Japanese Female Students Research Articles

Associations of adipose insulin resistance index with pancreatic β cell function (inverse) and glucose excursion (positive) in young Japanese women

The relationship of adipose tissue insulin resistance (AT-IR, a product of fasting insulin and free fatty acids) and homeostasis-model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) to β-cell function was studied cross-sectionally in the setting of subtle glucose dysregulation. Associations of AT-IR and HOMA-IR with fasting and post-glucose glycemia and β-cell function inferred from serum insulin kinetics during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test were studied in 168 young female Japanese students. β-cell function was evaluated by disposition index calculated as a product of the insulinogenic index (IGI) and Matsuda index. AT-IR, not HOMA-IR, showed positive associations with post-glucose glycemia and area under the glucose response curve although both indices were associated with fasting glycemia. HOMA-IR, not AT-IR, was associated positively with log IGI whereas both indices were inversely associated with Matsuda index. AT-IR, not HOMA-IR, showed inverse associations with log disposition index. Associations of adipose tissue insulin resistance with β-cell function (inverse) and glucose excursion in young Japanese women may suggest that lipotoxicity to pancreatic β-cells for decades may be associated with β cell dysfunction found in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Positive association of HOMA-IR with insulinogenic index may be associated with compensatory increased insulin secretion.

Associations between Shokuiku during School Years, Well-Balanced Diets, and Eating and Lifestyle Behaviours in Japanese Females Enrolled in a University Registered Dietitian Course.

This study comprehensively examined the associations between shokuiku (food and nutrition education) during school years, current well-balanced diets, and current eating and lifestyle behaviours of Japanese female university students. A hypothetical model was developed using factors potentially associated with well-balanced diets. A simultaneous multipopulational analysis was performed according to the living arrangements of 148 female Japanese students (48.6% living alone) from a registered dietitian course. The analysis showed acceptable goodness of fit and a significant positive path from shokuiku during school years (living alone: standardised estimate 0.29, p = 0.004; with family: 0.32, p = 0.006) and a negative path from eating out frequency (-0.19, p = 0.039; -0.24, p = 0.017) towards a well-balanced diet. A significant negative path was identified from late bedtimes (-0.45, p < 0.001) and home meal replacement use frequency (-0.24, p = 0.010) in those living alone and from late-night snacking frequency (-0.27, p = 0.007) in those living with family. Well-balanced diets in female university students may be positively associated with shokuiku during school years and limited by a late bedtime, eating out, and home meal replacement use in those living alone, and by late-night snacking and eating out in those living with family.

Personal Space and Touching Acceptance Among Japanese Female Students

Personal Space and Touching Acceptance Among Japanese Female Students

PS-BPC11-2: PEDIATRIC BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORY PREDICTS LONGITUDINAL VARIABILITY IN BLOOD PRESSURE IN YOUTH

Objectives: In order to identify risk factors that cause elevated blood pressure during adolescence, we aimed to evaluate the predictive effect of childhood factors on longitudinal variability of individual blood pressure during youth. Methods: Childhood data were obtained from medical checkups of Japanese male and female junior high school students aged 12–13 years during the period from 2009 to 2010. Childhood measurements were height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressures, complete blood counts, uric acid, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Childhood blood pressure was categorized as normal, elevated blood pressure, or hypertension according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guideline. Linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures were used to estimate the effect of baseline childhood factors on longitudinal changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Results: A total of 1304 participants were followed up to the 10th year. At baseline, the mean age was 12.6 years [SD, 0.3] and 26.2% were female. Among male participants, 6.3% were categorized as having elevated blood pressure and 8.8% were categorized as having hypertension, while among female participants 6.1% were categorized as having elevated blood pressure and 8.5% were categorized as having hypertension. Boys in the hypertension category had higher BMI, higher uric acid, and lower HDLC compared with those in the normal blood pressure category, but this trend was not statistically significant in girls. Of each childhood factor, the baseline blood pressure category according to AAP clinical practice guideline fit best with longitudinal changes in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the linear mixed-effects models. Conclusion: These results suggest that the AAP pediatric blood pressure category is the strongest predictor of longitudinal variability in individual blood pressure in youth.

