Taisuke Togari

Development of a short version of the sense of coherence scale for population survey

A three-item sense of coherence (SOC) scale was developed, incorporating the definitions of the three subordinate concepts of SOC for use in population surveys. A cross-sectional internet survey was conducted in the latter part of July 2006. Cronbach’s &agr; was 0.84. The correlation coefficient of SOC-13 and the newly devised University of Tokyo Health Sociology version of the SOC Scale (SOC-3-UTHS) was 0.51. As regards correlation with a health index, SOC-3-UTHS had a significant association, although this association was somewhat weaker than that of SOC-13. Therefore, certain levels of convergent and concurrent validities of SOC-3-UTHS have been indicated.

Effectiveness of Chronic Disease Self-management Program in Japan: Preliminary report of a longitudinal study

This is the preliminary report of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Chronic Disease Self-management Program in Japan by comparing changes in health outcomes at the baseline and 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. The program is a patient-centered educational program for the self-management of chronic conditions. The studys participants were recruited from among the attendees of the program workshops. During the study period (August 2006 to May 2007), 18 workshops were held and 128 attendees agreed to participate in the study. The health outcomes that were measured included health status, self-management behaviors, utilization of health services, self-efficacy, satisfaction with daily living, and clinical indicators. These indicators were further analyzed by disease type: diabetes, rheumatic disease, and cardiovascular disease/dyslipidemia. The findings indicated statistically significant positive changes in health distress, coping with symptoms, stretching exercises, communication with the physician, and satisfaction with daily living. The positive changes were especially remarkable among the groups with diabetes and rheumatic disease. These findings suggest that the Chronic Disease Self-management Program can be effective for Japanese people with chronic conditions.

Sense of coherence in mothers and children, family relationships and participation in decision-making at home: an analysis based on Japanese parent–child pair data

Children in early adolescence and their mothers were studied to clarify the association between a childs sense of coherence (SOC) and its mothers SOC, the quality of family relationships as gauged by the mother, and the childs positive life experiences at home. An anonymous self-administered group questionnaire was given to all 1540 students of a high school in Tokyo, and a similar questionnaire was sent by mail to their legal guardians. Responses were received from 1505 students (response rate: 97.7%) and 989 legal guardians (response rate: 64.2%); questionnaires completed by legal guardians who were the mothers of the students were paired with the corresponding childs questionnaire. The SOC scores of mothers and students were calculated, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed with the students SOC as a dependent variable. Results for boys revealed that a mothers SOC was directly related to the childs SOC, regardless of family relationships and participation in decision-making at home. For girls, a mothers SOC was related to family relationships and was indirectly related to the childs SOC through the childs participation in decision-making at home. Results revealed that for both boys and girls, a mothers SOC had an effect on the childs SOC, and this corroborates the hypothesis of Antonovsky.

Toward Development of Intervention Methods for Strengthening the Sense of Coherence: Suggestions from Japan

The purpose of this paper is to introduce various types of studies from Japan and abroad on the Sense of Coherence (SOC) as a stress-coping ability, and to make suggestions for the development of intervention strategies aimed to strengthen SOC. The first intervention program aimed to strengthen SOC was developed by Langeland’s research team in 2007. There are three distinctive characteristics of their program. First, the program strongly emphasizes that participants increase their awareness of their own potential, both internal and external resources, and their ability to use them. Second, it emphasizes the talk therapy style by the nurse group leader as a facilitator. They are expected to treat participants with respect and unconditional positive regard. Third, participants’ daily experience is used for the topic and material of the program. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) in Japan, which the authors have studied, also strengthened participants’ SOC. This can be explained by the fact that CDSMP has the same characteristics as the Langeland program. Studies on workplace conditions that can enhance workers’ SOC are extremely important, as they suggest the possibility of changing the work environment, in addition to the attempt to directly change workers. These studies have suggested that the workplace with greater job discretion, good communication, a supportive atmosphere, and respect shown to workers is likely to enhance workers’ SOC. Qualitative studies are also found to be extremely important for the development of intervention strategies. These can vividly describe what SOC is, how it can change, and under what conditions and experience. The knowledge gained from such studies can be of immediate use for practice and care policies.

