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Aim: We tested key hypotheses derived from the Cultural Determinants of Trauma Recovery Theory (CDTR) with an American sample. Design: A cross‐sectional study using anonymous online surveys. Methods: This study was conducted with 225 American survivors of gender‐based violence (GBV) between August to November 2019. Demographics, distress (depression: PHQ8; PTSD: PCL‐5), mental health service utilization (counselling and medication), sense of coherence (SOC), internal barriers to help‐seeking (shame, frozen and problem management subscales: BHS‐TR Internal) and the GBV healing (GBV‐Heal) were used. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted to test the hypotheses. Results: The final SEM model showed that the relationship between distress and mental health service utilization was not mediated by internal help‐seeking barriers; the relationship between distress and trauma healing was partially mediated by internal help‐seeking barriers; the relationship between internal help‐seeking barriers and trauma healing was partially mediated by SOC; mental health service utilization was not significantly associated with trauma healing. Overall, the relationship between distress and trauma healing was partially mediated by internal help‐seeking barriers and SOC. Conclusions: This study confirmed some hypothetical pathways between distress and trauma healing. Further research with larger and international samples should be necessary to test the overall CDTR and compare groups. Impact: This study can help us focus on psychological interventions that enhance meaning and mitigate internal help‐seeking barriers to promote holistic trauma recovery. Public and public contribution: The sample was gathered from a clinical population registry that alerts patients of potential research opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This observational study aimed to describe the rate and degree of difficult experiences with COVID‐19 pandemic‐related changes (DE) during pregnancy, clarify the relationship between DE and self‐compassion of women postnatally, and investigate the influence of compassion from a partner (CP) and compassion from the woman's mother (CM) on this relationship. Methods: Data from 46 1‐month postnatal women in Japan were collected through a self‐report questionnaire from October to December 2020. Self‐compassion was measured using the Japanese version of the Self‐Compassion Scale; DE, CP, and CM were measured using original questions based on prior studies. Results: Almost all participants (97.8%) experienced more than one DE during pregnancy. Data analyses revealed that DE in maternity hospitals (d = 0.76), DE in social support (d = 0.53), and CM (d = 0.64) were associated with self‐compassion. A two‐way analysis of variance suggested that CM moderated the relationship between self‐compassion and DE in preparation for the baby (η2 = 0.11) and the birth plan (η2 = 0.11), whereas CP moderated the relationship between self‐compassion and DE in social support (η2 = 0.07). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that self‐compassion negatively correlates with DE in maternity hospitals and social support. Additionally, CM may buffer the influence of DE in preparation for the baby and the birth plan on self‐compassion; moreover, CP may buffer the influence of DE in social support on self‐compassion. This study highlights the importance of supporting perinatal women to adapt to COVID‐19‐related changes through cooperation with their families, which may increase self‐compassion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have not focused on how intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy predicts early postnatal child abuse. This study identifies the continuity and spillover effects of IPV during pregnancy on IPV and child abuse and neglect (CAN) at 1-month and 3-month postnatal periods. A total of 822 pregnant women were recruited at the third trimester of pregnancy at two obstetric hospitals in Tokyo, Japan, from June 2016 to September 2017. IPV during pregnancy and IPV and CAN at 1 month and 3 months postnatal were obtained through self-reported questionnaires. Results show that the rate of IPV was highest during pregnancy (16.4%), and there was significant continuance (69.4%) of this occurrence of IPV after childbirth (1 month: 13.9%; 3 months: 13.7%). In addition, the rate of CAN was 20.0% at 1 month postnatal and slightly increased at 3 months postnatal (21.8%). Furthermore, this study indicates that IPV during pregnancy was significantly associated with CAN at 1 month and 3 months postnatal (β =.16 and β =.14) and with IPV at 1 month (β =.68), and subsequently, IPV at 1 month was significantly associated with IPV at 3 months postnatal (β =.56). This study suggests the importance of conducting screenings for IPV during the perinatal period and providing intensive health interventions for abused women to support their parenting from pregnancy to 3 months postnatal to prevent or reduce CAN at 1 month and 3 months postnatal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Caregiving Interface Work Scale (J‐CIWS) for use with employed Japanese family caregivers. Methods: Permission was obtained from the developer of the original CIWS. The CIWS contains 20 items: 10 measuring care interface work (CIW) and 10 measuring work interface care (WIC). Responses are measured on a five‐point Likert scale. The J‐CIWS was developed through forward‐ and back‐translation and cognitive interviews of employed family caregivers. An internet survey was conducted with 116 employed family caregivers, and 78 participants answered a retest. Questionnaire items included the J‐CIWS and demographic factors. Factor analysis was conducted to determine the J‐CIWS factor structure. Validity was assessed based on known‐groups, convergent and discriminant validity. Internal consistency was examined by calculating Cronbach's α. Test–retest reliability was examined by calculating the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: The mean participant age was 50.3 years; 74 (63.8%) were male. The average weekly working and caregiving hours were 41.6 and 12.1 h, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original two‐factor model. High internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.90) and sufficient test–retest reliability (weighted κ score >0.45) were demonstrated for both subscales. Convergent and discriminant validity were acceptable for the two subscales (CIW and WIC). Conclusions: This study confirmed the usefulness of the CIWS within a Japanese context. The J‐CIWS may be useful for evaluating the extent of the conflict between work and care among employed family caregivers. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 254–261. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study identifies the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy, and childhood maltreatment on mothers' perpetration of child maltreatment on 1‐month postnatal infants. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted on women in the third trimester of pregnancy in two obstetric hospitals in Tokyo, Japan, from June 2016 to September 2017. Participants were asked to complete online self‐reported questionnaires during their pregnancy period and at 1 month postnatal. The relationship between suffering from IPV during pregnancy, experiencing childhood maltreatment before the age of 18 years, and perpetration of child maltreatment toward infants was measured among mothers using the Violence Against Women Screen and a survey of four and 14 ad hoc questions. To identify the impact of poly‐victimizations of IPV and childhood maltreatment on maternal–infant maltreatment, the study implemented logistic regression models. Results: The data from 533 respondents to the first and second surveys were analyzed. Maternal–infant maltreatment at 1 month postnatal was strongly associated with poly‐victimizations of IPV during pregnancy and childhood maltreatment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.17; p <.001; 95% CI = 2.39–11.20), single victimization of IPV (AOR = 3.43, p <.001, 95% CI = 1.76–6.72), and single victimization of childhood maltreatment (AOR = 1.75, p =.03, 95% CI = 1.04–2.93; neither = reference). Conclusion: The results emphasize the importance of individuating pregnant women with poly‐victimizations of IPV during pregnancy and childhood maltreatment and providing intensive and continuous support for such women to prevent maternal–infant maltreatment after childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Nurses are expected to have a role in the transition of care from pediatric to adult medical practices for adolescents and young adults with childhood‐onset chronic diseases. This study compares the experience, knowledge, and perceptions regarding the ideal care among adult unit and pediatric nurses regarding the transition to adult care for those with childhood‐onset chronic diseases. Methods: A cross‐sectional study using self‐report questionnaires was conducted with nurses in a tertiary hospital in Tokyo. Questions were generated based on a literature review and expert discussion. Data from 1,064 participants were analyzed (adult unit nurses: n = 959, 90.1%; pediatric nurses: n = 105, 9.9%). Results: Among 623 adult unit nurses who had care experience for adult patients with a childhood‐onset chronic disease, 458 nurses (73.6%) were unaware of the concept of transitional care. As the obstructive factors for transition, pediatric nurses recognized problems in healthcare providers' attitudes and lack of transitional care coordinators, while the adult unit nurses emphasized the patients' wishes to continue to receive pediatric healthcare. Most adult unit nurses expected pediatric nurses to function as transitional care coordinators. Conclusion: Adult unit and pediatric nurses had different perceptions of the barriers in transitioning children with chronic diseases to adult care. It is important to have educational programs focusing on transitional care for all nurses, both to enable pediatric nurses to improve transition readiness of children with chronic diseases and to offer adult patients with a childhood‐onset chronic disease continuing support through adult unit nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) refer to any report of the status of a patient's health condition, health behavior, or experience with healthcare directly from the patient, without interpretation of the patient's response by a clinician or any other external party. While many PROs, such as the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), were originally administered in paper-and-pencil format, these are now available as electronic versions (ePROs). Although ePROs might well have used the same structure as their paper versions, we developed an alternate ePedsQL incorporating three software functions: 1) a non-forcing non-response alert, 2) a conditional question branch of the School Functioning Scale that only displays for (pre) school children, and 3) a vertical item-by-item display for small-screen devices. This report evaluated the effect of these functions on item non-response rate, survey completion time, and user experience. Methods: All surveys were conducted via the online/computer mode. We compared the dynamic format containing the three functions with the basic format in a randomized comparative study in 2803 children and 6289 caregivers in Japan. Results: We found that the non-response alert lowered the item non-response rate (0.338% to 0.046%, t = − 4.411, p < 0.001 by generalized linear mixed model analysis). The conditional question branch had mixed effects on survey completion time depending on the respondents' age. Surprisingly, respondents rated the vertical question display for handheld devices less legible than the matrix format. Further, multigroup structural equation modelling revealed that the same configuration for both formats showed an acceptable fit (CFI 0.933, RMSEA 0.060, SRMR 0.038) but the errors of observed variables were larger for the dynamic format than the basic format. Conclusions: We confirmed the robustness of the ePedsQL in different formats. The non-response rate of ePedsQL was very low even in the absence of an alert. The branch and item-by-item display were effective but unnecessary for all populations. Our findings further understanding of how humans respond to special software functions and different digital survey formats and provide new insight on how the three tested functions might be most successfully implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the associations among behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of persons with dementia (PWD), care burden and family‐to‐work conflict (FWC) of employed family caregivers. Method: A cross‐sectional study was carried out with employed adult daughter or son (or in‐law) caregivers for PWD from two rural cities in Japan. FWC, care burden and the degree of BPSD were evaluated by the Survey Work‐Home Interaction‐NijmeGen, Zarit Burden Scale‐Short Version and Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale, respectively. Of the 200 questionnaires distributed, 130 were returned. A total of 53 respondents were not employed, and seven questionnaires had missing data for demographic variables, Survey Work‐Home Interaction‐NijmeGen, Zarit Burden Scale‐Short Version or Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale. Thus, complete data from 70 respondents were analyzed through structural equation modeling. Results: The mean age of employed family caregivers was 56 years, and 34 (48.5%) were men. The mean age of PWD was 84 years, and there were 68 (68.6%) men. The path model with a good fit was shown (root mean square error of approximation 0.136, comparative fit index 0.960 and goodness of fit index 0.965). The path model showed that BPSD affected FWC, and that the association was partially mediated by care burden. Conclusions: The results show that a decrease in not only care burden, but also BPSD, of PWD is important for employed family caregivers to reduce their FWC and maintain their work–life balance. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 51–55. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds With Japan's globalization, maternal-child health care for foreign mothers is highly necessary. We examined postpartum depressive symptoms in foreign mothers in Japan and the factors associated with such symptoms, particularly social support. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted for Japanese and foreign mothers at 3 to 4 months postpartum. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to evaluate postpartum depression symptom, and social support was evaluated by support type and provider. Multiple regression analyses was used. Results Data from 97 Japanese mothers and 68 foreign mothers were analyzed. The average score of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for foreign mothers was 7.5, significantly higher than that for Japanese mothers (4.2). Financial circumstances, spouse-partners' emotional support, and families' informational support were significantly related to foreign mothers' postpartum depressive symptoms. Conclusion Postpartum depression symptoms were more common among foreign mothers than among Japanese mothers. Medical personnel should encourage such mothers to obtain more social support from their spouse-partners and family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a Japanese version of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool, comprising two simple questions, to examine its accuracy and validity. A cohort study involving women in the third trimester of pregnancy and one month after childbirth was conducted in an antenatal clinic in a Tokyo suburb. The Japanese versions of the Index of Spouse Abuse and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to examine the cut-off point, accuracy, and validity of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool. Results showed that the tool demonstrated good accuracy (sensitivity 66.7-71.4%, specificity 89.7%), using an alternative cut-off point (i.e. responses of 'some tension' or 'some difficulty' [2 points] for one item and 'a lot of tension' or 'great difficulty' [1 point] for the other), and good concurrent, convergent, and predictive validity. The results indicated that the Woman Abuse Screening Tool could be useful in Japanese perinatal health settings, as an initial screening tool to detect intimate partner violence efficiently and effectively during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives In recent years Mongolia has made great advances towards Millennium Development Goals to reduce maternal and child mortality, however few studies have investigated maternal and child health status several years after childbirth. Our study aims to describe priority health issues in maternal and child health in Mongolia 3 years after childbirth, and key areas requiring further health policy development. Methods We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in Bulgan province, Mongolia. Participants were women who gave birth in 2010 and lived in Bulgan in 2013, and their children who were almost 3 years of age. Data was collected using structured interviews, self-administered questionnaires, transcribed records from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, anthropometric measurements, and a developmental assessment tool. Results Data was obtained from 1,019 women and 1,013 children (recovery rate: 94.1 %). Among women, 171 (17.2 %) were obese and had an average body mass index (BMI) of 25.7, 40 (4.4 %) experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and 356 (36.2 %) reported urinary incontinence in the past month. Among children, 110 (10.8 %) were assessed as at risk of developmental delay, 131 (13.1 %) were overweight or obese, burns accounted for the highest number of serious accidents at 173 (17.0 %) while lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) were the most frequent cause of pediatric hospitalization. Conclusions for Practice Further development in health policy is required in Mongolia to target the significant health challenges of obesity, IPV, and urinary incontinence in women, and obesity, development delay, burns, and LRTIs in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy can result in adverse outcomes for both mothers and their infants. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence and risk factors of IPV associated with abuse during pregnancy via a self-administered questionnaire completed by 302 healthy pregnant women. Demographic information was also collected from medical records to analyze risk factors for abuse. Of the 302 women, 48 (15.9%) were identified as experiencing IPV. The identified risk factors were age over 30, multipara, previous abortion experience, and male partner aged under 30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]