Young Adults In Japan Research Articles

Gender Analysis of Stress and Smoking Behavior: A Survey of Young Adults in Japan

The global tobacco epidemic, claiming over 8 million lives annually, constitutes a formidable public health threat. Fatalities arise from both direct tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke. Smoking prevalence, notably in Japan, varies across age groups with distinct patterns indicating higher rates among those aged 40 years and above. Persistent concerns surround the significance of smoking behavior in individuals aged 20 to 30 years, given the potential for early adulthood behavior to contribute to long-term health impacts. The emergence of heated tobacco products adds complexity with a substantial percentage of individuals aged 20 to 30 years using these alternatives. This study analyzed data from 15,333 individuals aged 20 to 39 years, collected through Japan’s “Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2017”. Compliant with the Japan Statistics Act, a secondary analysis employed multivariate logistic analysis to examine concerns and stress sources by sex and smoking behavior, adjusting for various variables. As a result, no statistically significant associations were found between smoking in men and concerns or stress. However, in women who smoked, significant associations were observed between smoking and specific stressors, such as work-related concerns, financial stress, and stress from a lack of personal free time. This study emphasizes the necessity of considering gender differences and social backgrounds in designing targeted smoking-prevention programs, aiming to enhance overall health longevity and comprehensively reduce lifelong smoking rates in this demographic.

Prevalence, knowledge, and concerns regarding the use of heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes among young Japanese physicians.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes (ECs) have gained traction as alternatives for harm reduction, especially in Japan. In particular, the use of HTPs is rapidly gaining popularity among young adults in Japan, with a prevalence of 10.9% in 2020. Despite uncertainties regarding the health effects of HTPs and ECs, concerns regarding nicotine and carcinogens persist. Although physicians play a vital role in smoking cessation, they lack awareness and concerns regarding HTPs. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, knowledge, and concerns regarding HTPs and ECs among young Japanese physicians. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2021 with 529 young Japanese physicians aged 24-39 years. Parameters assessed included awareness, smoking status, knowledge of HTPs and ECs, and concerns related to HTPs. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess prevalence, knowledge, and concerns by smoking status using the chi-squared test and logistic regression. Most participants were aware of HTPs (89.0%) and ECs (71.3%). Young male physicians preferred HTPs, while females favored ECs. Primary sources of information included newspapers and stories (56.8%), and TV (37.4%). Non-smokers (89.0%) demonstrated limited knowledge of these products. Concerns were highest and lowest among non-smokers and HTP users, respectively, with safety concerns being the most prevalent. Young physicians exhibited lower smoking rates than the general population, but HTP use was prominent among young male physicians. Concerns varied based on smoking status, indicating the need to address these issues among healthcare professionals. Despite high awareness, knowledge gaps, particularly among non-smokers, highlight the importance of public health and educational campaigns to disseminate knowledge among physicians, regardless of medical specialty.

Trends in Dietary Micronutrient Adequacy in Young Adults Over the Latest 25 Years in Japan.

It has been assumed that economically developed countries are well nourished compared to developing countries, but little is known about how economic status affects dietary micronutrient intake in the future childbearing generation. We analyzed the trend of dietary micronutrient adequacy in young adults in Japan, as one of the representative countries with advanced dietary habits and economic progress. We conducted a retrospective analysis using 2 web-accessible databases, namely the Japanese National Health and Nutrition Survey and the World Development Indicators. Japan has been facing a progressive insufficiency of dietary vitamins A and C and iron, especially among young adults, over the past 25 years. The hidden progression of silent malnutrition has become more apparent since the 2010s, coinciding with a series of economic recessions and natural disasters. Given that parental dietary habits play a critical role in ensuring a balanced diet for their children, our findings underscore the importance of proactive nutrition counseling and education, especially for young adults of childbearing age who have been identified as vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies. In line with this policy, we would like to suggest the use of digital transformation platforms as a potential solution in the future, especially for the digital native population.

