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Home-rearing environment (HRE) at an early age has a longitudinal effect on the development of children's self-control. Some evidence has articulated this relationship; however, few studies have addressed heterogeneous patterns in self-control. This study aimed to identify a typology of self-control among preschoolers and examine its relationship with HRE. A total of 430 children from the Child Care Cohort study in Japan were included to assess their HRE and self-control over 2 years. Latent class analysis was carried out to identify self-control patterns, and the relationship between HRE and different classes was explored using multinomial regression analyses. Three latent classes were found, characterized as high, moderate, and low levels. In addition, two HRE items were associated with preschoolers' self-control over 2 years. Children who often met peers of a similar age and whose parents often received others' help to care for them were more likely to have a higher level of self-control. This study indicated different patterns of self-control among preschoolers and highlighted the significance of HRE, particularly in peer involvement and co-parenting, in helping children develop high self-control.

Self-care ability and social skills are potential areas of difficulty for preschool children. However, values about young children's self-care ability are different worldwide. This longitudinal study examined the influence of early self-care ability on social skills at the end of the preschool years. Participants were 509 children recruited from kindergartens and child care centers across Japan, whose self-care ability and social skills were assessed at baseline year and three years later (Age of children in 2015 at baseline: M = 35 months, SD = 6.1 months). The study found that gender was significantly associated with social skills, while preschool facility entrance age was only associated with assertion skills. After controlling gender and entrance age, early self-care ability was still positively related to later assertion and cooperation (Assertion: OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.00-6.51; Cooperation: OR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.23-8.07). Implications of the findings are discussed in the context of cultural diversity, highlighting the importance of cultivating children's age-appropriate self-care ability based on daily observations and evaluations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the daily life and social relationships of pre-school children globally. While many studies have examined the impact of the pandemic on children, few have compared the home environment and children's social skills before and after the pandemic. To address this research gap, we used data from the Japan Child Care Cohort study, which included questions on home environment answered by parents (1748 in 2019 and 1349 in 2020) of children aged 0-6 years using self-reported questionnaires and data on the social skills of children aged 1-6 years (1917 in 2019 and 1989 in 2020) that were evaluated by childcare professionals in childcare centres. Using the Chi-square test, home environments and social skills were compared. We found that frequencies of family meals, no punishment, and a positive attitude toward children's mistakes were higher in 2020. In contrast, frequencies of shopping together, visiting children's friends and relatives, and having social support from others were lower in 2020. Additionally, children's social skills in 2019 were better than in 2020. Childcare institutions can consider these differences and create a support plan to ensure quality child-rearing practices and healthy child development.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the bidirectional association between frailty and social relationships in older adults while distinguishing between interpersonal and intrapersonal effects. Methods: A prospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults was conducted in Japan in three waves spanning six years with follow-ups in every three years. Random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to explore temporal associations between frailty and social relationships. Results: Data for 520 participants (mean age 73.02 [SD 6.38] years, 56.7% women) were analyzed. Across individuals, frailty was associated with social relationships (β = -0.514, p < 0.001). At the interpersonal level, frailty was cross-sectionally associated with social relationships separately at T1(β = -0.389, p < 0.01), T2 (β = -0.343, p < 0.001) and T3 (β = -0.273, p < 0.05). Moreover, social relationships were associated with subsequent increases in symptoms of frailty in all measurement waves (β = -0.332, p < 0.001; β = -0.169, p < 0.01) and vice versa (β = -0.149, p < 0.05; β = -0.292, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that frailty was associated with lower levels of social relationships. Frailty improvement programs can be combined with interventions to enhance social relationships, which will be beneficial in preventing frailty. The results emphasize the importance of combining clinical treatments of frailty with interventions to improve social relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home-rearing environment (HRE) at an early age has a longitudinal effect on the development of children's self-control. Some evidence has articulated this relationship; however, few studies have addressed heterogeneous patterns in self-control. This study aimed to identify a typology of self-control among preschoolers and examine its relationship with HRE. A total of 430 children from the Child Care Cohort study in Japan were included to assess their HRE and self-control over 2 years. Latent class analysis was carried out to identify self-control patterns, and the relationship between HRE and different classes was explored using multinomial regression analyses. Three latent classes were found, characterized as high, moderate, and low levels. In addition, two HRE items were associated with preschoolers' self-control over 2 years. Children who often met peers of a similar age and whose parents often received others' help to care for them were more likely to have a higher level of self-control. This study indicated different patterns of self-control among preschoolers and highlighted the