한중일 여학생의 불만표명행위에 대한 대조연구 - 상하 힘의 관계의 변화에 따른 특징을 중심으로 -

This paper focuses on the mutual interaction of the act of expressing dissatisfaction, and quantitatively analyzes and discusses the (dis)similarities that Korean, Chinese, and Japanese female students use in a situation wherein the power relationship has changed.BR First, the tendency of Korean female students to express their dissatisfaction showed that confirmation of the situation and direct/indirect expression of dissatisfaction was used between peers rather than toward seniors while Confirmation of alternatives and acceptance of alternatives and concessions was used toward seniors rather than between peers. Korean female students tended to use language strategies that respect the senior

The relationship between high physical activity and premenstrual syndrome in Japanese female college students

BackgroundIn recent years, moderate physical activity has attracted the attention of experts and women as a way to cope with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Studies investigated the effects of exercise on PMS, but only a few reports focused on the relationship between physical activity, which included not only exercise but also routine bodily movements, and PMS. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between the amount of physical activity and PMS symptoms among sexually mature female students.MethodsA total of 381 female university students in Japan were surveyed using a paper or web-based questionnaire with the same content. The questionnaire consisted of basic information, PMS symptoms, and physical activity based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Participants were divided into two groups (≥ 3000 The Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)-minutes/week and < 3000 MET-minutes/week) based on their total physical activity as calculated using the IPAQ guidelines. The two groups were then compared in terms of the severity of their PMS physical and psychological symptoms as calculated based on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ PMS diagnostic criteria. The Wilcoxon's rank-sum test was used for statistical analyses. We then divided the participants based on the presence or absence of each symptom and used the chi-square test to compare the intergroup differences in ratios. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.ResultsThose with total physical activity of ≥ 3000 MET-minutes/week had lower total PMS symptom scores (p < 0.01), physical symptom scores (p = 0.01), and psychological symptom scores (p = 0.01) compared with those with total physical activity of < 3000 MET-minutes/week.ConclusionThese results suggest that young women with high physical activity (≥ 3000 MET-minutes/week) have milder symptoms of PMS.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13102-022-00569-0.

Comparative Study of Realistic Optimism between India and Japan University Students

This study aimed to determine the differences in realistic optimism between Indian and Japanese university students using the realistic optimism scale. Indian students (n = 361; 193 males and 168 females) and Japanese students (n = 390; 172 males and 218 females) participated in the questionnaire survey. A t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the realistic optimism between the two participant groups. The results of the t-test indicated significant differences between Indian and Japanese students regarding realistic optimism, with Indian students scoring higher in the flexibility and future orientation dimensions. No significant difference was observed in the will/courage dimension. The ANOVA results showed a significant difference between India’s and Japan’s male and female students regarding future orientation and flexibility. However, no significant difference was found in terms of will/courage between Indian and Japanese male students and between Indian and Japanese female students. The results also revealed that Indian students, male and female, scored higher on overall realistic optimism than Japanese male and female students. The findings are discussed in the context of cross-cultural studies. Indian students scored higher in flexibility resulting from a multicultural society that requires them to understand each other and be flexible. Indian students’ higher scores in future orientation refer to a strong desire to realize their goals and dreams.

Weight Trajectory Since Birth, Current Body Composition, Dietary Intake, and Glucose Tolerance in Young Underweight Japanese Women.

Introduction: We studied weight trajectory since birth and dietary intake in Japanese female students majoring in nutrition sciences.Materials and Methods: Birth weight, adolescent height and weight, current body composition by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, dietary intake, glucose tolerance, lipid profile, and adipokines were cross-sectionally compared between young underweight (body mass index [BMI] <18.5) and normal-weight (BMI ≥18.5 and <25.0) women with overweight (BMI ≥25.0) women as an internal reference.Results: Serum adiponectin (leptin) was the highest (lowest) in 42 underweight women, intermediate levels in 251 normal-weight women, and the lowest (highest) levels in 14 overweight women. Compared with normal-weight women, underweight women had lower weight at birth, at age 12, 15, and 20 years, but comparable height, and hence lower BMI at three time points. Underweight women had higher gluteofemoral fat adjusted for total body fat and weight-adjusted skeletal muscle mass, although absolute and height-adjusted fat mass and skeletal muscle mass were lower. Glucose tolerance assessed by oral glucose testing, serum triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not differ between the two groups. Daily intake expressed per kg of body mass of energy and protein was the highest in underweight women, intermediate levels in normal-weight women, and the lowest levels in overweight women.Conclusions: Some young Japanese women are underweight not because of a strong drive for thinness, but because they were born lighter and remained lean until young adults. Underweight was associated with higher gluteofemoral fat adjusted for total body fat and relative skeletal muscle mass.

