million for men and 1.39 million for women. The onset of frailty was related to physique, physical function, cognitive function, depression, and various chronic diseases. Depression and lack of exercise were significant risk factors of sarcopenia. Physical activity, nutrition and control of chronic diseases are required for the prevention of frailty and sarcopenia, and the prevention will be an important issue for health and longevity in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective　This study aimed to qualitatively analyze changes in the health status and factors affecting technical intern trainees over time during their first year in Japan and examined the necessary support for healthy living.Methods　The study targeted sixteen technical intern trainees who had been living in Japan for almost four months. The study was conducted quarterly in a year, using semi-structured interviews to measure physical and mental health conditions, injury or illness, subjective symptoms, and training and daily life conditions. Dietary content was assessed using photographs taken by participants. Health-check results were collected when available. Data were classified into the six components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and further qualitative data were analyzed inductively for health-affecting factors using qualitative longitudinal analysis.Results　The types and timing of illnesses, injuries, subjective symptoms, and health-affecting factors varied. Stress and concerns were experienced by more than 56.3% of each study's participants and more than 44.4% had the possibility of a mood or anxiety disorder. The participants with heavy labor had musculoskeletal disorders in the first half of the study period. The health-check results were in Japanese and some participants did not fully understand them. Fifteen categories were extracted as health-affecting factors:《sleeping conditions》,《joy of independence and anxiety》,《decreased vitality and fatigue》,《undertaking the training》,《communication skills and efforts to learn Japanese》,《efforts for self-health care》,《adaptation to Japanese lifestyle》,《leisure and interaction with Japanese people》,《religious activities》,《training environment》,《living environment》,《support from friends, family and workplace》,《natural environment and economic trends》,《saving-oriented lifestyle》, and《motive for coming to Japan and self-evaluation after one year》.Conclusion　The technical intern trainees experienced various physical and psychological symptoms. Support in maintaining and promoting positive aspects of health-affecting factors and removing negative aspects is important for the health of trainees. In addition, it is important to support the improvement of the health literacy of trainees by offering information on exercise facilities and medical institutions providing health-check services in multiple languages, and improving means of communications through cooperation with related organizations and the use of regular channels by trainees. Furthermore, involving healthcare professionals in "regional councils" is necessary.

This longitudinal study examined age-related changes in attitudes toward death among middle-aged and elderly Japanese subjects. Data were derived from the National Institute for Longevity Sciences - Longitudinal Study of Aging （NILSLSA）. Participants （N＝ 3789; age ＝ 40-91 years） comprised the first, third, fifth, and seventh waves of NILS-LSA, and the attitude toward death scale for the middle-aged and elderly（ ATDS-A: five subscales） was completed up to four times at approximately 4-year intervals. General linear mixed-model analyses revealed the following“: Fear of death” decreased for age groups from middle age to young-old, but stabilized during old-old age. “The belief in existence of an afterlife” score decreased with age. Older subjects showed a high score for“ Intention to live out own life” and“ Meaning of death for life,” but these scores did not exhibit longitudinal changes.“ Approval of death with dignity” was higher in older subjects, but longitudinal change was seen only in early-middle age. These results suggest that each aspect of attitudes toward death has a different longitudinal trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the extent to which developmental appraisal by nursery teachers predicts psychosocial maladaptation in elementary school, and developed the Developmental Scale for Nursery Record (DSNR). A 7-year longitudinal investigation was conducted on 2,400 children from all day nursery and elementary schools in a suburban Japanese city. Nursery school teachers used the Nursery Teacher's Rating Development Scale for Children (NDSC) to assess children's development. Multiple regression analysis revealed that externalizing problems were predicted by tendencies of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (hyperactivity and inattention), while internalizing problems were predicted by tendencies of autism spectrum disorder (sociality, flexibility, and communication) and tendencies of developmental coordination disorder (gross motor control). Academic performance was influenced by tendencies of the three disorders (inattention, communication, and fine motor control). Item-level analysis identified 35 items that contributed to the prediction of psychosocial maladaptation, and these items were assigned to the DSNR. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the DSNR had optimal levels of reliability and factorial validity. Despite substantial reduction of the number of items, the DSNR showed as much predictive accuracy as did the original NDSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to examine close relationships because they play a pivotal role in individuals' growth, development, and well-being. This article presents a novel approach that incorporates individual-dyad hierarchical perspectives from social psychology with the temporal perspectives of developmental psychology. Research on adult attachment shows that there are missing links between developmental and social psychological studies of close relationships. This review explores the possibility of an integrative approach, based on temporal perspectives that investigate the developmental course of attachment style, and hierarchical perspectives which examine the processes involved in dyadic relationships at both individual and dyad levels including structure of interaction and shared relational efficacy. Longitudinal data analyses (cross-lagged model and latent growth curve model) and dyadic data analyses (pairwise correlation analysis, common fate model, and multilevel structural equation modeling) are reviewed to illuminate empirical research methods and data correction issues. Future studies on close relationships require consideration of both developmental and social psychological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]