Background: The traditional Japanese style of soaking in a hot bath is a lifestyle custom for many citizens, no study had ever investigated the association between bathing as a lifestyle practice and the onset of long-term depression. Through a large-scale six-year longitudinal study, we aimed to determine whether tub bathing as a lifestyle custom plays a role in preventing the onset of long-term depression.  Methods: Of 11,882 individuals who responded to surveys conducted in 2010 and 2016 as part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (the JAGES) project, we analyzed 6,452 and 6,465 individuals for whom information was available regarding summer bathing frequency and winter bathing frequency, respectively; all of these individuals were independent, had a Geriatric Depression Scale (hereafter, “GDS”) score of ≤4, and did not suffer from depression. The cohort study involved dividing participants into a group of those who bathed 0-6 times a week and a group of those who bathed ≥7 times a week and determining the percentages of individuals who developed depression based on their GDS scores six years later. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine odds ratios for the association between depression onset and tub bathing.   Results: For individuals who tub bathed ≥7 times a week, the odds ratios for depression onset versus individuals who bathed 0-6 times a week in summer and winter were 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.64-1.10) and 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.98), respectively. Tub bathing ≥7 times a week in winter significantly reduced the risk of depression onset.  Conclusions: New-onset depression was shown to be infrequent in older adults who bathe in a tub frequently. Tub bathing was suggested to potentially contribute to the prevention of depression in the elderly.

  Background: The traditional Japanese style of soaking in a hot bath is a lifestyle custom for many citizens, no study had ever investigated the association between bathing as a lifestyle practice and the onset of long-term depression. Through a large-scale six-year longitudinal study, we aimed to determine whether tub bathing as a lifestyle custom plays a role in preventing the onset of long-term depression.  Methods: Of 11,882 individuals who responded to surveys conducted in 2010 and 2016 as part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (the JAGES) project, we analyzed 6,452 and 6,465 individuals for whom information was available regarding summer bathing frequency and winter bathing frequency, respectively; all of these individuals were independent, had a Geriatric Depression Scale (hereafter, “GDS”) score of ≤4, and did not suffer from depression. The cohort study involved dividing participants into a group of those who bathed 0-6 times a week and a group of those who bathed ≥7 times a week and determining the percentages of individuals who developed depression based on their GDS scores six years later. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine odds ratios for the association between depression onset and tub bathing.   Results: For individuals who tub bathed ≥7 times a week, the odds ratios for depression onset versus individuals who bathed 0-6 times a week in summer and winter were 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.64-1.10) and 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.98), respectively. Tub bathing ≥7 times a week in winter significantly reduced the risk of depression onset.  Conclusions: New-onset depression was shown to be infrequent in older adults who bathe in a tub frequently. Tub bathing was suggested to potentially contribute to the prevention of depression in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Happiness may help to prevent negative physiological outcomes in response to life events; however, factors contributing to happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been longitudinally investigated. This study explored the predictors of happiness in mothers of young children in Japan using comparable data that were obtained before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted the baseline survey in February 2020, and 4 months later, we also conducted the follow-up survey. Throughout all 47 prefectures in Japan, 4,700 (100 respondents/prefecture) mothers of infants and/or preschoolers (0-6 years) participated in the baseline online survey; 2,489 of these also participated in the follow-up survey. RESULTS: We performed hierarchical multiple regression analysis and our final model indicated that maternal happiness during COVID-19 pandemic was positively related to employment status (homemaker, β = 0.052, p = 0.014), levels of available social support (average, β = 0.052, p = 0.012, high, β = 0.055, p = 0.010) and happiness score before the pandemic (β = 0.467, p < 0.001), and satisfaction toward the measures against the COVID-19 at partners' workplace (average, β = 0.129, p < 0.001; high, β = 0.279, p < 0.001), preventive behavior against COVID-19 (average, β = 0.055, p = 0.002; high, β = 0.045, p = 0.015) and positive attitudes/thinking (β = 0.087, p < 0.001) during the pandemic. In contrast, poor mental health (K6 ≥5, β = -0.042, p = 0.011) before the pandemic and negative changes during the pandemic (≥3, β = -0.085, p < 0.001) were negatively related to maternal happiness during the pandemic. Our final model explained 44.9% of the variance in mothers' happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Satisfaction toward the measures against the COVID-19 at partners' workplace, preventive behavior, and positive attitudes/thinking were especially important for maternal happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future study is needed to consider measures against infectious diseases in the workplace that are desirable for the well-being of parents with young children, taking into account the gender perspective.
COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Happiness ; Humans ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Mothers/psychology* ; Pandemics