The effectiveness of health communication strategies in health education in Kushima, Japan.

Japan’s 2008 health policy focuses more than ever on health education for behaviour change and outcome measures for physical health status. This is at odds with contemporary health promotion and health education, which frame health as a resource for everyday life and indicate that the evaluation of interventions should measure broader aspects of health rather than just physical aspects. The application of a combination of different health communication models and theories allows for a customized approach, depending on the types of change that are being sought, and can lead to increased relevance as well as a better fit when it comes to evaluating the achievement of broad health promotion goals. This article explores the application of the Outcome Model for Health Promotion to a two-year health education intervention in Kushima, Japan. This model measures program effectiveness from four aspects: physical health outcomes; intermediate health outcomes; health promotion outcomes; and health promotion actions. A quantitative and qualitative longitudinal, mixed model study design and methods were used for the analysis. Data was taken from health exams, structured interviews, and participant observations collected from 67 participants at four times over two years. This intervention relied primarily on health education and communication to achieve mental and social health outcomes more significantly and faster than physical health outcomes. The importance of moving outcome measurement beyond direct health achievements is discussed in light of the relationships between physical, mental, and social health and its determinants, and our results. (Global Health Promotion, 2010; 17 (1): pp. 5—15)

A causal relationship between sense of coherence and psycho-social work environment: from one-year follow-up data among Japanese young adult workers

The aim of this study was to use longitudinal data and investigate by sex the following four hypotheses on the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and work environment (WE): (i) a bidirectional cause-effect relationship exists; (ii) WE is the cause and SOC is the effect; (iii) SOC is the cause and WE is the effect; and (iv) no cause-effect relationship exists. Male and female subjects between the ages of 20 and 40 living in Japan were selected as subjects by two-stage stratified random sampling, and self-administered questionnaires were sent by mail between January and March 2007 (Time 1). A follow-up was conducted in the same way from January to March of 2008 (Time 2). Responses were obtained from 3,965 individuals (follow-up ratio: 82.6%). This study analyzed 1,291 males and 933 females who were at least 25 years old at Time 1 and who worked the same job in both time periods. The analysis was performed using a cross-lagged model under structural equation modeling. The second hypothesis was selected for both males and females based on the outcome of nested model comparisons. That is, a temporal cause-effect relationship was observed between SOC and WE for both males and females, with WE as the cause and SOC as the effect.

Vibrotactile Perception at Glabrous and Nonglabrous Skin of Fingers: Repeatability of Measurements and Changes Induced by Acute Vibration Exposure

Vibrotactile Perception at Glabrous and Nonglabrous Skin of Fingers: Repeatability of Measurements and Changes Induced by Acute Vibration Exposure: MH Mahbub, et al. Department of Hygiene, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine—

Virtual and Real Social Support Networks in Mental Health of Japanese HIV-Positive Men: Nationwide HIV/AIDS Web Research

1Department of Liberal Arts, The Open University of Japan, 2-11 Wakaba, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8586, Japan 2Japan Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, 1-21-12-103, Hyakunincho, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan 3Division of Health Administration, TIS Inc., 2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6150, Japan 4School of Nursing, Nagoya City University, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuhocho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan 5accelight Inc., 4-1-5-5, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan 6Faculty, Department of Nursing, Kyorin University, 6-20-2, Shinkawa, Mitaka 181-8611, Japan 7Kobe City College of Nursing, 3-4, Gakuen-nishimachi, Nishi-ku, Kobe 651-2103, Japan 8Department of Health Sciences, Saitama Prefectural University, 820, Sannomiya, Koshigaya 343-8540, Japan 9Place Tokyo, 4-11-5-403, Takadano-baba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0075, Japan Research