Preschool Children In Japan Research Articles

Association between mothers' provision of vegetables and homemade meal strategies under time constraints in Japan.

Maternal time constraints lead to a lack of vegetable provision to children. Mothers use homemade meal strategies under time constraints; however, these strategies have not been well investigated. This study aimed to classify the homemade meal strategies used by mothers under time constraints and to examine their association with the provision of vegetable dishes. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of 400 mothers of preschool children in Japan. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to classify homemade meal strategies. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the subscale scores by the demographic characteristics and provision of vegetable dishes, and logistic regression was used to predict the provision of vegetable dishes based on the subscales and adjusted for demographic characteristics. A 13-item scale comprising three subscales ("planning meals and shopping ahead," "use of convenience foods," and "batch cooking") was developed. Full-time employed mothers had higher scores for "use of convenience foods" and "batch cooking" than did unemployed mothers. "Batch cooking" was positively related to the provision of vegetable dishes more than seven times a week after adjusting for maternal demographic characteristics, whereas "use of convenience foods" was negatively related. "Planning meals and shopping ahead" was not associated with the provision of vegetable dishes. The results of this study suggest that batch cooking is a recommended strategy under time constraints and that education on nutritional considerations when using convenience foods is required.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a social and emotional learning program among preschool children in Japan: an experimental cohort study

BackgroundResearch on school maladjustment has increasingly focused on social skills, such as the ability to control emotions, collaborate with others, and achieve goals. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is one approach to nurturing social skills. However, few preventive interventions to promote SEL have been conducted among young children, particularly in Asian countries, including Japan. Therefore, this study examined the effectiveness of an SEL program—Fun FRIENDS—among children in Japan.MethodsIn mid-2022, the Fun FRIENDS program was administered to 115 children aged 4–5 years, who were enrolled in two kindergartens. The program was administered to the entire class as part of their kindergarten activities. The control group included 93 children in three kindergartens. This study included 94 participants (81.7%) in the intervention group and 66 (71.0%) in the control group, whose parents agreed with the assessment of their skills. Fun FRIENDS is a support program based on a cognitive–behavioral approach. The program aims to teach children how to cope with anxiety and stress and develop resilience and confidence to face difficulties. The program includes 10 sessions, each lasting approximately 1 h and conducted once per week. To examine the program’s effectiveness, teachers evaluated these children’s social skills before and after program implementation using the Social Skill Scale.ResultsResults showed significant post-intervention improvements in self-control and cooperation scores among children in the intervention group, compared with pre-intervention. Further, post-intervention self-control and cooperation scores were significantly higher among children in the intervention group than the control group.ConclusionsSEL implemented on a class-wide basis could be effective in early childhood. An early approach targeting preschool-aged children is necessary to prevent school maladjustment. A universal approach implemented on a whole-class basis could contribute to improving children’s social skills.

Why Do They Leave? The Counterplans to Continue Working among Preschool Workers in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Three institutions predominantly care for preschool children in Japan: kindergartens, authorized childcare institutions, and nursery centers. Recently, the turnover rates of preschool workers in these institutions have been high, and Japan has been facing a shortage of kindergarten teachers. The study aimed to provide concrete counterplans to reduce preschool workers' turnover rate. To determine the causes of turnover, we conducted a cross-sectional survey. We recruited preschool workers from several kindergartens, authorized childcare institutions, and nursery centers in Japan to fill out a survey regarding counterplans for employment. Of the 1002 surveys, 551 (541 women; 10 men) complete surveys were received (response rate: 55%). A total of 295 participants answered that they were unwilling to continue working for longer than five years and completed the questionnaires. The Jiro Kawakita method was used to categorize and analyze the four sections of the counterplan questionnaires. The results showed that the main reasons for high turnover were overtime work, low salary, and difficult human relations. To solve these issues, the counterplan ideas such as workshop ideas and conditions conducive to continuing working longer were related to human relations, work conditions, and mental health.

