Behavior and lifestyle factors related to quality of life in junior high school students

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To analyze actual conditions of the quality of life (QOL) in junior high school students, we developed a questionnaire based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, and we conducted a survey by using this questionnaire.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a workshop organized with 29 specialists on school health and community health to develop the questionnaire. The QOL outcome was assessed by the QOL Profile-Adolescent Version (QOLPAV). The subjects of the questionnaire surveys were 1600 general students in four junior high schools. To investigate a correlation between QOLPAV, behaviors and three enhancing factors, two different multiple regression models were constructed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The question battery for QOLPAV was found to be a high value of Chronbach's α. Among present subjects, 16.5% were categorized as "problematic" or "very problematic" classified by QOLPAV scores. In the first multiple regression model, significantly high odds ratios were obtained between the QOLPAV and 4 questions for behaviors, such as "studying with high motivation" (OR 1.64), "getting along well with my friends" (2.72), "having things I am interested in" (1.70), and "making my own decisions" (1.80). In the second model, significantly high odds ratios were obtained commonly between the above 4 questions about behaviors and 2 questions on enabling factors, such as "easy to understand lessons" (1.32-1.71) and "speaking to friends easily" (1.30-3.22).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>1) We developed a questionnaire to analyze the actual condition of QOL in junior high school students with sufficient validity and availability. 2) Among the present subjects, 16.5% were found to be problematic QOLPAV, 3) Among the factors of behaviors, those representing positive willing and high coping ability with the elements of each school life contributed significantly to the QOLPAV. And among enhancing factors, "enabling factors" and "reinforcing factors" were stronger contributors to the behaviors strongly related to the QOLPAV than that of "predisposing factors".</p>

Behavior and Lifestyle Factors Related to Quality of Life in Junior High School Students

Objectives: To analyze actual conditions of the quality of life (QOL) in junior high school students, we developed a questionnaire based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, and we conducted a survey by using this questionnaire. Methods: We conducted a workshop organized with 29 specialists on school health and community health to develop the questionnaire. The QOL outcome was assessed by the QOL Profile-Adolescent Version (QOLPAV). The subjects of the questionnaire surveys were 1600 general students in four junior high schools. To investigate a correlation between QOLPAV, behaviors and three enhancing factors, two different multiple regression models were constructed. Results: The question battery for QOLPAV was found to be a high value of Chronbach’s α. Among present subjects, 16.5% were categorized as “problematic” or “very problematic” classified by QOLPAV scores. In the first multiple regression model, significantly high odds ratios were obtained between the QOLPAV and 4 questions for behaviors, such as “studying with high motivation” (OR 1.64), “getting along well with my friends” (2.72), “having things I am interested in” (1.70), and “making my own decisions” (1.80). In the second model, significantly high odds ratios were obtained commonly between the above 4 questions about behaviors and 2 questions on enabling factors, such as “easy to understand lessons” (1.32-1.71) and “speaking to friends easily” (1.30-3.22). Conclusions: 1) We developed a questionnaire to analyze the actual condition of QOL in junior high school students with sufficient validity and availability. 2) Among the present subjects, 16.5% were found to be problematic QOLPAV. 3) Among the factors of behaviors, those representing positive willing and high coping ability with the elements of each school life contributed significantly to the QOLPAV. And among enhancing factors, “enabling factors” and “reinforcing factors” were stronger contributors to the behaviors strongly related to the QOLPAV than that of “predisposing factors”.

Self-evalutions of Hearing Disorders and Their Relation to Quality of Life (QOL) Components among the Middle Aged and Elderly in the Community / 日本農村医学会雑誌

Objectives: This study was carried out to verify the usefulness of the Japanese version of the Hearing and Disability and Handicap Scale (HDHS) in the self-evalution of hearing disorders and to clarify the relationships between the hearing disability/handicap scores and such QOL components as life satisfaction, self-rated health conditions and social support networks, etc.<BR>Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted in Soyo village in Kumamoto Prefecture. The subhects were 136 residents aged 40 years or older who had received health check-ups in accordance with the Health and Medical Service Law for the Aged and who had complained of mild to profound hearing loss in one or both ears. The questionnarie was composed of three parts; back-ground question, the HDHS, and question regarding QOL components. Evalution of language adequacy regarding the Japanese translation of HDHS was carried out with the assistance of four bilinguals.<BR>Results: Data from 123 respondents who completed the questionnaire were analyzed. The results were as follows:<BR>1) Chronbach's alpha coefficients for the three subscales of HDHS ranged from 0.873 to 0.899-all within satisfactory levels.<BR>2) Maximum likelihood factor analysis with varimax roataion suggested that 20 items of HDHS could be categorized according to three factors: Fl-handicaps; F2-detection of such verbal sound as the TV or radio or daily conversation; F3-detection of such nonverbal sound as door chimes or the sound of boiling water.<BR>3) The response rates of “Always or Sometimes” for five questions regarding verbal sounds ranged from 65.8% to 82.1% compared with 47.9% to 58.6% for those questions regarding nonverbal sounds. Those for 10 questions regarding handicaps showed a great disparity; 25.2% for Q15 and 60.1% for Q4.<BR>4) Analysis of covariance structures suggested that increases in hearing disability and handicap scores were indirectly related, through the lowering of self-rated health levels, to a perceived deterioration of QOL.<BR>Conclusion: To ensure high QOL levels among middle aged and elderly residents, the creation of supportive environments that contribute to the alleviation of the affects of communication disorders induced by age-related hearing impairments is extremely important.

