Masayo Uji

Effects of child abuse history on borderline personality traits, negative life events, and depression: A study among a university student population in Japan

To simultaneously examine the impact of childhood abuse history on borderline personality traits, negative life events, and depression, undergraduate students (N=243) were studied by questionnaire surveys with one week intervals. Neglect and emotional abuse as well as sexual maltreatment predicted borderline personality traits and baseline depression. Baseline depression as well as the impact of negative life events occurring the week prior predicted depression a week later. However, after considering the baseline depression level, child abuse history failed to predict the follow-up depression level. Borderline personality traits did not moderate these findings. Childhood emotional and sexual abuse history may influence depression and borderline personality traits.

Adolescents' attachment style and early experiences: a gender difference

SummaryWe examined gender differences in perceived rearing and adult attachment style in adolescents. A total of 3,912 senior college students (1,149 men and 2,763 women) ages 18-23 (men’s M = 20.1 years, women’s M = 20.0 years) were administered a set of questionnaires including Relationship Questionnaire (to measure adult attachment), the Parental Bonding Instrument (perceived rearing), and a list of early life events. In the men, positive adult total attachment style was predicted by the scores of paternal care and low scores on maternal overprotection in a hierarchical regression analysis. On the other hand, in the women, positive adult total attachment style was predicted by the scores of paternal and maternal care, and low score on maternal overprotection. Adult attachment was also predicted by fewer Peer Victimization experience as a child in both men and women. However, while men’s adult attachment was predicted by Self Disease experiences, women’s adult attachment was predicted by Top Star experiences and fewer Relocation experiences. The adult attachment style was predictable from early experiences but there existed some gender differences.

Understanding externalizing behavior from children's personality and parenting characteristics

A total of 946 Japanese children in the 5th to 9th grades and their parents were studied in order to investigate the extent to which parenting characteristics (measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument) and the personality of the child (measured by the junior version of the Temperament and Character Inventory) would be associated with the two aspects of the externalizing problems--aggression and delinquency--of the child (measured by the Child Behavior Checklist). A series of regression analyses demonstrated that (1) aggressive children were higher in Novelty Seeking, and delinquent children were higher in Novelty Seeking and lower in Harm Avoidance, and (2) both aggressive and delinquent children were characterised by low maternal care, paternal over-protection, and low maternal overprotection. A structural equation model confirmed these findings except for the link between the two externalizing behaviour scores and the maternal care. Moreover, it was suggested that Novelty seeking of the child would be predicted by low parental care and low paternal and high maternal overprotection. The childrens aggression and delinquency could, to some extent, be explainable by their temperament patterns and parental characteristics.

Cognitive patterns and depression: Study of a Japanese university student population

Abstract  According to Beck’s cognitive theory, individuals who endure negative self‐schemas (dysfunctional attitudes) are more likely to present automatic thoughts consisting of negative schemata of oneself and one’s world while experiencing depression. In order to examine the relationships between depression, automatic thought, and dysfunctional attitude, 329 Japanese university students were given a set of questionnaires, including the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D), Automatic Thought Questionnaire‐revised (ATQ‐R), and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS). A structural equation model revealed that depression was predicted predominantly by automatic thought, which was in turn predicted by dysfunctional attitude. The male gender had a tendency to predict dysfunctional attitude. The link between a student’s depression and dysfunctional attitude was mediated by automatic thought.

Correlates of the categories of adolescent attachment styles: Perceived rearing, family function, early life events, and personality

Aims:  To identify the psychosocial correlates of adolescents.

Effects of Temperament and Character Profiles on State and Trait Depression and Anxiety: A Prospective Study of a Japanese Youth Population

Objective. To examine the effects of temperament and character profiles on state and trait depression and anxiety in a Japanese youth population. Method. Japanese university students were solicited for participation in a two-wave study, with assessments performed at Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2), separated by a five-month interval. A total of 184 students completed the Japanese version of the temperament and character inventory (TCI) at T1 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at T1 and T2. We posited two latent variables, trait depression and anxiety, composed of the T1 and T2 HADS depression and anxiety scores, respectively. We also posited that temperament domain traits would predict character domain traits, and that all the personality traits would be linked to trait depression and anxiety and also predict T2 depression and anxiety. Results. Structural regression modeling showed that (1) only high Novelty Seeking predicted T2 Anxiety score, (2) trait depression and anxiety were linked to high harm avoidance and low self-directedness, and (3) trait depression was linked to high self-transcendence whereas trait anxiety was linked to low reward dependence, persistence, and cooperativeness. Conclusion. The characteristic associations between TCI subscales and depression and anxiety were limited to the trait rather than state aspects of depression and anxiety.

Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure.

This study examined the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), a standardized, brief, but comprehensive outcome measurement. The target population consisted of 1684 Japanese company employees, hospital staff, and university students. A confirmatory factor analysis proved that our data fit the factor structure of the original CORE-OM. We also examined its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and sensitivity in discriminating between clinical and nonclinical samples. After demonstrating these results, we discuss how the Japanese version of the CORE-OM can be used both in clinical and research settings.

Contribution of shame and attribution style in developing PTSD among Japanese University women with negative sexual experiences.

SummaryThe roles of shame and attribution style in developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined among 172 Japanese university women with negative sexual experiences (NSEs) using a structural equation model. “Shame” directly predicted PTSD, whereas “Internal Attribution” and “External Attribution” did not. The effect of Internal Attribution on PTSD was mediated by Shame. In a simultaneous analysis of multi-groups, only the relationship with the perpetrator showed a different contribution for shame in developing PTSD symptoms. In addition, the role of the shame and attribution style in developing PTSD symptoms in the Japanese culture was discussed.

Egalitarian sex role attitudes among Japanese human service professionals: Confirmatory factor analytic study

Abstract  The psychometric properties of the short form of the Scale of Egalitarian Sex Role Attitudes (SESRA‐S) were studied among human service professionals. An exploratory factor analysis yielded two factors interpreted as reflecting women’s rights (e.g. women at home and men at work [a reverse item]) and women’s independence (e.g. working outside is equally important for women [a non‐reverse item]), respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit. Impact of participant age, sex, residential area, and type of profession on sex role egalitarianism were examined by four‐way layout anova. Men in rural areas had the lowest score in the women’s rights subscale and psychiatrists in rural areas had the lowest score in the women’s independence subscale.

Effects of Intimate Marital Relationships Upon Self-Reported Rearing Styles Among Japanese Parents of Young Children

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