Japanese Early Adolescents Research Articles

ACT in school settings: A pilot study of ACT-based universal group psycho-educational program among Japanese early adolescents.

The objective of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based group psycho-educational intervention within school environments, administered by psychologists, for early adolescents in Japan. The effectiveness indices measured in this study were ‘clarification of value and commitment (CVC)’ and ‘experiential avoidance (EA)’ as indicators of psychological flexibility of ACT, and self-esteem and self-determination disposition as outcome indices related to well-being. The participants in this study were Japanese junior high school students with a mean age of 14.85 years (SD = 0.86), 112 in the intervention group and 143 in the control group, who completed questionnaires at three time points: before the program (pre), after attending the program (post) and three weeks after the posttest (follow-up). The intervention program, which consisted of three short-term sessions, was shown to be effective in the CVC, self-esteem, and self-determination disposition scores. Conversely, the group-time interaction did not yield a notable impact on the persistence of avoidance behaviors and EA scores, suggesting a potential avenue for refinement in intervention methodologies regarding these domains. These findings offer insight into the potential effectiveness of ACT-based group psycho-educational endeavors in school settings led by psychologists.

Assessing conceptions of climate change: an exploratory study among Japanese early adolescents

In Japan where climate change education has yet to be recognised as a field of environmental education, understanding climate change conceptions possessed by potential learners is critical for more impactful design and implementation of CCE. This exploratory study aims to investigate climate change conceptions among Japanese early adolescents from the perspective of cognitive, affective, and behavioural learning dimensions, while exploring the complex interplay of those learning dimensions. Questionnaire surveys were conducted targeting 423 students aged 12–14 in three Japanese public junior high schools. Findings suggest that majority of Japanese early adolescents belong to groups that exhibit lower levels of cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural domain in relation to climate change conceptions. The relationships among those dimensions were found to be positive and bidirectional. Moreover, several misconceptions about climate change and effectiveness of its solutions were identified among the sample.

Neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors moderate the association between physical activity and relative age effect: a cross-sectional survey study with Japanese adolescents

BackgroundRelative age effect is defined as a phenomenon where children born early generally perform better than children born later in the same cohort. Physical activity is an important factor that might be influenced by the relative age effect. Socioeconomic factors (e.g., parent’s income, education level) are also associated with the adolescent’s physical activity. However, no existing study has examined whether socioeconomic factors moderate the relative age effect on the adolescent’s physical activity. This study aims to clarify whether and how birth month and socioeconomic factors relate to organized sports and physical activity among adolescents in Japan.MethodsWe conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 21,491 adolescents who live in a widespread neighborhood. We included 8102 adolescents (4087 males and 4015 females: mean age 13.1 ± 1.4) in the analysis. Based on the participants’ birth months, we divided them into four groups (April to June, July to September, October to December, January to March). We asked participants to report their organized sports participation. Using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for Japanese Early Adolescents, we identified their moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors (areal deprivation, average annual income, education level) were analyzed based on national surveys, such as the population census. We performed multilevel logistic and linear regression analysis for organized sports participation and MVPA, respectively. Moreover, a simple slope analysis was implemented if the interaction between birth month and socioeconomic factor was significant in the multilevel linear regression analysis.ResultsAmong males, relatively younger adolescents (adolescents who were born later in the same grade) were less likely to participate in organized sports activites (OR=0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.97, p<0.05), while both males and females engaged in less MVPA (b=-0.54, b=-0.25, p< 0.01, respectively). We observed an interaction between birth month and socioeconomic factors. Among males in low-income neighborhoods, and females in more deprived neighborhoods, relatively younger adolescents engaged in less MVPA.ConclusionsSocioeconomic factors moderate the relative age effect on adolescents’ physical activity. The relative age effect on adolescents’ physical activity might be more likely to appear among adolescents from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Psychometric Validation of the Japanese Version of the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS) in Early Adolescents1,2

AbstractSocial support in children and adolescents is fundamental for preventing mental health problems. Differences in sources and types of social support may lead to differential effects on psychosocial outcomes; however, tools to assess these differences are lacking in Japan. The present study investigated the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS) in 1,068 students aged 9–15 years. A confirmatory factor analysis showed robustness for the five‐factor model, while the third‐order factor model, which integrated the overall scale and four subdomains (types: emotional, informational, appraisal, and instrumental) within the five domains (sources: parent, teacher, classmate, close friend, and school) above, also met criteria for good model fit. The overall scale and all domains and subdomains demonstrated sufficient internal consistency (α = .76–.98). For construct validity, there were significant correlations between CASSS scores and prosocial behavior, internalizing or externalizing problems as assessed by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and depressive symptoms assessed by the Depression Self‐Rating Scale for Children (DSRS‐C). The agreement rate between these correlation coefficients and the prespecified hypothesis was 89.6%. These results suggest that the Japanese version of the CASSS has adequate reliability and validity and can be used to assess perceived social support among Japanese early adolescents.

Microvascular endothelial function in Japanese early adolescents.

Endothelial dysfunction is the early predictive factor for the development of atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. The prevalence of endothelial dysfunction in children and early adolescents is increasing worldwide. Peripheral arterial tonometry is a noninvasive technique for assessing peripheral microvascular function and is used as a validated marker of endothelial function. We assessed anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and peripheral endothelial function in 157 Japanese early adolescents (75 boys and 82 girls). We measured peripheral endothelial function by using peripheral arterial tonometry to determine the reactive hyperemia index, and assessed the association of reactive hyperemia index with parameters of anthropometry and arterial stiffness. The mean reactive hyperemia index of all subjects was 1.85 ± 0.6, and there was no difference of reactive hyperemia index according to sex. Reactive hyperemia index was significantly associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and had no correlation with anthropometric parameters and arterial stiffness markers. The reactive hyperemia index values among Japanese early adolescents were similar to those reported in previous studies on children and early adolescents. This noninvasive technique may be useful for the assessment of microvascular endothelial function among children and early adolescents.