The Short-form Version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) : Reliability and Validity in Female Japanese Undergraduate Students

The Short-form Version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) : Reliability and Validity in Female Japanese Undergraduate Students

Effects of self-esteem, intrinsic motivation, academic procrastination, delayed exam preparation, and grades on cheating among female Japanese undergraduate students

Effects of self-esteem, intrinsic motivation, academic procrastination, delayed exam preparation, and grades on cheating among female Japanese undergraduate students

An association between the physical activity level and skeletal muscle mass index in female university students with a past exercise habituation

ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the association between skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and physical activity among female university students who had exercise habituation in junior and high school. MethodsThe body composition of 120 Japanese female students was measured using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method, and their physical activity level (PAL) was measured using a factorial method. Based on the ‘Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese’ (DRIs-J), according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, PAL (24-h energy consumption/basal metabolic rate) classifications were defined as low-PAL (PAL < 1.6), moderate-PAL (1.6 ≤ PAL < 1.9), and high-PAL (1.9 ≤ PAL < 2.2), respectively. ResultsIndividuals with low-PAL had a significantly lower SMI, especially for the lower limb muscles, than individuals with moderate-PAL or higher. More than 50% of the individuals with currently low-PAL corresponded or tended to correspond to the SMI cut-off value defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia or the 2017 National Health and Nutrition Survey of Japan. Therefore, more than half of the female students with currently low-PAL, even those with an exercise habituation in the past, corresponded to the cut-off value for muscle loss in sarcopenia diagnosis, particularly in the lower limbs. ConclusionsThese results suggest that it is important to maintain a moderate or higher level of physical activity in the DRIs-J classification, even for young women who used to exercise in the past, to maintain muscle mass accordingly.

The Association between Milk Intake and Nutrient Intake Adequacy among Japanese Female Junior High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The consumption of dairy products, including milk, may be important for improving the overall quality of a diet. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between milk intake and nutritional adequacy among Japanese female junior high school students. The participants of this study were Japanese female junior high school students aged between 12 and 15 years. Dietary habits over the past month were assessed by a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. The adequacy of each nutrient intake was determined based on the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese 2020, with two goals: the estimated average requirement for fourteen nutrients and tentative dietary goals for preventing lifestyle-related diseases for six nutrients. The participants were classified into five groups according to milk intake (Q1 (lowest) to Q5 (highest)) by quintile. The adequacy of vitamin B2, calcium, magnesium, and potassium were higher among students with a higher milk consumption than among those with a lower milk consumption. However, the intake of saturated fatty acids was in excess among higher milk consumers. The present study suggests that milk intake was related to an adequate intake of some vitamins and minerals and an inadequate intake of saturated fatty acids among Japanese female junior high school students.

불만표명행위의 상호작용에 대한 한중일 대조연구 -부담도의 차이를 중심으로-

In this study, similarities and differences of linguistic strategies used by Korean, Chinese and Japanese male and female college students in situations involving different levels of imposition, one with a high degree of imposition and the other with a low degree, are analyzed and discussed quantitatively with special attention given to the interactions of complaint expressing acts.<BR> Firstly, male and female college students in Korea, China and Japan show a common tendency to use an expression of apology, explanation of reason, confirmation of situation, admission of responsibility, self-justification, presence of compensation, and soothing speech more frequently than other linguistic strategies when they are a complainant in situations with a lower degree of imposition. Further, the complainants tend to use the confirmation of situation, direct and indirect expression of complaint, active improvement request and concession speech more often than other linguistic strategies in common.<BR> Next, the complainants tend to use in common an expression of apology, explanation of reason, confirmation of situation, admission of responsibility, evasion of responsibility, self-improvement, self-justification, presence of alternative, presence of compensation, and soothing speech more frequently than other linguistic strategies in situations with a higher degree of imposition. In addition, the complainants exhibit a common trend of using confirmation of situation, direct and indirect expression of complaint, active improvement request and concession speech more often than other linguistic strategies.