日本における若年男性の 「理想のライフスタイル」の摸索と実践 - 2010年代に発行されたライフスタイル誌􋺷POPEYE􋺸を分析対象として -

日本における若年男性の 「理想のライフスタイル」の摸索と実践 - 2010年代に発行されたライフスタイル誌􋺷POPEYE􋺸を分析対象として -

Cancer incidence and type of treatment hospital among children, adolescents, and young adults in Japan, 2016-2018.

Cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults (AYAs) although rare, is the leading disease-specific cause of death in Japan. This study aims to investigate cancer incidence and type of treatment hospital among children and AYAs in Japan. Cancer incidence data (2016-2018) for those aged 0-39 years were obtained from the Japanese population-based National Cancer Registry. Cancer types were classified according to the 2017 update of the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (Third Edition), and AYA Site Recode 2020 Revision. Cases were also categorized into three groups: those treated at core hospitals for pediatric cancer treatment (pediatric cancer hospitals [PCHs]), those treated at designated cancer care hospitals, and those treated at nondesignated hospitals. The age-standardized incidence rate was 166.6 (per million-person years) for children (age 0-14 years) and 579.0 for AYAs (age 15-39 years) (including all cancers and benign or uncertain-behavior central nervous system [CNS] tumors). The type of cancer varied with age: hematological malignancies, blastomas, and CNS tumors were common in children under 10 years, malignant bone tumors and soft tissue sarcomas were relatively common in teenagers, and in young adults over 20 years, carcinomas in thyroid, testis, gastrointestinal, female cervix, and breast were common. The proportion of cases treated at PCHs ranged from 20% to 30% for children, 10% or less for AYAs, and differed according to age group and cancer type. Based on this information, the optimal system of cancer care should be discussed.

Breast Cancer Screening and Perceptions of Harm among Young Adults in Japan: Results of a Cross-Sectional Online Survey.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed female cancer and the leading cause of cancer death. Early detection and treatment are important to reduce the number of deaths. Japan recommends mammography every two years for women over 40 years of age. However, in recent years, an increasing number of younger women have been undergoing breast cancer screening (BCS). To reduce the harms of BCS among young adults, our study extracted data from an online survey conducted in 2018 and applied χ2 tests and logistic analysis to identify the influencing factors regarding interest in undergoing BCS. The results of our analysis support the need for a reduction in the BCS rate through awareness regarding the harms of health screening among young people. In particular, for those who receive BCS through occupational screening, we believe that improving education on breast awareness, the accuracy of occupational screening, and breast self-examination methods could reduce the harms from BCS in younger age groups.

Increasing horizontal transmission of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 in adolescents and young adults in Japan.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a causative agent of the life-threatening diseases, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy. Following implementation of antenatal screening in Japan, novel transmission of HTLV-1 in adolescent and adult generations is expected to replace vertical transmission as the main route for transmission. To obtain the current status of HTLV-1 horizontal infection and to assess the fluctuation of transmission occurring among adolescents and adults in Japan. We followed-up 5,017,916 eligible repeat blood donors for 8 years from 2013 to 2021. We evaluated HTLV-1 transmission rate by age group (16-69 years-old), and calculated the total number of novel transmissions in Japan using demographic statistics published by the government of Japan. We identified 457 seroconverters (men, 203; women, 254) in a total of 19,244,604 person-years during the study period. The number of seroconversions per 100,000 person-years was 1.54 for men and 4.21 for women. An increase in the number of novel infections was observed in both sexes in adolescent and young adult generations despite the health bias of blood donors. We estimate that more than 2,800 new HTLV-1 infections occur annually in Japan. It is a serious concern that without immediate measures against new HTLV-1 infections, such as guideline formulation, an inclusion of HTLV as routine screening in sexual health services, an information campaign, and surveillance of the general population, novel HTLV-1 infection could continue to increase in Japan and be a source of global transmission.

Social Acceptance of Mobile Health among Young Adults in Japan: An Extension of the UTAUT Model.