Cost-effectiveness of pertussis booster vaccination for preschool children in Japan

Introduction: Japan currently recommends four doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine in its routine vaccination program, but the introduction of a fifth dose is currently under consideration. An objective of the booster vaccination is to prevent severe cases of pertussis in infants through herd immunity. Thus, the aim of this analysis was to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of a fifth-dose of the DTaP vaccine for 6-year-old children, taking herd immunity for unvaccinated infants into account. MethodAn economic model analysis was conducted comparing the cost and effectiveness of the two strategies based on quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). We evaluated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the booster strategy to the no booster strategy. This model contained two sub-models: one for children aged 6 years or older and one for infants under 3 months old. Herd immunity for infants is modeled as when siblings in the same family are infected. ResultsThe ICER was JPY 71,605,491 (USD 656,931) per QALY gained from the societal perspective, and 7.10% of incremental QALYs (0.0000934) were from a reduction in infant infection. In the sensitivity analysis, no variables moved the ICER under the threshold (JPY 5,000,000 per QALY gained), and the duration of pertussis disease and the incidence rate of pertussis had a significant impact on the ICER. When the disease burden of pertussis decreased, the booster strategy resulted in fewer QALYs gained and greater costs compared with the no booster strategy. ConclusionThe introduction of a DTaP booster vaccination to the routine immunization schedule can be expected to reduce the number of pertussis cases in the target population. However, our study showed that adding a booster vaccination for 6-year-old children to the schedule in Japan would not be cost-effective in terms of achieving herd immunity among unvaccinated infants.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on the daily lives and health of preschool children in Japan

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on the daily lives and health of preschool children in Japan

Factors related to parenting stress among fathers of preschool children in Japan.

Even though fathers participate in childcare at a higher rate than before, there remains a lack of research on the factors that contribute to parenting stress among fathers. This study explored the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with parenting stress among fathers of preschool children. Our study included 17 645 fathers who participated in the 2016 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan. Parenting stress was assessed using a single question. Socioeconomic and demographic factors were predictors. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for parenting stress. Overall, 6.6% fathers experienced parenting stress. Fathers with a youngest child aged 0-2 years were more likely to experience parenting stress than those with a youngest child aged 3-6 (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.25-1.68). Compared with fathers who lived in two-parent households without grandparents, those who lived in single-father households (both with and without grandparents) were more likely to experience parenting stress (OR: 12.13, 95% CI: 5.60-26.29 and OR: 4.19, 95% CI: 2.04-8.60, respectively). Furthermore, there was a significant negative association between education and parenting stress. Having a child aged 0-2 years, single fatherhood, and higher education were associated with parenting stress among fathers of preschool children. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of these factors when supporting fathers in raising their children.

Association between Water and Energy Requirements with Physical Activity and Fat-Free Mass in Preschool Children in Japan.

Water and energy are essential for the human body. The doubly labeled water (DLW) method measures water turnover (WT) and total energy expenditure (TEE), which serves as a benchmark for the adequate intake (AI) of water and estimated energy requirements (EER). The objective of the current study was to examine the association of WT and TEE with physical activity and body composition in Japanese preschool children. We included 41 preschool children (22 girls, 19 boys) aged 3–6 in this study. WT, TEE, and fat-free mass (FFM) were obtained using DLW. Physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer and categorized as light (LPA; 1.5–2.9 Metabolic equivalents, METs) and of moderate-to-vigorous intensity (MVPA; ≥3.0 METs). Exercise duration (Ex) was defined as ≥4.0 METs of physical activity. WT and TEE moderately positively correlated with Ex, but not with LPA. WT moderately positively correlated with BW and FFM while TEE strongly. We established predictive equations for WT and TEE using body weight (BW), FFM, step count, and Ex to guide the AI of water and EER in Japanese preschool children. We found that FFM and step count are the determinants of TEE, and that BW and Ex are the determinants of WT in preschool children.