This cross-sectional study examines the association between coping with past ankle sprain, and current physical activity levels and sedentary times. It included a total of 1,464 male soccer players, who participated in the 6th Senior Soccer Festival in Shizuoka in 2017. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted on the day of the festival and 567 subjects responded (38.7% response rate). Participants answered questions regarding the coping with past ankle sprain, such as whether they had first aid treatment (yes/no), the type of initial treatment facilities (6 categories), and their most frequented facilities (5 categories). Additionally, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form was used to obtain information on current physical activity level and sedentary time. We compared the mean values of physical activity levels and sedentary times with the first aid treatment, initial treatment facilities and most frequented facilities answers, respectively. The mean age was 64.7 years. Physical activity level was associated with first aid treatment (yes: 3860.3 Metabolic equivalents (METs)/min/week; no: 3082.0 METs/min/week) (p=0.033). Sedentary time was also associated with first aid treatment (yes: 265.4 min/day; no: 321.3 min/day) (p=0.014). Initial treatment facilities and most frequented facilities were not associated with physical activity levels or sedentary times. Our study showed that those who had received first aid treatment had high physical activity levels and low sedentary time.

BACKGROUND: Oral health is thought to be associated with diet quality, and socioeconomic status (SES) affects both oral health and diet. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the number of teeth and dietary intake as well as nutritional biomarker, considering the subjects' SES. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 2049 individuals aged ≥ 50 years from the National Integrated Project for Prospective Observation of Non-communicable Disease and its Trends in the Aged 2010. The number of remaining teeth was categorized into age-specific quartiles (Q1 to Q4). We assessed the adjusted means and 95% confidence intervals for dietary variables by the number of teeth using analysis of covariance. Stratified analyses by SES were also conducted. RESULTS: The intake of grain products was 31 g higher, and those of vegetables and meat were 30 g and 8 g lower, respectively, in Q1 (fewer teeth) than in Q4 (more teeth). Carbohydrate intake was higher whereas protein, minerals (potassium, magnesium, and zinc), vitamins (vitamins A, E, B, B, β-carotene, and folic acid), and dietary fiber intakes were lower among individuals with fewer teeth. Adjusted mean serum albumin levels were low in Q1. The associations between the number of teeth and dietary intake were more evident in individuals with a low SES. CONCLUSIONS Having few remaining teeth was associated with a low nutrient intake and low serum albumin levels in middle-aged and older Japanese adults, and these associations were more evident in individuals with low SES.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carbohydrates ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Energy Intake ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Japan ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrients ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Serum Albumin ; analysis ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Tooth ; Vegetables

Background and objectives: Bathing services are available under long-term care insurance for the elderly. However, care workers have difficulty assessing safety for bathing in the absence of concrete criteria and guidelines. Currently, the pre-bathing health condition of care receivers is assessed mainly by blood pressure and body temperature measurements. This study aimed to identify the relationship of pre-bathing health condition assessed by blood pressure and body temperature measurements with illness and incidents related to bathing care.
Methods:
1. Design: A case-control study (prospective registry study).
2. Subjects: All registered service providers of long-term care (2,330 in total) offering at-home bathing support.
3. Methods: Cases were defined as community-dwelling residents who had a bathing care-related illness or incident. As controls, two care receivers for each service provider were randomly extracted from the collected data. The study period was 1 year, from June 2012 to May 2013. A simple comparative analysis between the two groups was conducted for age, sex, degree of independence in daily life of disabled elderly individuals (degree to which they were bedbound), degree of long-term care needed, modified Rankin Scale score, level of alertness, degree of independence in daily life of patients with dementia, blood pressure before bathing, and body temperature before bathing. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, with illness and all incidents or illness and incidents excluding elevated body temperature and elevated or reduced blood pressure as objective variables, and other factors as explanatory variables. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.
Results: A total of 596 cases and 1,511 controls were analyzed. Simple comparative analysis revealed more care receivers had elevated body temperature before bathing in the case group than in the control group. Multivariate analysis with illness and incidents excluding elevated body temperature and blood pressure changes as objective variables showed significant relationships when systolic blood pressure was 160-179 mmHg (OR, 3.63; 95%CI, 1.39-9.50), diastolic blood pressure was 100-109 mmHg (OR, 14.71; 95%CI, 1.31-165.77), body temperature was 37.5-37.9°C(OR, 16.47; 95%CI, 3.30-82.40), and body temperature was ≥38.0°C (OR, 6.57; 95%CI, 1.40-30.81) before bathing.
Conclusion: High blood pressure (≥160/100 mmHg) and elevated body temperature (≥37.5°C) before bathing are possible risk factors of bathing-care-related illness and incidents.