The unprecedented development of information and communication technologies has opened up immense possibilities in the field of health care. Mobile health (mHealth) is gaining increasing attention as an important technology for solving health-related problems. Although a high rate of smartphone usage among young people in Japan has been identified, smartphone usage for health management is not high. As Japanese youth are important potential users of mHealth, it is necessary to explore theories that influence the behavioral intention of Japanese youth to adopt mHealth. This study conducted a questionnaire survey in a Japanese university and collected 233 valuable responses. This study was adapted and extended from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model to measure eight constructs: health consciousness, social influence, facilitation conditions, perceived risk, trust, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and behavioral intention. Structural equation modeling was used for hypothesis testing. We found that trust, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy directly influenced the behavioral intention to use mHealth. Health consciousness and social influence indirectly influence behavioral intention through trust and performance expectancy. Facilitation conditions indirectly influenced behavioral intention through effort expectancy. This study makes a vital theoretical contribution to policymakers and product developers for the further diffusion of mHealth among young people in Japan.

Effect of vaccine program on IgG antibody titers for measles, rubella, varicella, and mumps in young adults in Japan: Survey between 2018 and 2021

IntroductionImproved routine immunizations in Japan have led to a reduction in vaccine-preventable diseases. Due to changes in the vaccination program, current young adults received their second vaccination for measles and rubella at different times depending on their birth year, and most of them have not been vaccinated against varicella and mumps. This study investigated the effect of vaccine programs on the immunity of people in Japan. MethodsImmunoglobulin G antibody (IgG) titers against four viruses were determined by enzyme immunoassay in 795 students at a medical university. Titers for measles and rubella were compared according to the students’ birth dates (Group 1: April 2, 1990–April 1, 2000; Group 2: April 2, 2000–). ResultsThe titers of students that satisfied the standard IgG values against measles, rubella, varicella, and mumps were 24.3%, 56.9%, 87.4%, and 47.2%, respectively. Measles and rubella titers were lower in group 2 (estimated mean period from last vaccination, 7.0 years) than group 1 (13.5 years) (p = 0.023 measles, p = 0.037 rubella), indicating attenuation of titers over time. Varicella and mumps antibody prevalence indicated that these infections were endemic, whereas rates of negative titers were higher than those for measles and rubella. ConclusionsIgG titers against viruses were affected by vaccination programs. Declining titers after vaccination should be monitored when the diseases are almost eliminated and boosting is absent. Antibody testing is meaningful for recommending vaccinations and for surveillance of waning immunity. Continuous improvements of vaccination program should be considered to prevent and eliminate diseases.

Labor Immobility, Stability Discourse, and LGBQ Young Adults’ Career Plans in Japan

Recent US studies showed that many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) young adults develop hopeful views about their occupational careers by emphasizing future workplaces’ friendly climates and denying their risk of experiencing discrimination. The results may partly reflect American labor market conditions and social discourses that endorse these views, and little is known about how LGBQ young adults may perceive their career chances and make plans in different labor market and discursive conditions. To extend the literature, the present study focuses on LGBQ young adults in Japan and contrast the results to those from a US study based on an equivalent design. Analysis of in-depth interviews highlighted Japanese LGBQ young adults’ anticipation of chilly industry climates. Further, they disengaged sexuality from their career plans by prioritizing career stability over industry climates and by deciding to hide their sexual identities from their future colleagues. They explained these decisions by addressing the importance of labor immobility and by drawing on a social discourse that linked career stability to a better life. Overall, the results underscored that the ways in which people respond to social marginalization greatly depend on what structural resources and constraints exist and what social discourses are present in the national context.

