ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to investigate the consciousness among young people (n = 494) of training body part(s) by showing participants a picture of an exercise, through a questionnaire-based survey. Participants were shown a picture of a Back Squat, and were asked which body part(s) they felt was being trained in the picture. Participants who had no experience of doing squatting exercises (NO-SQUAT group, n = 102) and participants who were experienced in terms of doing squatting exercises and weight training under appropriate supervision (INSTRUCTED group, n = 146) were selected for the analysis. On seeing the picture, more than half of the NO-SQUAT group felt that the Back Squat was to train not only their lower body but also another body part(s); among these participants, approximately 70% felt that a Back Squat was appropriate to train their upper torso and arms too. Further, the NO-SQUAT group had made significantly fewer attempts to consciously train their gluteal and knee flexor muscles, and had made significantly more attempts to consciously train their upper torso and arms during the squatting exercises than the INSTRUCTED group had. These results suggest that to do exercises by referring to only a picture may result in the participants not properly understanding how the body part(s) should be trained during exercise. Therefore, to enhance the benefits of training, individuals need to be instructed, under appropriate supervision, on correct technique as well as knowledge about the exercise.
ABSTRACT
To examine the relationship lifestyle factors, personal character, mental health status, and job strain a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among employees of a leading electrical manufacturing company in Japan. A total of 2, 327 workers (Male=1, 668, Female=659) responded to the survey. We analyzed the relationships of health practices based on such factors as: Free child (FC) from the Egogram, the Working-life satisfaction, and the General Health Questionnaire-28 through Path-analysis techniques.The following results were obtained: The mental health status was significantly affected by such factors as health practices, Working-life satisfaction, personal character (FC), life satisfaction, and age. Health practices and personal character (FC) showed a direct relationship to the mental health status and an indirect relationship to the Working-life satisfaction and life satisfaction. The variances accounting for mental health status were 41.8% in male workers and 43.8% in female workers.Path-analysis data suggested that mental health status was affected about 40% by lifestyle, personal character, Working-life satisfaction, and life satisfaction. It was suggested that there might be important factors affecting mental health status but which are unknown to us by as much as 60% in the present day. These findings suggested the necessity of further investigation of the relationship among lifestyle factors, mental health status, and job strain among employees of a reputable company in the present day.