significance of HRE, particularly in peer involvement and co-parenting, in helping children develop high self-control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of child social skills development is not well detected among Asian countries. Culturally validated assessments are needed for practitioners to evaluate child social skills. This study tested the measurement invariance of the Social Skill Scale (SSS) across Japanese and Chinese samples and explored country differences in child social skills development. The SSS utilizes a widely used factor structure (assertion, self-control, and cooperation subdomains) and has established Japanese and Chinese versions. We conducted investigations with an identical process and materials with different language versions, collecting data from 931 Japanese kindergarten children (Mage = 4.35, SDage = 1.07; 53.6% boys) and from 1130 Chinese kindergarten children (Mage = 4.47, SDage = 1.00; 52.3% boys). We used multiple confirmatory factor analysis to test measurement invariance of the SSS and established the validity, reliability, and scalar measurement invariance for the first-order factor structure of the SSS across the two country samples. We also examined country differences on the associations between demographics, parenting practice, and child social skills development. We found that, compared to the Chinese sample, cooperation skills significantly increased more with age among the Japanese sample. However, spanking was negatively related to self-control skills development in both countries. Our findings contribute to the demonstration of the diversity of child social skills development and have important implications for assessing and developing child social skills using culture-specific strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore all the relevant subtypes of cognitive frailty among Japanese community-dwelling older adults with multimorbidity. Moreover, it examined the associations between these potential subtypes of cognitive frailty and social relationships. This study targeted relevant cross-sectional data regarding community-based older adults with multimorbidity. It employed a person-centered method to perform a latent class analysis and explore the subtypes of cognitive frailty among older adults. Moreover, a multinominal logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between potential subtypes of cognitive frailty and social relationships. Data for 396 participants (mean age, 75.8 [SD, 7.3] years; 51.3% females) were analyzed. Three cognitive frailty subtypes were subsequently revealed: the robust group (42.0%), the group with partial cognitive frailty (38.6%), and the group with cognitive frailty (19.4%). People with high levels of social relationships were more likely to be in the robust and the partial cognitive frailty groups. This study identified different subtypes of cognitive frailty among multimorbid older adults and highlighted the significance of social relationships. These findings could serve as a reference for conceptualizing cognitive frailty through the person-centered method. Promoting a high level of social relationships could be useful to prevent the cognitive frailty among older adults with multimorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent data have shown divergent trends in gastric cancer (GC) incidence between China and Japan; however, the cause for has not been explored. Methods: We retrieved GC incidence data from 1990 to 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease study, stratified by sex for both countries. We analyzed annual average percentage change (AAPC) via a joinpoint regression model and estimated the effects of age, period, and cohort via the age–period–cohort model. Results: The age‐standardized incidence rate trends for GC decreased in both countries and both sexes, but the reduction was more pronounced in Japan because the AAPC for Japanese males (AAPC = −2.65%; 95% CI, −2.98 to −2.32) was eight times greater than that of Chinese males (AAPC = −0.30%; 95% CI, −0.5 to −0.09). The age and cohort effects on the trend are similar in both countries: the risk of GC incidence increased with age among the Chinese and the Japanese but was lower among younger birth cohorts. The two countries showed contrasting trends over the study period; although the risk of GC rapidly decreased for Japanese males and females, it increased by twofold among Chinese males. Conclusions: The period effect is the main reason for the divergent trends in age‐standardized incidence rate for GC in China and Japan. By comparing national cancer control programs in both countries, we concluded that countries with a high prevalence of GC, such as China, can learn from Japan's experience in controlling GC by actively conducting national population screening, which is expected to facilitate both prevention and treatment of GC. Lay summary: More than one‐half of all new gastric cancer (GC) worldwide occur in China and Japan, but the reasons for the different incidence trends have not been thoroughly analyzed.Analysis using the age–period–cohort model confirmed that the cohort effect was the main reason for the decline in age‐standardized incidence rate (ASIR) for GC and that the period effect may be the main reason for the divergent trends in gastric cancer ASIR in China and Japan. The period effect is the main reason for the divergent trends in gastric cancer incidence in China and Japan. Countries with a high prevalence of gastric cancer, such as China, can learn from Japan's experience of actively conducting national population cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual current circuit breaker with overcurrent (RCBO) is an electrical appliance which involves the safety of users. In order to predict its lifetime, a combined prediction method of Genetic Algorithm‐Back Propagation (GA‐BP) and support vector machine of grid search (GS‐SVM) is proposed. First, the constant stress accelerated degradation test (ADT) is carried out for the RCBO, and the ADT data are statistically analyzed to establish the performance degradation trajectory. Then, the GA‐BP model and GS‐SVM model are established to predict the degradation trend of the residual operating current value. Then, based on the GA‐BP prediction model and GS‐SVM prediction model, the optimal weighted combined prediction based on the least square method is established. The combined prediction model is used to predict the pseudo‐failure life under each accelerated stress, and the Arrhenius accelerated model is used to estimate the pseudo‐failure life by the least square method. The service lifetime of RCBO under normal temperature (25 °C) is predicted. