Takashi Asakura

Psychosocial Influences on Physical, Verbal, and Indirect Bullying Among Japanese Early Adolescents

Although bullying among Japanese youth is a current major concern, psychosocial influences on bullying are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the psychosocial factors associated with physical, verbal, and indirect bullying among Japanese adolescents. Junior high school students between seventh and ninth grade (N = 2,923) completed a self-reported questionnaire. Involvement in bullying and psychosocial factors were investigated. Deviant peer influence, less serious attitude in school, poor self-control of aggressiveness and impulsiveness, poor self-assertive efficacy against bullying, and euphemistic thinking were commonly associated with physical, verbal, and indirect bullying. Experiences of victimization by physical and verbal bullying were associated with both physical and verbal bullying, whereas experiences of victimization by indirect bullying were associated with indirect bullying. Psychosocial factors associated with different types of bullying substantially overlapped. Therefore, interventions focused on these modifiable common factors could be effective in the prevention of adolescent bullying.

Returning to the “Homeland”: Work-Related Ethnic Discrimination and the Health of Japanese Brazilians In Japan

OBJECTIVES We investigated whether self-reported ethnic discrimination in the workplace was associated with well-being among Japanese Brazilians who had returned to Japan. Further, we examined interactions between discrimination and education on well-being. METHODS We obtained data from a cross-sectional survey of Japanese Brazilian workers (n = 313) conducted in 2000 and 2001. Outcomes were self-rated health, psychological symptoms as measured by the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) score, and a checklist of somatic symptoms. RESULTS Reports of ethnic discrimination were associated with increased risk of poor self-rated health and psychological symptoms (GHQ-12 score), after we controlled for self-assessed workload, supportive relations at work, physically dangerous working conditions, workplace environmental hazards, shift work, number of working hours, age, gender, marital status, income, education, Japanese lineage, length of residence, and Japanese language proficiency. Further, the relationship between discrimination and self-rated health and somatic symptoms was most robust for those with the least education. CONCLUSIONS Ethnic discrimination appears to be a correlate of morbidity among Japanese Brazilian migrants. Future research should investigate how educational and workplace interventions may reduce discrimination and possibly improve health.

Psychosocial factors associated with smoking and drinking among Japanese early adolescent boys and girls: cross-sectional study.

BackgroundSmoking and drinking alcohol among early adolescents are serious public health concerns, but few studies have been conducted in Japan to assess their prevalence and etiology. A regional survey was conducted in eight schools in two Japanese school districts to identify psychosocial factors associated with smoking and drinking behaviors for boys and girls.MethodsJunior high school students from seventh to ninth grades (N = 2,923) completed a self-reported questionnaire between December 2002 and March 2003. Relationships between psychosocial variables (i.e., self-assertive efficacy to resist peer pressure, parental involvement, school adjustment, and deviant peer influence) and smoking and drinking were investigated using logistic regression analyses and path analyses.ResultsSmoking in the last six months was significantly more prevalent in boys (7.9%) than girls (5.1%). The prevalence of drinking in the last six months was similar in boys (23.7%) and girls (21.8%). Self-efficacy to resist peer pressure was negatively associated with both smoking and drinking among both boys and girls and provided both direct and indirect effects through deviant peer influence. Parental involvement showed indirect effects through school adjustment and/or deviant peer influence to both smoking among both boys and girls and drinking among girls, although parental involvement showed direct effects on smoking only for boys. School adjustment was negatively associated with smoking among both boys and girls and drinking among girls.ConclusionThese findings suggest that self-assertive efficacy to resist peer pressure, parental involvement, school adjustment and deviant peer influence are potentially important factors that could be addressed by programs to prevent smoking and/or drinking among early adolescent boys and girls in Japan.

A Psychoeducational Program to Prevent Aggressive Behavior Among Japanese Early Adolescents

This study evaluates the impact of a school-based intervention program on aggressive behavior among junior high school students in Japan. One hundred and four seventh-graders were enrolled in the program and completed Time 1, Time 2, and Time 3 surveys. The program was implemented in two classes between Time 1 and Time 2 surveys (the first treatment group) and in two other classes between Time 2 and Time 3 surveys (the delayed treatment group). The program included four weekly lessons related to problem solving, stress management, and communication. The initial intervention group reported a significant increase in appropriate relationships with classmates. Aggressive behavior significantly decreased from Time 1 to Time 3 in both groups and from Time 2 to Time 3 in the delayed treatment group, but no treatment group effect was noted. Additional modification of the program may be needed to achieve decreases in aggressive behavior.

