Koji Takenaka

COMPARISON OF HIGH AND MODERATE INTENSITY OF STRENGTH TRAINING ON MOOD AND ANXIETY IN OLDER ADULTS

This study was designed to examine the psychological benefits of anaerobic exercise for older adults. Specifically, strength training was employed to examine the effects on mood and anxiety in a group of healthy but sedentary older women. 36 women (mean age = 68.5 yr.) were randomly assigned to groups given high intensity or moderate intensity strength training or to a control group. Strength training was conducted three days a week for 12 weeks. After the training period, both high and moderate strength-training programs produced marked improvements in muscle strength and body composition compared to the control subjects. The average improvements in the high and moderate intensity strength-training groups for muscle strength were 40.5 and 35.5%, respectively, and for percent body fat 1.52 and 2.50%, respectively. As for psychological changes, both training groups significantly improved positive mood (vigor), and the moderate intensity group significantly reduced trait anxiety compared to means of the control group. Also, both training groups showed some decrease in tension and state anxiety after the training period. These findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of anaerobic training to enhance perception of psychological well-being in older women. A moderate intensity rather than high intensity of training regimen may be more beneficial for sedentary older women to improve psychological health.

Comparison of Ruminative Responses with Negative Rumination as a Vulnerability Factor for Depression

Several studies have shown that the ruminative responses, which are defined as a coping pattern that focuses on the symptoms of depression and on the possible causes and consequences of these symptoms, are associated with depression. Recently, negative rumination, which is defined as the tendency to continue to think about something bad, harmful, or unhopeful for a long time, has been proposed as a vulnerability factor for depression. The purpose of this study was to compare depression scores associated with negative rumination and ruminative responses. We expected to find depression associated with negative rumination. The sample consisted of 188 Japanese undergraduate students (83 men: M age=19.0 yr., SD =1.1; 105 women: M age=19.1 yr., SD=1.7) taking a human sciences course at a Japanese university. Subjects participated in an 8-mo. longitudinal study. Logistic analysis indicated that negative rumination was a significant predictor of depression. However, ruminative responses as a whole were not a significant predictor of depression after controlling for negative rumination. These findings suggest that it is important to distinguish whether rumination is focused on negative or nonnegative subject matter.

PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIVITY IN ACCULTURATION: A STUDY OF FEMALE JAPANESE STUDENTS

Several investigations have indicated that length of residence can predict acculturation associated with stress. However, there have been no studies from a psychophysiological perspective to assess whether length of residence affects physiological reactivity. The purpose of this study was to compare reactivity to psychological stress in female Japanese students of long- and short-term residence at a large university in northeastern USA, after administering a stress questionnaire to examine stress in adjusting to their US academic lives. 12 subjects were randomly chosen for each group (short- and long-term residence) from an initial population of 90 students. The subjects were presented three stressors (English-reading, stress-imagination, and arithmetic) for 2 min. each, with a 6-min. recovery period following each stressor. A significant interaction appeared for groups over time on heart-rate reactivity While the long-term group had a linear component in heart rate across time for the tasks, the short-term group did not. Although the short-term group had higher skin temperature than the long-term group, only the short-term group had a tendency to increase skin temperature after the tasks. These data suggest that continued study of physiological reactivity to stress may be useful for developing techniques for coping with acculturative stress.

Construction of a short form of the healthy eating behaviour inventory for the Japanese population.

INTRODUCTION The present study constructed a short form of the Healthy Eating Behavior Inventory suitable for use in the Japanese culture (HEBI-J) and confirmed the scales preliminary reliability and validity. METHODS In Study 1, Japanese adults (N=75) completed a free-response questionnaire about healthy eating behaviours. Thematic analysis was used to identify three factors-balance, pattern, and restriction-associated with healthy eating behaviours and 12 items related to these healthy eating behaviours. In Study 2, Japanese office workers (N=784) completed two questionnaires regarding 12 items of healthy eating behaviours and the dietary stages of change. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the three-factor model was appropriate (GFI=.94, AGFI=.90, CFI=.90, RMSEA=.08, SRMR=.53). Reliability was confirmed by alpha coefficients and the Spearman-Brown formula. Concurrent validity was confirmed by the relationship between the healthy eating stages. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the preliminary reliability and validity of the HEBI-J.

Exploring physical activity with a low psychological burden and high feasibility in Japan: a qualitative study.

Abstract Previous research has shown that physical activity with a low psychological burden and high feasibility (i.e. a focus on small lifestyle changes) contributes to the adoption of and long-term success in behavior change intervention. The present study aims to explore the physical activity with a low psychological burden and high feasibility in which people already engage in their everyday life in Japan. Sixty-four participants (22 males and 42 females ranging in age from 36 to 89) participated in a qualitative research survey that asked what type of physical activity they engaged in on a daily basis to maintain good health. Results of a thematic analysis revealed nine themes (behavioral categories), which included four core themes of exercise, gymnastic exercises, stretch exercises, sports, and strength training, and five core themes of nonexercise activity, walking, cleaning, using the stairs, engaging in agriculture, and gardening based on a description analysis. A thematic map was constructed based on Japanese physical activity guidelines. Key findings of this study are as follows: (1) walking has a low psychological burden and high feasibility; (2) gymnastic exercise is efficacious from a physical and psychological perspective; (3) nonexercise activities are more acceptable than exercise activities; and (4) a focus on intervention with nonexercise activities has the potential for high engagement in the Japanese population. The study indicates that significant resources are available for promoting health behavior change interventions that would increase physical activity in the Japanese population.