思春期前期向けに改変した日本語版IPAQによる中高強度身体活動量評価の妥当性

思春期前期向けに改変した日本語版IPAQによる中高強度身体活動量評価の妥当性

Expressed area of synthetic HTP test and school maladjustment in Japanese early adolescents

ABSTRACTThis study examined the speculative relationships between the area used for drawing the three images of House, Tree, and Person in the synthetic HTP test and measures of school maladjustment in Japanese early adolescents. The participants consisted of 130 junior high school students. Records for non-attendance and scores on the Social Competence Scale were correlated with maladjustment scores and the areas used for drawing the House, Tree, and Person. The expression area devoted to trees was significantly negatively correlated with the tendency to choose ‘to stay outside regular classrooms’ and significantly positively correlated with scores for social competence. The area devoted to drawing the person was significantly negatively correlated with the self-reported tendency ‘to engage in delinquent activities’. The findings of this projective test may have implications for school counsellors, psychologists identifying school maladjustment.

Personality traits and the expression area of synthetic house-tree-person drawings in early adolescent Japanese

This study surveyed the expression areas of the Synthetic House-Tree-Person drawing test (S-HTP test, Mikami, 1995) for Japanese early adolescents. The S-HTP test is a projective method in which subjects are asked to draw a house, tree, and person. The expression area is defined as the area of each drawn item, such as the house, tree or person. The participants consisted of 186 Japanese junior high school students and their S-HTP drawings were analyzed using path analysis. The relationships between the expression areas of each item in the test and the students’ personality traits were examined. The personality traits were measured using the Five-Factor Personality Inventory for Children (FFPC, Soga, 1999). The results show that personality traits of high conscientiousness were associated with larger houses (p &lt; .10) and trees (p &lt; .10). In addition, higher scores on openness to experience (p &lt; .01) and on agreeableness (p &lt; .05) correlate with bigger person figures as their size, whereas higher scores on neuroticism correlate with smaller figures as their size (p &lt; .01). The findings also indicate that the total fitness of the model was sufficient (CFI = .984, RMSEA = .021). These findings may aid the development of useful criteria for future psychological assessments.

Relationships Between Human Figures Drawn By Japanese Early Adolescents: Applying the Synthetic House-tree-person Test

The Synthetic House–Tree–Person Test (S-HTP Test; Mikami, 1995), which is a projective technique used in clinical psychology, is based on Buck’s (1948) House-Tree-Person (HTP) Test.

The relationship between mothers’ thin-ideal and children’s drive for thinness: A survey of Japanese early adolescents and their mothers

We examined the association of mothers' thin-ideal internalization and children's drive for thinness. Early adolescents (175 girls and 198 boys) completed a questionnaire to assess their drive for thinness and perceptions of mothers' attitudes and behaviors related to body shape. The questionnaire for mothers (n = 206) measured mothers' thin-ideal internalization. Mothers' thin-ideal internalization was associated with girls' drive for thinness through the perception of mothers' attitudes directed to girls, and with boys' drive for thinness through mothers' weight-loss behavior. The findings suggest the possibility that mothers transmit social standards on body shape to their children.

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.

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.

The factor structure of the 28-item General Health Questionnaire when used in Japanese early adolescents and adult employees: Age- and cross-cultural comparisons

The principal-component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation on the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) in Japanese translation was performed separately for two samples of the Japanese population: early adolescents (junior high school students) and adult employees. The initial PCA yielded different number of components across sub-samples. The later PCA, however, with restriction of the number of components four generally produced a similar structure across sub-samples by means of visual inspection and the coefficient of factor similarity between the components calculated by using the loadings matrices, while a slight different structure emerged for the employees aged 40-49 years. Then, based on these two ways of comparison, the factor structure of GHQ-28 was compared between the present Japanese samples and the European and Turkish school-aged adolescent populations with three ethnic backgrounds. The results showed that its structure was highly stable across age (generation) and several cultural backgrounds, at least among these nations. The internal consistency reliability of the GHQ-28 was at a high level among the present sample of Japanese.

Cross-Cultural Comparability of Temperament among Japanese and American Early- and Late-Adolescents

The cross-cultural generalizability of temperament, as measured by the Revised Dimensions of Temperament Survey (DOTS-R) (Windle &amp; Lerner, 1986), was investigated by studying metric equivalent relations between samples of Japanese and American early adolescents, and between samples of Japanese and American late adolescents. Similar to findings for the American adolescent samples, nine-and ten-factor models were found to adequately represent the inter-item covariance matrix of the DOTS-R for the Japanese early and late-adolescents, respectively. Metric equivalence between the early-and late-adolescent samples, respectively, was supported via congruence coefficients and restricted (confirmatory), simultaneous group models for each of the separate temperament dimensions. Statistical tests of differences in factor means were conducted and indicated that American early-and late-adolescents rated themselves higher in approach behavior, mood quality (positive affect), and task orientation. The Japanese early adolescents rated themselves higher with respect to features of behavioral rhythmicity. No statistically significant differences were found for almost one-half of the factor mean comparisons. Proposals for future cross-cultural research in adolescent temperament which move beyond measurement equivalence issues were suggested to address issues of similarities and differences between cultural groups with respect to causal linkages. In addition, we suggest the use of additional methods of measurement conjointly with the DOTS-R in order to triangulate on salient temperament constructs.