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-care ability and social skills are potential areas of difficulty for preschool children. However, values about young children's self-care ability are different worldwide. This longitudinal study examined the influence of early self-care ability on social skills at the end of the preschool years. Participants were 509 children recruited from kindergartens and child care centers across Japan, whose self-care ability and social skills were assessed at baseline year and three years later (Age of children in 2015 at baseline: M = 35 months, SD = 6.1 months). The study found that gender was significantly associated with social skills, while preschool facility entrance age was only associated with assertion skills. After controlling gender and entrance age, early self-care ability was still positively related to later assertion and cooperation (Assertion: OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.00–6.51; Cooperation: OR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.23–8.07). Implications of the findings are discussed in the context of cultural diversity, highlighting the importance of cultivating children's age-appropriate self-care ability based on daily observations and evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study used LCA analysis to identify the childcare environment groups. • Favorable and moderate childcare environment groups were identified. • Parents' high stress level was related to moderate childcare environment. In recent years, child-rearing dimensions have been widely used as predictor variables. However, they are rarely examined as outcomes. Moreover, little is known about what constitutes good parenting. We aimed to identify the potential groups related to parents' childcare environment preferences and examine its association with parental stress. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in government-licensed childcare centers among families with children aged 3–5 years across Japan. We investigated the childcare environment based on five dimensions—human stimulation, social stimulation, avoidance of restriction, parent cooperation, and social support—and sources of high parental stress, including childcare, health status, relationships, work, and others. The potential childcare environment groups were explored using latent class analysis. The relationship between parental stress and childcare environment was analyzed using a chi-square test and logistic regression model. Moreover, data from 928 families were collected and used for the analysis. Two latent class models were identified: a favorable childcare environment with high parent cooperation (F-H; probability = 76.4 %) and moderate childcare environment with low parent cooperation (M-L; probability = 23.6 %). High stress from childcare, health status, relationships, work, and other stressors were significantly related to M-L. Knowing the results would add evidence to childcare practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems occurs at a high rate among children. However, this has rarely been examined among Japanese children using a person-oriented method. Hence, this study aims to explore its subtypes and clarify their association with family-based group activities. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a typical community-based suburban area for all families with primary school children in Japan. We investigated children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors based on the Japanese version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and different types of activities that family members frequently engaged in. Data from 206 families were collected and used for the analysis. The subtypes were explored using latent class analysis (LCA). The relationship between family activities and latent class membership was analyzed using a logistic regression model. Moreover, three latent class models and their probabilities were identified, namely, risk group (31.3%), moderate group (44.9%), and normal group (23.8%). Frequent family activities including play sports, traveling or hiking, watching TV and communicating, cooking or making a dessert, and doing housework, which were significantly related to the normal group. These results would add evidence to potential types of children's behavioral problems and preventive childcare practices needed in the primary gate of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the direct and indirect effects of social frailty on functional state trajectories mediated by subjective cognitive function in older adults. Longitudinal study. Overall, 514 adults aged ≥65 years living in a suburban area of central Japan were included in this study. Five-item social frailty index (going out, visiting, feeling helpful, living alone, and talking to others), subjective cognitive function from the Kihon Checklist, and instrumental activities of daily living disability. Latent growth curve models were applied to examine the longitudinal relations among the variables. During the 6-year follow-up in latent growth curve models, the initial level of social frailty in older adults was negatively associated with that of functional status (β = −0.53, P <.001), and the rate of change in social frailty was negatively associated with that in functional status (β = −0.78, P <.001). In the mediation model, the indirect effect from the social frailty level to functional status level through subjective cognitive function level was significant (β = −0.14, 95% CI −0.29, −0.09); the rates of change in subjective cognitive function mediated the relationship between those in social frailty and functional status (β = −0.35, 95% CI –0.46, −0.25). This study found that there is an association between social frailty and functional status in Japanese older adults. Subjective cognitive function mediated this relationship. Hence, additional research is required to investigate additional potential factors linking social frailty and functional status in order to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]