Demography, Immigration Background, Difficulties with Living in Japan, and Psychological Distress among Japanese Brazilians in Japan

This study examined the relationship of demography, immigration background, and concerns and difficulties associated with living in Japan to nonpsychotic psychological disturbance (i.e., “caseness”) measured by the GHQ-12. Data are from a sample of 265 Japanese Brazilians (JB) residing outside the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Employing multiple logistic regression analyses, it was found that JB who experienced lower economic conditions, lived alone, stayed relatively longer in Japan, migrated to Japan due to their dissatisfaction with the socio-economic conditions in Brazil, and who experienced severe family life concerns had a significantly higher ratio of “caseness,” that is psychologically distressed. In contrast, JB over the age of 25 years, who acquired moderate Japanese language proficiency and decided to return to Brazil as soon as possible, were observed to have a significantly lower ratio of psychological distress. Socio-cultural and situational interpretations of the findings are presented.

The unknown side of workplace bullying research: the case of japan

The unknown side of workplace bullying research: the case of japan (by Gabriele Giorgi, Takashi Asakura, Mikayo Ando) - ABSTRACT: This paper is intended to illuminate the recent social problem of ijime (bullying at work) in Japan. A concise interpretation of literature related to workplace bullying is undertaken. Research into bullying at work reported in Japan is rather limited, but will have value especially for cross-cultural potentials. This paper also proposes explanations on bullying at work based on cultural, sociological and economical factors of Japanese organizations and society. Also the changing nature of the Japanese working environment is highlighted. In conclusion, possible new perspectives for future research concerning bullying at work in Japan are suggested.

The ecosystem approach to health is a promising strategy in international development: lessons from Japan and Laos

BackgroundAn ecological perspective was prominently present in the health promotion movement in the 1980s, but this seems to have faded. The burden of disease the developing world is facing cannot be addressed solely by reductionist approaches. Holistic approaches are called for that recognize the fundamentally interdependent nature of health and other societal, developmental, and ecosystem related factors in human communities. An ecosystem approach to human health (ecohealth) provides a good starting point to explore these interdependencies.DiscussionDevelopment assistance is often based on the assumption that developed countries can serve as models for developing ones. Japan has provided lavish assistance to Laos for example, much of it going to the development of transport networks. However, there is little sign that there is an awareness of the potentially negative environmental and health impacts of this assistance. We argue that the health consequences of environmental degradation are not always understood, and that developing countries need to consider these issues. The ecohealth approach is useful when exploring this issue.We highlight three implications of the ecohealth approach: (1) The WHO definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being emphasized that health is more than the absence of disease. However, because this approach may involve an unattainable goal, we suggest that health should be defined in the ecosystem context, and the goal should be to attain acceptable and sustainable levels of health through enabling people to realize decent livelihoods, and to pursue their life purpose; (2) The increasing interconnectedness of ecosystems in a globalizing world requires an ethical approach that considers human responsibility for the global biosphere. Here, ecohealth could be a countervailing force to our excessive concentration on economy and technology; and (3) If ecohealth is to become a positive agent of change in the global health promotion movement, it will have to find a secure place in the educational curriculum.SummaryThis article presents a brief case study of Japan’s development assistance to Laos, and its environmental and health implications, as an illustration of the ecohealth approach. We highlight three implications of the ecohealth perspective.

