Kazuki Hirao

Flow experience and health-related quality of life in community dwelling elderly Japanese.

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between mental state (especially flow experience [Flow Experience Checklist of Ishimura]) health-related quality of life (Medical Outcome Study 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey), and stress (salivary amylase concentrations). The subjects were 119 healthy elderly persons living in rural areas who participated in a “meeting for the elderly” at a nursing home in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The subjects were classified into apathetic, anxious, relaxed, and flow groups. It was found that physical health was significantly better when performing important daily activities in the group who experienced flow and the relaxed group than in the group that was in an apathetic state. However, no significant relationship was observed between the degree of flow experience and stress. The present findings suggested that interventions which make the activities of daily life either “high-challenge, high-skill” situations or “low-challenge, high-skill” situations could have a positive influence on the physical health of community-living elderly Japanese. A longitudinal study should be performed in the future.

Difference in mental state between Internet-addicted and non-addicted Japanese undergraduates

Abstract Background: Internet addiction (IA) is a common disorder among adolescents throughout most of the industrialized world. The purpose of this study was to compare mental states between Japanese undergraduates with IA and those without IA. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 165 healthy participants were assessed for IA using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), for the frequency and quality of flow experiences in daily life using the Flow Experience Checklist (FEC), and for depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Results: The results showed that the prevalence of IA in the participants of this study was 15% and the frequencies of flow experience and depressive symptoms were significantly higher in the IA group. Conclusion: The results indicate that IA affects a significant number of Japanese university students and is associated with higher rates of depressive symptoms, suggesting a need for intervention programs as part of student mental health services.

Association of cognitive judgment and shyness with frequency and quality of flow experience

Objective To determine the association of cognitive judgment and shyness with frequency and quality of flow experience. Design and methods This was a cross-sectional survey of the relationship between psychological tendency and frequency and quality of flow experience in 68 college students, undertaken in Hiroshima, Japan. The predictors were Shyness Scale scores, measure of ambiguity tolerance scores, and Life Orientation Test scores, and the outcome was the frequency and quality of flow experience. Results The results of the binary logistic regression analysis indicated that only the measure of ambiguity tolerance (P = 0.02, odds ratio = 1.06, and 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.11) was a predictor of the quality of flow experience, and only the Shyness Scale (P = 0.007, odds ratio = 0.95, and 95% confidence interval = 0.91–0.98) was a predictor of the frequency of flow experience. Conclusion The findings suggest that ambiguity tolerance and shyness are associated with the frequency and quality of the flow experience.

The relationship between self-disgust, guilt, and flow experience among Japanese undergraduates

Purpose To determine the relationship between self-disgust, guilt, and flow experience. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a convenience sample of 142 Kibi International University students (mean age, 20.09 ± 1.24 years; 85 males and 57 females). Each participant was evaluated using the Flow Experience Checklist, Self-Disgust Scale, and Situational Guilt Inventory. Correlation analysis was used to describe the strength and direction of the relationship between variables. We employed Pearson’s partial correlations, adjusted for age and sex, using dummy variables (female = 0, male = 1). Results Analysis of the relationship between the frequency of flow experience and the Self-Disgust Scale scores showed a statistically significant negative correlation, whereas the duration of the activity and the Situational Guilt Inventory score showed a significant positive correlation. The quality of flow experience and the Situational Guilt Inventory score showed a significant positive correlation. Conclusion These findings suggest that flow experience could be helpful for those who need treatment to reduce negative emotions.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Sense of Coherence among the Unemployed with Autotelic, Average, and Non-Autotelic Personalities: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Hiroshima, Japan

Background Unemployment is known to have a negative effect on the quality of life (QOL) of individuals. However, the influence of an autotelic personality on QOL and SOC of unemployed individuals remains unclear. Our study compared health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and sense of coherence (SOC) among 3 groups: (i) an autotelic personality group (AP), which tends to “go with the flow,” (ii) an average group (AV), and (iii) a non-autotelic personality group (NAP). Methods In October 2010, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among 140 job trainees not receiving unemployment benefits in Hiroshima, Japan. We collected 134 completed questionnaires. Autotelic personality was investigated using the Flow Experience Checklist, health-related quality of life was assessed using the Short Form (SF-8) Health Survey, and SOC was measured using the University of Tokyo Health Sociology version of the SOC3 scale (SOC3–UTHS). Results The average age of participants was 36.14±11.54 year. Participants were classified into 3 groups based on daily activity values: 4+ for AP (n = 22), 1–3 for AV (n = 82), and 0 for NAP (n = 30). Significant differences were observed in mental component summary (MCS) score and SOC3–UTHS total scores in the ranking order of AP (highest), AV, and NAP. Conclusion Our findings indicate a need to develop programs for facilitating AP among unemployed people to enhance mental QOL and SOC.