Association between Fathers' Use of Heated Tobacco Products and Urinary Cotinine Concentrations in Their Spouses and Children.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) have become increasingly popular among smokers, especially among young adults in Japan in recent years. Assessments of secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure due to HTPs are scarce. The present study aimed to assess the urinary levels of total nicotine metabolites (TNMs) of non-smoking spouses and their children following SHS exposure due to their fathers’ use of HTPs. A total of 41 families including 129 participants were recruited between 2018 and 2021. The number of non-smoking spouses and children of the fathers who smoke combustion cigarettes, the fathers who use HTPs, and the fathers who are non-users or have never smoked was 27, 66, and 36, respectively. The urinary levels of TNMs, including cotinine (Cot) and 3′-hydroxycotinine (3-OHCot), were measured using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The spouses and children of fathers who use HTPs had significantly higher levels of TNMs in their urine compared to those with fathers who were non-smokers or non-users. The current study is the first to assess SHS exposure due to HTP use, and to suggest the importance of strategies to prevent exposure to SHS from HTP use in public places and educational strategies to protect non-smokers from secondhand HTP aerosol exposure in households and other private places.

Individual and Nationwide Costs for Cancer Care During the First Year After Diagnosis Among Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults in Japan.

There has been limited information on the economic evaluation of children, adolescents, and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate the individual and nationwide costs for cancer care during the first year after diagnosis among children and AYAs in Japan. We estimated the direct health care costs for children (0-14 years old) and AYAs (15-29 years old) from the perspective of the public payer. Children and AYAs with newly diagnosed cancer between April 2016 and March 2018 were identified from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination Study Group database to calculate the cost per patient. The nationwide cost was estimated by the bottom-up approach, using stratification by age group, sex, and cancer classification, based on Population Estimates and Cancer Statistics data. A total of 2,939 children and 5,512 AYAs were identified. The median 1-year cost per patient after diagnosis was 2,832,840 (interquartile range, 927,490-9,222,780) JPY (in USD: median, 28,047; interquartile range, 9,183-91,310). The median 1-year cost per patient was higher in children than in AYAs in all cancer classifications. Leukemia, treatment in cancer centers, and early death as well as longer hospital stay were identified to have an impact on 1-year cost per patient after diagnosis. The 1-year nationwide cost after diagnosis was estimated as 34.83 × 109 JPY (344.8 × 106 USD). We showed that cancer treatments for both children and AYAs were highly cost-intensive in Japan. Our results suggest the need for further financial and policy evaluation.

Seroprevalence of anti-mumps virus IgG antibody titer and voluntary mumps vaccination coverage in young adults in Japan

ABSTRACT In Japan, monovalent vaccine against mumps virus (MuV) infection was shifted to a voluntary basis vaccination due to the incidences of aseptic meningitis in the past. According to an analysis of a total of 409 participants aged 18–20 years, overall vaccination coverage rate was 48%. The mean anti-MuV IgG antibody titer of participants with medical history and more than two times vaccination was significantly higher than that in those without a medical history and unvaccinated and single vaccination, respectively. Seropositivity against MuV infection was >50% regardless of the number of vaccinations. Although these results suggest that seropositivity may persist due to asymptomatic infection, it is necessary to implement either a high vaccine coverage or routine vaccination for prevention of periodic mumps epidemics.

Gender-Stratified Labor Market, Heterosexual Marriage Expectation, and LGBQ Young Adults’ Career Plans in Contemporary Japan

Previous U.S. studies showed that many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) young adults hold optimistic views about their occupational careers, despite their risk for facing labor market disadvantages as LGBQ workers. The present study uses Japan as a comparison case and illustrates how young LGBQ people plan their careers in a different national context. Analysis of in-depth interviews shows that many LGBQ young adults in Japan anticipate financial insecurity and consequently prioritize stability over pursuit of personal interests in their career planning. Their career concerns vary by gender and represent their responses to high levels of occupational gender segregation and earnings inequality as well as strong social expectations for heterosexual marriage and gendered division of household responsibilities. Overall, the study endorses ongoing efforts to understand occupational and economic disparities across sexuality groups from global perspectives by paying close attention to macro conditions.

The herbivore's dilemma: Trends in and factors associated with heterosexual relationship status and interest in romantic relationships among young adults in Japan-Analysis of national surveys, 1987-2015.