Job Stressors and depressive symptoms in Japanese computer software engineers and managers

Abstract To examine the relationships between job Stressors and depressive symptoms in Japanese computer software engineers and managers, a cross-sectional mailed survey was conducted in 1991. Eight subjective job Stressor scales were constructed based on a factor analysis and content of items. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scales (CES-D) as stress response. In this study, 1,694 software engineers and 296 managers were analyzed. Engineers reported significantly higher lack of job control, lack of intrinsic rewards, and ambiguity of career development, lower job overload and change of computer technology than managers. Managers worked longer hours, but used VDUs shorter hours than engineers. Engineers had significantly higher CES-D scores than managers. Multiple regression analysis of each group revealed that lack of intrinsic rewards showed the most significant predictor of CES-D scores. Interpersonal conflict in the project team and lack of control were common significant Stressors for each group after controlling for confounding variables. In managers, job overload and changes of computer technology showed significantly associated with depressive symptoms. These results suggested that reduction of such job Stressors might improve mental health of software engineers and managers.

Assessing a culturally appropriate factor structure of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale among Japanese Brazilians

Different cultures often express identical symptoms in different ways. The original four-factor structure of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) might not be appropriate for all cultural groups. This study aimed to investigate the factor structure of the CES-D among Japanese Brazilians and to examine relationships between the CES-D and Japanese language proficiency. Participants were Japanese Brazilians (n = 136). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine the structure of the Portuguese CES-D. The relationships were examined using the generalized linear model. We tested the five CES-D models on Japanese Brazilians and found these models did not satisfactory meet goodness-of-fit criteria. Therefore, we performed post-hoc factor analyses on the CES-D and determined a best-fit structure composed of four factors, namely: ‘Depressed Affect/Somatic Symptoms’, ‘Loneliness/Sadness’, ‘(Absence of) Positive Affect’ and ‘Interpersonal Difficulties’. Two items functioned differently from the original model and the structure differed from models developed among Brazilian or Japanese samples. Internal reliability and construct validity were acceptable. Japanese language proficiency, a measure of culture retention, was significantly related to subscores for the absence of positive affect. This suggests a complex relationship between language and cultural background that can affect reporting on instruments such as the CES-D.

School Health: an essential strategy in promoting community resilience and preparedness for natural disasters

Background The Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction recommended the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, which aims to achieve substantial risk reduction and to avoid various disaster-associated losses, including human lives and livelihoods, based on the lessons from the implementation of the Hyogo framework. However, the recommendations did not lay enough stress on the school and the Safe School Concept, which are the core components of a disaster response. Objective To raise the issue of the importance of schools in disaster response. Results For human capacity building to avoid the damage caused by natural disasters, we should focus on the function of schools in the community and on school health framework. Schools perform a range of functions, which include being a landmark place for evacuation, acting as a participatory education hub among communities (students are usually from the surrounding communities), and being a sustainable source of current disaster-related information. In 2007, the Bangkok Action Agenda (BAA) on school education and disaster risk reduction (DRR) recommended the integration of DRR into education policy development, the enhancement of participatory mechanisms to improve DRR education, and the extension of DRR education from schools to communities. Based on our discussion and the recommendations of the BAA, we suggest that our existing challenges are to construct a repository of disaster-related lessons, develop training materials based on current information drawn from previous disasters, and disseminate the training to schools and communities. Conclusions Schools linked with school health can provide good opportunities for DRR with a focus on development of school health policy and a community-oriented participatory approach.Background The Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction recommended the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, which aims to achieve substantial risk reduction and to avoid various disaster-associated losses, including human lives and livelihoods, based on the lessons from the implementation of the Hyogo framework. However, the recommendations did not lay enough stress on the school and the Safe School Concept, which are the core components of a disaster response. Objective To raise the issue of the importance of schools in disaster response. Results For human capacity building to avoid the damage caused by natural disasters, we should focus on the function of schools in the community and on school health framework. Schools perform a range of functions, which include being a landmark place for evacuation, acting as a participatory education hub among communities (students are usually from the surrounding communities), and being a sustainable source of current disaster-related information. In 2007, the Bangkok Action Agenda (BAA) on school education and disaster risk reduction (DRR) recommended the integration of DRR into education policy development, the enhancement of participatory mechanisms to improve DRR education, and the extension of DRR education from schools to communities. Based on our discussion and the recommendations of the BAA, we suggest that our existing challenges are to construct a repository of disaster-related lessons, develop training materials based on current information drawn from previous disasters, and disseminate the training to schools and communities. Conclusions Schools linked with school health can provide good opportunities for DRR with a focus on development of school health policy and a community-oriented participatory approach.