Association between Parents' Social Capital and Physical Status in Preschool Children in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Study.

According to a World Health Organization report, in 2016, 41 million young children globally were overweight or obese. The connection between parents' social capital and their children's health has been studied, but associations between parental social capital and children's weight are largely unexamined. Hence, we assessed the relationship between preschool children's weight and parents' social capital. We used BMI assessment data for 357 children (46.5% girls; mean age 5.3years) in Japan. We examined parents' structural and cognitive social capital using a self-report questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed associations between parents' social capital and children's BMI. Seventy-two (20.2%) of the children had poor BMI (body mass index; overweight or thin). Interpersonal trust was significantly associated with normal BMI in children after adjustment for all confounding factors (OR 2.68; 95% CI, 1.33-5.44; P = .006) and was independently associated with other social capital factors, including norm of reciprocity (OR 3.38; 95% CI, 1.68-6.79; P < .001) and trust in organization (OR 1.24; 95% CI, 1.09-1.42; P = .001). Social capital factors were independently associated with each other. Japanese parents' high social capital was an independent predictor of normal BMI among preschool children.

Relationship between parents' dietary care and food diversity among preschool children in Japan.

To identify the relationship between preschool children's dietary diversity and parents' care behaviours related to their diet including contents of foods and snacks, mealtime practice and parent-child communication. Cross-sectional study. Data were extracted from the National Nutrition Survey on Preschool Children in 2015 by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The distribution of food diversity score (FDS) (maximum of eight points) was confirmed. The participants were divided into higher (≥4 points) and lower (≤3 points) food diversity groups. A comparison between the two groups examined parents' socio-economic status, children's health and living conditions, and parental care concerning children's diets (thirteen items). A multiple regression analysis was performed relating FDS to the factors of parental socio-economic status and child health, and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors of parental care related to the higher food diversity group. 2143 persons from households with children aged 2-6 years. Parental care concerning children's diets was the factor most strongly associated with children's FDS. Those factors most strongly associated with higher food diversity were nutritional balance of foods (OR: 1·76; 95 % CI 1·44, 2·16; P < 0 0001), snack contents (OR: 1·41; 95 % CI 1·07, 1·86; P = 0·014) and regular mealtimes (OR: 1·30; 95 % CI 1·08, 1·55; P = 0·005). The findings indicate the importance of parents paying attention to the contents of children's foods and snacks, ensuring that children eat regularly, and increasing the diversity of their diets.

Eating Vegetables First at Start of Meal and Food Intake among Preschool Children in Japan.

Eating behavior is an important aspect for dietary quality and long-term health. This study examined associations between eating vegetables first at a meal and food intakes among preschool children in Tokyo, Japan. We used cross-sectional data of 135 preschool children from seven nursery schools in Adachi City, Tokyo, Japan. Caregivers completed a survey on child’s eating behaviors and a diet questionnaire. Linear regression was used to examine frequency of eating vegetables first at a meal and food intakes; percent difference and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were presented. Overall, 25.2% of children reported eating vegetables first at a meal every time, 52.6% sometimes, and 22.2% not often or never. In the multivariate analysis, higher vegetable intake remained significant after adjusting for other covariates (compared with the group of eating vegetables first not often or never, the group reported sometimes: 27%, 95% CI: 0–63%; the group reported every time: 93%, 95% CI: 43–159%). No significant difference in intake by frequency categories of eating vegetables first was observed for other food groups, including fruits, meat, fish, cereals, and sweets. Children eating vegetables first at a meal more was associated with higher total intake of vegetables compared with children who did not eat vegetables first, among Japanese preschool children.