The mediating effect of cognitive appraisal on the relationship between sleep habits and the stress response among Japanese female college students

BackgroundUndergraduate students tend to develop “evening-type” sleep patterns. Recent research has reported that evening-type and irregular sleep habits are related to physical and mental stress responses, particularly in female students. Although the connection between sleep habits and the stress response has been well documented, the mechanism behind this relationship is currently unknown. Using the transactional model as a framework and female students as our target population, we examined whether sleep habits predict the stress response through the mediation of cognitive appraisals of one’s own sleep habits.MethodsThree hundred twenty-one Japanese female college students participated in this study. Participants completed measures of their sleep habits (sleep patterns and sleep irregularity), cognitive appraisals of their sleep habits (including four subscales: commitment, appraisal of influence, appraisal of threat, and controllability), stress responses (depression and anxiety), and control factors. The reliability and validity of the scales used in this study, except for sleep pattern and sleep irregularity, were confirmed in previous studies.ResultsMultiple-mediation-model analysis indicated that commitment mediates the relationship between sleep pattern and anxiety. Meanwhile, cognitive appraisals, as a whole, were found to have a mediating effect on the relationship between sleep irregularity and depression.ConclusionsOur study revealed that cognitive appraisals mediated the relationship between sleep habits and the stress response. The findings also suggest that maintaining a low level of commitment might be effective for reducing anxiety, especially considering the difficulty associated with changing lifestyles. The findings of the present study should be useful for health education related to lifestyle.

Later chronotype is associated with unhealthful plant-based diet quality in young Japanese women

BackgroundHaving a late chronotype, that is, the tendency to go to sleep and wake up at later hours, influences an individual's physical and mental health. Despite a few studies noting the association of chronotype with healthy dietary patterns, this relationship remains unclear. PurposeThis study aimed to describe the association of chronotype with healthful and unhealthful plant-based diet quality in female Japanese undergraduate students. DesignCross-sectional. Participants and settingA total of 218 female university students in Tokyo, Japan. Main outcome measuresHealthful and unhealthful plant-based dietary index-Japanese version (hPDI-J and uPDI-J), calculated using the validated brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. Statistical analyses performedA five-model stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was conducted. Independent variables were hPDI-J and uPDI-J scores, and dependent variables were various lifestyle habits related to the circadian rhythm and demographic characteristics. ResultsMean (standard deviation) sleep duration, midpoint of sleep, sleep latency time, and social jetlag were 411 (60) min, 03:56 (00:57), 21 (27) min, and 50 (39) min, respectively. Chronotype and several variables, such as residential status, energy and alcohol intake, and nutritional knowledge, were associated with healthful and unhealthful plant-based diet quality. Individuals who had higher hPDI-J scores were more likely to have an earlier chronotype (β = −0.168, P = 0.019) and better nutritional knowledge (β = 0.164, P = 0.022) than those with lower hPDI-J scores. Individuals were more likely to have higher uPDI-J scores if they were living alone (β = −0.301, P < 0.001), had a later chronotype (β = 0.181, P = 0.001), higher frequency of snacking (β = 0.164, P = 0.019), lower total energy (β = −0.445, P < 0.001), and worse nutritional knowledge (β = −0.172, P = 0.001). ConclusionThis study provided new evidence as to the relationship between sleep and dietary habits, the interaction of which may affect women's health.

ASSOCIATION OF CHILDHOOD PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND LABORATORY PARAMETERS WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN JAPANESE YOUNG ADULTS

Objective: We aimed to identify childhood risk factors for high blood pressure (BP) in young adults. Design and method: Childhood data were obtained from medical checkups of Japanese male and female junior high school students aged 12-13 years during the period from 2008 to 2009. Childhood variables were sex, body weight, body mass index (BMI), systolic BP, complete blood count, uric acid, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The 1129 participants were followed up for average 8.6 years with a range of 6.0 to 9.0 years. High BP was defined as elevated BP and hypertension of ACC/AHA BP category (systolic BP 120 mmHg or more and/or diastolic BP 80 mmHg or more). Results: At the follow-up, the prevalence of high BP was 42.2% in male young adults and 7.7% in female young adults. The mean systolic/diastolic BP was 117.8 [SD, 10.1] / 63.6 [SD, 6.1] mmHg in men and 105.2 [SD, 9.6] / 59.6 [SD, 5.5] mmHg in women. Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that systolic BP (odds ratio 1.56), body weight (1.50), uric acid (1.38), and red blood cell (1.31) at childhood baseline were significantly associated with high BP in male young adult, whereas variables associated with high BP were not found in female young adults because few women developed high BP. A logistic regression analysis with the stepwise method indicated that the regression model including systolic BP, body weight, WBC, platelet count, and uric acid had a high prediction power for high BP in male young adults (Area under curve 0.660, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: These results suggest that childhood medical checkup information including BP, anthropometric data, and laboratory parameter can contribute to the prediction of future high BP in young adults.