Introduction: The health-related QOL is important for an index to prescribe health condition, but there is little analysis that what kind of bathing method the person whom this index has good performs. In this study, health-related QOL and habitual bathing was intended to clarify relationship, correlation. Methods: The participants were 198 employees of a quasi-drug manufacturing company and their family members who could and cooperated in the present study. The study was conducted as a self-report survey from October 1-30, 2010, with questionnaires being distributed to and collected from subjects before and after this period. Participants were asked about their sex, age, bathing number of times in week, frequency of bath additive use in week, temperature of bathing, bathing duration, and water level when in the bath, health, and sleep quality. Health-Related Quality of Life was assessed using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36v2) , and self-rated health and quality of sleep were assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: When I divided it at the average age concerning a bathing method and the age, there was much frequency of bathing per week in late debut as an entertainer 45 years old or older, and under 45 years old had a short bathing time, and water level when in the bath was shallow. The shallow tendency that water level when in the bath was observed in that level in female. Relationship SF-36v2 and bathing method, it was suggested that a Social functioning significantly (p<0.01) increases so that temperature of bathing was low, a Role physical significantly (p<0.05) increases so that there was much bathing number of times in week, a General health significantly (p<0.05) increases so that there was much frequency of use of bath additives per week. Each of subjective self-rated health, quality of sleep by VAS, it was good in conjunction with frequency of use of bath additives per week. Discussion: This study applied to an authorized company employee, and there was a limit that the external validity was weak, but was related to General health, social functioning, Role physical and bathing method. The influence of bathing habits such as full-bath bathing and the use of bath additives on a person’s physical and psychological state as found by our study can be regarded as a way of maintaining health among those in the prime of life. Because our study uses a cross-sectional design, interpretation had a limit, and it was thought that a prospective study would be necessary in future.

Objectives: To reveal a relationship between bathing and sleep quality making for healthy aging. Materials and Methods: A population based self-administered mail survey was conducted for randomly selected or all independent people without long-term care needs aged 65 and over in 31 municipalities of Japan in 2010. This data is a part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) project. Frequency of bathing using bathtub in summer and winter was asked. Logistic regression analyses were applied to estimate univariate and multivariate odds ratios of bad sleep quality by regular bathing (7 times or more per week for average of summer and winter) adjusting sex, age, equivalized household income, self-rated health, depression, working status, and region. Results: Response rate of the mail survey was 66.3%. The number of people who made a valid answer for bathing was 18,090. Among them, 53.0% did bathing 7 times a week, 44.6% did less than 7 times, and 2.4% did more than 7 times. Odds ratios by regular bathing were shown on the tables. Most of them indicated significantly low risk for sleeping problems. Conclusion: Regular bathing would be helpful to better sleep quality. After the survey, we are now following up the participants for incidence of long-term care needs and death.

Background: Bathing is an important behavior for keeping the body clean and is one of the habits of daily life. Among other things, bathing is regarded as a means of relieving fatigue, refreshing oneself, benefiting health, and improving sleep. As such it can be considered a health-maintaining activity. Apart from a previous study by the authors, there has been very little research on the relationship between home bathing habits and health. Objective: The aim of this study was, therefore, to clarify how physical and mental health relate to daily bathing in the home, particularly the habit of full bath immersion. Method: The participants were 198 employees of a quasi-drug manufacturing company and their family members who could and cooperated in the present study. The study was conducted as a self-report survey from October 1-30, 2010, with questionnaires being distributed to and collected from subjects before and after this period. Participants were asked about their sex, age, frequency of bathing per week, frequency of use of bath additives per week, temperature of bath water, bathing duration, and water level when in the bath, health, and sleep quality. Health was assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) inventory, and self-rated health and quality of sleep were assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: Among bathing habits, the group with a high bath frequency had significantly low scores for tension-anxiety and depression-dejection mood scales, and significantly high self-rated health. In the present study, self-rated health and quality of sleep were significantly better in the group who frequently used bath additives. In the full bath group, Fatigue score was significantly low and self-rated health and quality of sleep scores were significantly high. Discussion and Conclusion: Taking a full bath frequently and frequent use of bath additives are bathing habits that increase physical and psychological health in the middle-aged.

Medical students must have knowledge and skills related to medical informatics, including data analysis, the retrieval of biomedical literature, the creation of presentations, and the use of the Internet.The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes over time in the ability of Jichi Medical University students to use the tools of information technology.
1) Questionnaires were distributed to all Jichi Medical University students during epidemiology classes in 1998, 2002, and 2006.
2) The questionnaires included questions about the frequency of the use of computers, word-processing software, spreadsheet software, statistical software, and the Internet.
3) The first survey showed that ownership of a computer and the use of word-processing software were most common, followed in turn by the use of spreadsheet software, statistical software, and the Internet.The percentage of stu dents who had not used a computer decreased from 22% in 1998 to 2% in 2006.
4) With the rapid changes and progress in our information-oriented society, medical students need to be appropriately prepared to make optimal use of available resources.