Comparison of Feelings of Inferiority among University Students with Autotelic, Average, and Nonautotelic Personalities

Background: Autotelic personality (AP) is known to have a positive effect on the quality of life. We hypothesized that inferiority feelings may be less pronounced in individuals with AP than in those with an average (AV) or a nonautotelic personality (NAP). Aims: This study aimed to compare inferiority feelings among three personality groups: An AP group, an AV group, and an NAP group. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey among 148 undergraduate students aged 18-24 undertaken in Okayama, Japan. Participants completed the Flow Experience Checklist and Inferiority Feelings Scale. Results: With the number of flow activities, participants were classified into three groups: 3+ for AP (n = 28, 18.9%), 1-2 for AV (n = 72, 48.6%), and 0 for NAP (n = 48, 32.4%). One-way analysis of variance showed significant differences among the three groups with respect to the Inferiority Feelings Scale. Multiple comparison analysis using Tukeys test showed that inferiority feelings in AP were significantly less pronounced than in the NAP group. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that AP was lesser than NAP in association with pronounced inferiority feelings.

Immediate effect of subliminal priming with positive reward stimuli on standing balance in healthy individuals: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Information received subconsciously can influence exercise performance; however, it remains unclear whether subliminal or supraliminal reward is more effective in improving standing balance ability when priming stimuli are subconsciously delivered. The present study aimed to compare the effects of subliminal priming-plus-subliminal reward stimuli (experimental) with subliminal priming-plus-supraliminal reward stimuli (control) on standing balance ability. Methods: This was a single-blind (outcome assessor), parallel-group, randomized controlled trial involving healthy young adults recruited from a university in Japan. Assessments were conducted at baseline and immediately after intervention. The primary outcome was the functional reach test (FRT) measurement. The secondary outcome was one-leg standing time (OLST) with eyes closed. Of the 52 participants screened, 25 were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups each. Results: Both interventions were effective for improving the FRT between the baseline and intervention; however, smaller improvements were observed in the experimental group. We found a large between-groups effect size immediately after the intervention for the FRT (d = −0.92). In contrast, there were no differences in improvements in OLST between the 2 groups (d = −0.06); furthermore, neither intervention was found to be effective for this parameter. Conclusion: We concluded that subliminal priming with conscious reward stimuli results in improvements in immediate-term forward reach ability, which is superior to that achieved by subliminal priming with subconscious reward stimuli.

Identification of common words to improve self-confidence in Japanese students with subthreshold depression

Abstract Background Subthreshold depression (StD) is more common than major depressive disorder. Objective The study aimed to identify common words to improve self-confidence in Japanese university students with StD for developing a smartphone application to help those with StD. Methods In this cross-sectional study, words participants used to improve their self-confidence were gathered using self-report questionnaires in 154 university students in Japan. The words used to improve self-confidence were categorized using a computerized text analysis method based on the frequency of appearance. Results Participants were 154 male and females [StD group (n = 82) and healthy control (HC) group (n = 72); median age = 20 years]. A total of 290 words for improving self-confidence were identified. In the StD group, the keywords that appeared with the highest frequencies were “can”, “let’s try”, “good luck”, “able”, and “don’t worry”. The keywords that occurred with the highest frequencies (the top eight) were common across both groups. The keywords were grouped into eight categories. The “encouragement” and “praise” categories were found in the responses of more than 80% of participants in both groups. Frequencies of the “determination” and “trust” categories were significantly higher in the StD group than in the HC group. Conclusions We conclude that “can”, “let’s try”, and “good luck” are the most common words that Japanese students with StD use when describing how they improve their self-confidence. Future work will use these common words to develop a smartphone application to help those suffering from StD.

Measurement error in the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale: results from a general adult population in Japan

Abstract Objective: Although the self-report version of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) is frequently used to measure social anxiety, data is lacking on the smallest detectable change (SDC), an important index of measurement error. We therefore aimed to determine the SDC of LSAS. Methods: Japanese adults aged 20–69 years were invited from a panel managed by a nationwide internet research agency. We then conducted a test–retest internet survey with a two-week interval to estimate the SDC at the individual (SDCind) and group (SDCgroup) levels. Results: The analysis included 1300 participants. The SDCind and SDCgroup for the total fear subscale (scoring range: 0–72) were 23.52 points (32.7%) and 0.65 points (0.9%), respectively. The SDCind and SDCgroup for the total avoidance subscale (scoring range: 0–72) were 32.43 points (45.0%) and 0.90 points (1.2%), respectively. The SDCind and SDCgroup for the overall total score (scoring range: 0–144) were 45.90 points (31.9%) and 1.27 points (0.9%), respectively. Conclusions: Measurement error is large and indicate the potential for major problems when attempting to use the LSAS to detect changes at the individual level. These results should be considered when using the LSAS as measures of treatment change.

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a smartphone application intervention for subthreshold depression

We developed a motion picture‐reproducing smartphone application (app) designed to improve self‐confidence in individuals with subthreshold depression (StD) and examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an app intervention for individuals with StD.