Are lifestyle factors significantly associated with self-rated health among Japanese female healthcare students?

BackgroundSelf-rated health (SRH), a subjective perception of an individual’s overall health, is widely used in public health assessment. The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a critical period involving substantial changes in lifestyle and dietary habits. Therefore, it is important to understand SRH among young Japanese females. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between SRH among female healthcare students and their lifestyle factors, such as living status (living with others or living alone), smoking habit, alcohol consumption, frequency of breakfast consumption (FBC), physical activity, insomnia, and physique recognition.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1101 female healthcare students in Japan. The body mass index was calculated from the body height and weight using data from periodic health examinations. Self-reported sociodemographic, lifestyle or dietary habits, physical activity, and SRH were used through a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were classified as having either good SRH (excellent, very good, or good) or impaired SRH (fair or poor). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the independent relationships between SRH and lifestyle factors.ResultsA total of 11.4% participants demonstrated impaired SRH. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the University of California Los Angeles activity score, Athens Insomnia Scale, and physique recognition were associated with SRH.ConclusionsIt was suggested that public health activities that consider physical activity, sleep, and physique recognition may help maintain and improve SRH in female university students in Japan.

Investigating facemask problems associated with wearing comfort and fit

PurposeA facemask is used to cover the nose and mouth to protect a wearer's health in daily life. The authors’ long-term goal aimed to ensure more people with different physical characteristics and different attitudes can wear a high performance and comfortable facemask. In the present paper, wearers were surveyed by a questionnaire. Additionally, a prototype improvement pattern with a fit performance was investigated.Design/methodology/approachThe survey of facemask wearers was conducted with local students and international students in Japan. A basic pattern with high fit performance was analyzed using a combination of triangles based on the measured three-dimensional coordinates of the head shape of a Japanese mannequin.FindingsThe aggregated survey data indicated that 85.0% of the Japanese female students, 77.2% of international female students, 70.8% of Japanese male students and 54.3% of international male students were facemask wearers. Wearers had problems related to their masks' thermal, hygroscopic and airflow properties. Japanese nonusers did not wear them due to dislike related to the problems above. International nonusers had no experience of wearing them. It was concerned that these discomfort factors influence fit performance and reduction of wearing effects. Therefore, the authors analyzed a sheet pattern with a high fit performance for a Japanese head mannequin.Originality/valueThese results will contribute in improving hygienic facemasks for people at the global level. The survey results and pattern analysis provide of necessary conditions of development of the mask with comfortable and high fit performance.

Changes in Season Affect Body Weight, Physical Activity, Food Intake, and Sleep in Female College Students: A Preliminary Study.

The current study examined how body weight and lifestyle fluctuate between spring, autumn, and winter in Japanese female college students and whether weight gain is associated with changes in physical activity, food intake, and sleep. We measured body weight and lifestyle factors in 31 participants from May 2017 to January 2018. Weight was measured daily in participants’ homes. Physical activity and sleep were measured for three weeks in three seasons using two accelerometers. Food intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Body weight significantly decreased in autumn compared with spring (p < 0.001). Body weight in winter tended to increase compared with autumn (p = 0.052). Step counts and energy intake were significantly different between seasons (p < 0.05). Total time in bed was not significantly different between seasons. In comparisons of changes in lifestyle patterns from autumn to winter between the weight gain (≥0.5 kg) and weight maintenance groups, seasonal changes in lifestyle factors were not significantly different between groups (p > 0.05). The results indicated that body weight and lifestyle were affected by seasonal variability in female college students, but no significant relationships existed between seasonal weight gain and changes in lifestyle patterns.

Grit and motivation for learning English among Japanese university students

This study contributes to the limited research assessing how constructs (e.g., grit) from Positive Psychology (PosPsy) can contribute to better understanding motivation for learning a second language (L2). A total number of 441 Japanese female university students enrolled in English language classes participated in this study. Results showed that a positive global self-construct (i.e., grit), positive L2 domain self-constructs (i.e., grit for L2 learning and interested L2 self) and positive L2 motivational constructs (i.e., L2 reading and listening self-efficacy) and negative L2 motivational variables (i.e., L2 reading and listening anxiety) can be reliably measured with self-report scales with female Japanese students and how the relationship strength among variables followed the predicted order. This paper contributes by introducing new concepts from PosPsy to motivation in L2 learning and offers validation evidence that scales can be created to measure selected constructs from PosPsy that augment L2 motivation studies.