Psychological reactance in smoking cessation among inner Mongolian students

ABSTRACT Smoking negatively affects physical and psychological well-being. Smoking cessation is a pressing health concern in the Republic of China. This study aimed to examine differences among the effects of individual- and group-level psychological variables in contributing to smoking cessation among students in Inner Mongolia. We implemented a health survey administered to 3,947 students. Of these, 429 who were present smokers or had quit smoking were included in the analysis. Participants were evaluated on items measuring variables based on the theory of planned behavior. These included intention, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and stage of change in smoking cessation. Among the levels of students, ratios of those who reported having smoked were 14.3% for junior high school students, 5.4% for high school students, and 19.3% for university students. Multilevel analysis including an intra-class correlation coefficient and multilevel structural equation modeling showed that, overall, the variables contributed to quitting smoking on an individual level. The subjective norm was negatively associated with behavioral intention in group-level analysis. Increasing the group subjective norm showed potential for inducing psychological reactance. Consequently, an individualized or personalized approach is a potentially effective strategy for encouraging smoking cessation in Inner Mongolian students.

Cross-cultural validity of the theory of planned behavior for predicting healthy food choice in secondary school students of Inner Mongolia

AIMS Unhealthy eating behavior is a serious health concern among secondary school students in Inner Mongolia. To predict their healthy food choices and devise methods of correcting unhealthy choices, we sought to confirm the cross-cultural validity of the theory of planned behavior among Inner Mongolian students. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study, conducted between November and December 2014. Overall, 3047 students were enrolled. We devised a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior to measure its components (intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) in relation to healthy food choices; we also assessed their current engagement in healthy food choices. RESULTS A principal component analysis revealed high contribution rates for the components (69.32%-88.77%). A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the components of the questionnaire had adequate model fit (goodness of fit index=0.997, adjusted goodness of fit index=0.984, comparative fit index=0.998, and root mean square error of approximation=0.049). Notably, data from participants within the suburbs did not support the theory of planned behavior construction. Several paths did not predict the hypothesis variables. However, attitudes toward healthy food choices strongly predicted behavioral intention (path coefficients 0.49-0.77, p<0.01), regardless of demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION Our results support that the theory of planned behavior can apply to secondary school students in urban areas. Furthermore, attitudes towards healthy food choices were the best predictor of behavioral intentions to engage in such choices in Inner Mongolian students.

Evaluation of Intervention Reach on a Citywide Health Behavior Change Campaign Cross-Sectional Study Results

Little is known about dissemination strategies that contribute to health information recognition. This study examined (a) health campaign exposure and awareness (slogan and logo recognition); (b) perceived communication channels; (c) differences between perceptions of researcher-developed and enhancement community health information materials; and (d) differences in campaign awareness and communication channels, according to Japanese community demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional survey (N = 508) was conducted in Tokigawa, Japan, in 2013. The Small Change Campaign focused on increasing physical activity and improving dietary habits. Information dissemination was carried out using leaflets, newsletters, posters, website, local public relations magazines, health classes, events, and online newsletters. The participants completed a survey assessing their campaign awareness (i.e., slogan and logo) and exposure to the informational materials presented during the campaign. Fewer than half (45.4%) knew the slogan, and only 24.4% were aware of the logo. Public relations magazines, leaflets, and newsletters were significantly better-perceived health communication channels. Researcher-developed and enhancement community health information materials were equally recognized (p = .34, w = .08). Furthermore, women and those who were employed were significantly more aware of the slogan, logo, and communication materials. Further research should explore effective communication strategies for community-based health promotion intervention via randomized control trials.

Focus Group Investigation on Exercise Instructions which Enhance an Exerciser's Motivation

Starting regular exercise is easy, but it is difficult to maintain. In fact, it is suggested that about 50% of those who start a regular exercise program will drop out within the first six months. The purpose of this study was to examine the exercise instructions which enhance an exercisers motivation by using a focus group interview. Participants of this focus group interview were regular exercisers who had been maintaining regular exercise for more thanone year. The focus group session was tape-recorded and the tapes were transcribed. The transcripts were summarized in order to identify major categories. The results from this study provided positive feedback regarding perceived competence, the exercise environment in which autonomy is urged, and relatedness of construction of fitness facilities which were important exercise instructions which enhance an exercisers motivation. Finally, exercise instructions which enhance an exercisers motivation were considered based on Self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan, 2000).