The Relationship of Eating Rate and Degree of Chewing to Body Weight Status among Preschool Children in Japan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

There is growing recognition that eating slowly is associated with a lower risk of obesity, and chewing well might be an effective way to reduce the eating rate. However, little is known about these relationships among children. We therefore investigated the associations of eating rate and chewing degree with weight status among 4451 Japanese children aged 5–6 years. Information on eating rate (slow, medium, or fast), degree of chewing (not well, medium, or well), and nutrient intake of children were collected from guardians using a diet history questionnaire. Weight status was defined using the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs based on BMI calculated from guardian-reported height and weight. The prevalence of overweight and thinness was 10.4% and 14.3%, respectively. A higher eating rate and a lower degree of chewing were associated with being overweight (both p < 0.001). Eating slowly was associated with being thin (p < 0.001), but no association was observed between chewing degree and thinness. These associations were still evident after controlling for potential confounders including parental educational attainment, weight status, and the child’s nutrient intake. In conclusion, this cross-sectional study suggested that chewing well, rather than eating slowly, might be a more effective way for healthy weight management among Japanese preschool children.

Socioeconomic Status, Emotional/Behavioral Difficulties, and Social Competence among Preschool Children in Japan

Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important contextual factor influencing children’s development. However, there have been limited attempts to examine either the impact of relative poverty on child development or the relationships between specific SES indicators and mental health domains. This study elucidates these relationships in Japanese preschool children who experience high levels of relative poverty. Participants were 3218 Japanese children aged 5–6 years. Their mothers completed self-report questionnaires on SES indicators and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to measure emotional/behavioral problems. Children’s teachers evaluated children’s social competence using the Social Skills Questionnaire for Preschoolers. Each SES indicator had an inverse relationship with all emotional/behavioral problem domains in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, lower family income consistently predicted higher scores on all emotional/behavioral problem domains, whereas lower maternal and paternal education levels independently predicted higher scores in specific domains. Each SES indicator had positive relationships with all social competence dimensions in the univariate analysis. Higher family income consistently predicted higher social competence in the multivariate analysis. However, paternal education level only predicted self-control, and maternal education did not predict social competence. Family income and parental education levels were significant independent predictors of emotional/behavioral problems and social competence. Thus, this study suggests that SES does affect child outcomes in a country where there is a high level of relative poverty and underscores the importance of assessing income and education status separately in order to identify their potentially unique associations with development among preschool children.

The eating habits of mothers and their pre-school children in Japan

Background The eating habits of mothers and children in infancy are important. It is not only impact their own present health, but may effect children's health of lifelong, since early childhood is a crucial moment to formulate basic lifestyle habits. The mothers raise children in infancy could implement healthy lifestyle to prevent lifestyle related diseases of children in future. The aim of this study is to describe eating habits of mothers and their children in Japan. Method A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to women who have children whose age were 3 to 6-years-old at three nursing schools in a regional town, Japan. The questionnaire was about their demographics, lifestyle, and eating habits of mothers and their children. Results In total, 113 women were answered. We excluded the women's data with missing variables. As a result of the exclusion, 95 mothers and their children were the analysis subjects for this research. There were no mothers and children who were on a dietetic treatment. The mean age of women was 36.4 ± 5.3-years-old. The mean age of their children was 4.5 ± 1.0-years-old. The mean body mass index (BMI) of mothers was 21.8 ± 3.4. The mean Kaup index of children was 15.5 ± 1.8. There were 13 (13.7%) women who were underweight (BMI is below 18.5), 68 (71.6%) women were normal weight status (BMI is 18.5 to 24.9), and 14 (14.7%) women who were in overweight status (BMI is more than 25.0). There were 34 (35.8%) children who were underweight (Kaup index is below 15.0), and 68 children who were in normal weight status (Kaup index is 15.0 to 17.9). The number of children who were in overweight status (Kaup index is more than 18.0) was 14 (14.7%). In this study, many mothers and their children had good eating habits. For example, most of the mothers (80.0%) and their children (91.6%) were eating breakfast every day. There was no association between mothers’ and children's good eating habits. While, there were 73 (76.8%) children and 70 (73.7%) mothers who do something at meals, as an example, they were in the habit of watching television while eating. The agreement of this habitual practice between mothers and children was substantial by kappa statistics (κ = 0.633). In regards to dietary supplements use, four children (4.2%) were using dietary supplements including calcium, minerals, or multivitamins, and one child used it before. On the other hand, 47 (49.7%) mothers used to have dietary supplement, and 11 (11.7%) mothers were using some supplements. Discussion The rate of dietary supplements use among Japanese children is lower than children in the United States, Australia and China. We, however, suppose that Japanese children using dietary supplements increase thought the effectiveness is not clear yet. A previous study showed that Japanese mothers who were supplement user tended to use dietary supplements for their children. The number of women who have experience of dietary use is increasing in Japan. There, therefore, is possibility of using supplement for children will increase in Japan. Health education including dietary supplements use is a pressing public health issue to develop healthy dietary habits for mothers and children.