BackgroundIt has been suggested that an increasing proportion of young adults in Japan have lost interest in romantic relationships, a phenomenon termed “herbivorization”. We assessed trends in heterosexual relationship status and self-reported interest in heterosexual romantic relationships in nationally representative data.MethodsWe used data from seven rounds of the National Fertility Survey (1987–2015) and included adults aged 18–39 years (18–34 years in the 1987 survey; sample size 11,683–17,675). Current heterosexual relationship status (married; unmarried but in a relationship; single) was estimated by sex, age group and survey year, with singles further categorized into those reporting interest vs. no interest in heterosexual romantic relationships. Information about same-sex relationships were not available.ResultsBetween 1992 and 2015, the age-standardized proportion of 18-39-year-old Japanese adults who were single had increased steadily, from 27.4 to 40.7% among women and from 40.3 to 50.8% among men. This increase was largely driven by decreases in the proportion of married women aged 25–39 years and men aged 30–39 years, while those in a relationship had increased only slightly for women and remained stable for men. By 2015, the proportion of single women was 30.2% in those aged 30–34 years and 24.4% in those aged 35–39 years. The corresponding numbers for men were 39.3% and 32.4%. Around half of the singles (21.4% of all women and 25.1% of all men aged 18–39 years) reported that they had no interest in heterosexual romantic relationships. Single women and men who reported no interest in romantic relationships had lower income and educational levels and were less likely to have regular employment compared to those who reported such an interest.ConclusionsIn this analysis of heterosexual relationships in nationally representative data from Japan, singlehood among young adults had steadily increased over the last three decades. In 2015 around one in four women and one in three men in their thirties were unmarried and not in a heterosexual relationship. Half of the singles reported no interest in romantic relationships and these women and men had lower income and educational levels and were less likely to have regular employment.

Student Loans and Psychological Distress: A Cross-sectional Study of Young Adults in Japan.

BackgroundLevels of student loan debt have been increasing, but very little research has assessed if this is associated with poor health. The aim was to examine the association between student loans and psychological distress in Japan.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional web-based self-administered questionnaire survey in 2017. The sample comprised of 4,149 respondents aged 20–34, with 3,170 graduates and 979 current university students. The independent variables were whether or not current students had student loans, and for graduates, the total amount of their student loan debt. The dependent variable was severe psychological distress assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6; the cut-off point was 12/13). Covariates were demographic and parents’ socioeconomic variables. A Poisson regression analysis with a robust error variance was conducted to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Because there was a significant interaction between current student status and the status of borrowing student loans, stratified analyses were conducted.ResultsThe percentage of those with student loans was 33.8% among graduates and 35.2% among current university students. Among graduates, student loan debt was significantly associated with a high possibility of having severe psychological distress after adjusting for covariates (PR of ≥4 million yen, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.02–2.03). Among current university students, there was no significant association (PR of borrowing student loans, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.60–1.37).ConclusionsThere was a significant association between student loan debt and psychological distress among graduates but not current university students.

Vegetable Intake at Breakfast and Associated Factors among Young Adults in Japan.

In Japan, the amount of vegetable intake in young adults, especially at breakfast, is low. We aimed to examine the factors associated with vegetable intake at breakfast among young adults. In 2016, a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted at a Japanese university. The questionnaire measured the frequency of ≥70 g vegetable intake at breakfast, lifestyle, eating habits, environmental factors, knowledge and attitudes (including the variable "Perceived behavior control (PBC)", from the Theory of Planned Behavior). The data of 1,455 male students who usually ate breakfast were analyzed. They were divided into two groups based on the median of the frequency of vegetable intake and the above factors were compared using a chi-squared test by living condition. The significant factors were subsequently entered into a logistic regression analysis as independent variables. Eating breakfast with family or friends and PBC were positively associated with vegetable intake in students living with their family. Often doing one's own cooking, having knowledge about a well-balanced diet, and PBC were positively associated with vegetable intake in students living alone. Along with PBC, different factors pertaining to an individual's living condition may need to be considered to increase vegetable intake at breakfast.