Prescription of antibiotics to pre-school children from 2005 to 2014 in Japan: a retrospective claims database study.

Antibiotics are the most frequently prescribed medications for children but inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is prevalent. The purpose of our study was to access the nationwide trend in antibiotic prescriptions, and to ascertain inappropriate prescribing for upper respiratory infections (URIs) in pre-school children in Japan. Data from the administrative claims database from 2005 January to 2014 September in Japan were examined. We identified outpatient antibiotic prescription claims and described prescription patterns of subjects who were followed from birth to 6 years of age. Logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odd ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions. Of 155 556 children in the database, 51.6% were male and 48.4% were female. Antibiotics were prescribed for 66.4% of the cohort, with third generation cephalosporin the most prescribed (38.3%), followed by macrolides (25.8%), and penicillin (16.0%). Antibiotic prescriptions for non-bacterial URIs were associated with male gender (OR = 1.06, CI: 1.05-1.07), facility scale, non-pediatrics (OR = 2.11, CI: 2.08-2.14) and out-of-hour visit (OR = 1.64, CI: 1.61-1.68). Third generation cephalosporins and macrolides are widely prescribed to Japanese pre-school children. Furthermore, inappropriate prescriptions for non-bacterial URIs are associated with increasing age, gender, facility characteristics, non-pediatrics and out-of-hour visits.

Trajectory of social inequalities in the treatment of dental caries among preschool children in Japan.

The longitudinal trend of dental health inequalities among preschool children has not been described. In this study, we aimed to measure the trajectory of both relative and absolute inequalities in caries treatment among preschool children in Japan. We used data from the Longitudinal Survey of Babies in the 21st Century (LSB21), which is an ongoing national representative longitudinal study. The target population was families residing in Japan with newborn baby/babies born between 10 January and 17 January or 10 July and 17 July 2001. Data regarding caries treatment history and socioeconomic status (SES) were collected using a self-reported questionnaire. SES was assessed on the basis of the parents' educational attainment. In total, 35260 children were followed from 2.5 to 5.5years through annual surveys. To evaluate absolute and relative inequalities, we calculated the slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII), respectively. The rate of caries treatment at the age of 2.5years was <10% for all SES groups; this increased to more than 30% at 5.5years of age. Children with lower SES received more frequent caries treatment, and both absolute and relative social inequalities were statistically significant. SII showed a significant increase throughout the follow-up period, with values of 4.13% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.16; 5.09) and 15.50% (95% CI, 13.68; 17.32) at 2.5 and 5.5years of age, respectively. In contrast, RII decreased with an increase in the treatment rate for all groups, with values of 1.83 (95% CI, 1.59; 2.11) and 1.53 (95% CI, 1.46; 1.61) at 2.5 and 5.5years of age, respectively. Our results suggest that the rate of caries treatment is higher for preschool children with lower SES in Japan, with significant widening of absolute inequalities along with the growth of the children.