Who Uses E-cigarettes and Why? E-cigarette Use among Older Adolescents and Young Adults in Japan: JASTIS Study

ABSTRACTA variety of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are sold in Japan and targeted toward young people. However, few studies have considered who uses e-cigarettes and why they use them. This study examined factors associated with e-cigarette use and the reasons for their use among the young population in Japan. Our internet-based cross-sectional study was conducted between February and March 2019. We analyzed the data of 2,414 participants aged 15–29 years to identify factors associated with e-cigarette use in the last 12 months and assess the reasons participants gave for their use. We found 4.3% of the participants had used e-cigarettes in the past 12 months. The multivariable logistic regression showed that the use of combustible or heated tobacco and perceiving e-cigarette use as an attractive behavior were associated with having used e-cigarettes. Interest in fruit flavors, stylish design and function of e-cigarettes, and the influence of friends using e-cigarettes were major reasons for their use. Although e-cigarette users are still a minority among this population, the flavors and design of e-cigarette products attract young people, and gain popularity in the youth community. This highlights an urgent need for the monitoring of e-cigarette and tobacco use among the young population in Japan.

The effectiveness of busulfan-based conditioning regimens for stem cell transplantation against lymphomas in children, adolescents, and young adults in Japan.

Conditioning regimens for stem cell transplantation (SCT) involving total body irradiation (TBI) are generally preferred over busulfan (BU)-based ones for lymphoid malignancies. However, reports of favorable results using BU against lymphomas have recently emerged. This study sought to compare the effectiveness of BU and TBI regimens for SCT against lymphomas. We retrospectively analyzed 893 lymphoma patients who underwent primary SCT in Japan between 1980 and 2015. The median age of all patients was 18 years (range, 0-30 years) with 589 males, 303 females, and 1 patient whose sex was unknown. Overall survival (OS) was not different between those receiving BU and TBI (P=0.672). OS in patients receiving autologous SCT was significantly better with BU over TBI regimens (P=0.038), particularly in children (0-15years) (P=0.024). Conversely, OS in adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 16-30years) receiving allogeneic SCT was significantly worse with BU over TBI regimens (P=0.035). Overall, BU regiments had comparable effectiveness to TBI conditioning regimens, and, although less effective for AYAs with allogeneic SCT, were particularly more effective than TBI regimens for children who received autologous SCT.

P43 Association Between Dietary Practices for Lifestyle Disease Prevention and Breakfast Habits

Background Healthy diets are essential for preventing lifestyle diseases. However, inadequate diet such as high fat-energy ratios and insufficient vegetable intake are observed in young adults in Japan. In addition, a large proportion of young adults skip breakfast. We hypothesized that these inadequate dietary factors are mutually related and that improvement in one effectively leads to improvement in the other. Objective To examine the association between dietary practices for lifestyle disease prevention and breakfast habits. Study Design, Settings, and Participants Hyogo diet survey 2016 is a cross-sectional survey of the stratified random sample of 32 areas (4,747 household members) in Hyogo Prefecture. Subjects included 791 adults (male, 368; female, 423) aged 20-49 years who completed the self-administered questionnaire of the survey. Measurable Outcome/Analysis The questionnaire included questions on breakfast frequency and dietary habits. Skipping breakfast was defined as a breakfast frequency of three days or less per week. Logistic regression analysis was performed using the variables of subjects’ dietary practices for lifestyle disease prevention (six items) as independent variables and whether or not subjects ate breakfast as dependent variable. The models were adjusted for sex. Results Logistic regression analysis showed significantly higher odds for skipping breakfast in subjects who did not practice the following dietary habits than those who did: “eat a lot of vegetables” (odds ratio: 1.72, 95% confidence interval: 1.19-2.49), “eat fruits” (1.65, 1.07-2.56), “restrict salt intake” (1.59, 1.07-2.37), and “control sugar intake” (1.51, 1.04-2.20). Conclusion Four of the six dietary practices for lifestyle disease prevention showed an association with skipping breakfast. The results suggest that improving diet for preventing lifestyle diseases may lead to eating breakfast.