Association between Toe Grip Strength and Physical Performance Among Japanese Preschool Children

Objective: To evaluate the association between Toe grip strength (TGS) and physical performance among preschool children in Japan. Methods: TGS was evaluated in 338 preschool children (178 boys, 160 girls), 4–6 years of age. The following physical performance tests were measured: hand grip strength (HGS), 25-m sprint run, 5-m shuttle run, standing long jump, and tennis ball throw, were measured. Participants were divided into five age groups of 6-month intervals, from the early 4-years-old group (48-53 months) to the early 6-years-old group (72-78 months). TGS was analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance, with a post-hoc test to assess between-sex differences and age-related changes. Associations between TGS and descriptive characteristics and physical performance were assessed using multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: TGS increased with development, being significantly greater in the early 6-years-old group than in the early and late 4-years-old group and early 5-years-old group. There was no between-sex difference in TGS within the same age group. TGS was associated with age in months and weight, but not with sex and height. TGS was also significantly associated with the 25-m sprint run, 5-m shuttle run and standing long jump performance, regardless of age, anthropometrics and HGS, in both sex, with the exception of the 5-m shuttle run in boys. Conclusion: TGS increased with age and was associated with enhanced lower-limb physical performance among preschool children and could provide a useful predictor of physical performance in this population.

The association between dietary intakes and gut microbiota in preschool children in Japan

The association between dietary intakes and gut microbiota in preschool children in Japan

Dietary intake, physical activity, and time management are associated with constipation in preschool children in Japan.

Constipation is a common complaint in children, which is not fatal but can affect quality of life. Several lifestyle-related risk factors for constipation have been reported, particularly dietary factors, but results have been inconsistent. Here, we examined the relationship of dietary and lifestyle factors with constipation in Japanese preschool children using data of a nationwide study. Subjects were 5,309 children aged 5 to 6 years at 380 nursery schools in 44 of 47 prefectures in Japan. Children having three or fewer bowel movements per week were considered constipated. Dietary intake data was collected using a validated brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire for Japanese preschool children, and information about general lifestyle was collected using a 4-page questionnaire designed for this study. Multivariateadjusted odds ratios for constipation were calculated by logistic regression. Higher dietary fiber intake was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of constipation (adjusted odds ratio: 0.62, p for trend: 0.005), but higher carbohydrate intake was marginally associated with a higher prevalence of constipation. Intake of potatoes, pulses, vegetables, and fruits intake decreased constipation prevalence, whereas higher rice intake was significantly and independently associated with higher prevalence of constipation. Regarding lifestyle factors, high physical activity and sufficient preparation time for breakfast and dinner for guardians were significantly associated with lower prevalence. Prevalence tended to be negatively associated with a higher educational background of the mother. Several lifestyle factors were associated with a lower prevalence of constipation among Japanese preschool children, including dietary fiber intake.

Maternal Labor Supply, Childcare, and the Health of Preschool Children in Japan

Maternal Labor Supply, Childcare, and the Health of Preschool Children in Japan

The effects of workplace psychosocial factors on whether Japanese dual-earner couples with preschool children have additional children: a prospective study

This study explored the effect of workplace psychosocial factors (job demand, job control, and workplace social support) on dual-earner couples in Japan having additional children, using a prospective study design. We conducted a 2-year prospective cohort study with 103 dual-earner couples with preschool children in Japan, as part of the Tokyo Work–Family Interface Study II. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to evaluate the prospective association of job strain (categorized into low-strain job, active job, passive job, and strain job groups) and workplace social support (high and low) with couples having additional children during the follow-up period, adjusting for age, for men and women separately. Men in the active job group (i.e., with high job demands and high job control) had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) of having additional children during the follow-up period, after controlling for age (OR 9.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.27–64.85). No significant association between any workplace psychosocial factor and having additional children was confirmed among women. Having an active job may have a positive influence on having additional children among men in dual-earner couples.