Community-based Analysis of the Factorial Structures of the Recent Increase in Low Birthweight Infants

This study was conducted to determine whether the regional factors were related to the increase in the percentage of low birthweight(LBW: <2, 500g) infants in Kumamoto Pref., and to establish a tentative structure model for predicting low birthweight infants. Analyses for frequency of LBW infants between 1974 and 1997, and a multiple regression model and covariance structure model were conducted using data from the vital statistics between 1992 and 1997 and regional indicators concerned with LBW infants from official registered statistical data between 1992 and 1997. The 72 regional factors were clustered into four groups linked with agricultural areas such as Urban, Flat, Hilly and Mountainous areas. The recent increase in the incidence of LBW infants resulted from the increase in moderate−LBW(MLBW: 2, 000−2, 500g) infants of full term−LBW infants. There was a steady annual increase in the Urban agricultural area LBW infants since 1992. The two structure analyses revealed that the Urban area had a marked effect on the increase in LBW infants, whereas, farm villages in Hilly or Moutainous areas had less effect on the increase in LBW infants. These findings suggest that the regional factors relating to the mothers’ life−style or regional environments play a key role in the etiology and prevention of LBW, and will be a useful in the analyses using official registered material.

Determinants of Life satisfaction among Japanese Agricultural Workers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factorial structure of life satisfaction in agricultural workers. One hundred and sixty−five (87 males and 78 females) agricultural workers mainly engaged in plastic greenhouse cultivation in southern Japan, ranging in age from 19 to 72 years (mean = 44.3 years), completed a questionnaire. Scores of life satisfaction showed a higher tendency in males than in females, and those in elders were higher than in younger people. Conversely, females showed higher stress scores than males, and younger people’s score were higher than the elders. Multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the factorial structure of satisfaction. It is suggested that the level of life satisfaction is positively related to social support, and is negatively related to the impact of stressful life events, globally perceived stress and subjective symptoms of ill health. Stress levels depended on factors concerning the psychological demands of work, work posture, work hours and work environment. Different factorial structures were observed between female and male workers. Findings from this study suggest that a strong social support network may assist in enhancing life satisfaction. Furthermore, the ill health and stress experienced in agricultural work were associated with a reduced life satisfaction.

Components of QOL and Its Determinants and Moderating Conditions / 日本農村医学会雑誌

A research team from the Center for Health Promotion (CHP) at the University of Toronto published a book entitled “Quality of Life in Health Promotion and Rehabilitation” in 1996. In this paper we will introduce the conceptual models of QOL made up of the components of QOL and the QOL field presented by the CHP researchers. They defined QOL as “the degree to which a person enjoys the important possibilities of his or her life” and proposed a QOL model comprised of nine measurable areas, which are grouped into three broad categories of “Being, ”“Belonging” and “Becoming.” The “Being” cluster encompasses the most basic aspects of human beings as individuals, consisting of such three sub-components as physical, psychological and spiritual being. The “Belonging” cluster is concerned with the fit between individuals and their environment, consisting of social, community and ecological belonging. The “Becoming” cluster focuses on the purposeful activities in which individuals engage in an attempt to realize their goals, aspirations and hopes, consisting of practical, leisure and personal growth becoming. In the QOL field as a conceptual model of comprehensive health and well-being and QOL framework, QOL is viewed as the result of identifiable determinants, divided into environmental and personal categories in interaction with such moderating conditions as control, potential opportunities, resources, support systems, skills, life events, political changes and environmental changes. Recently the importance of understanding health issucs at community level from the ecological and phenomenological viewpoints and of directing our attention to the people's living has been recognized anew. The conceptual models presented by the CHP team are considered to have great potential for guiding health and social policy and for implementing various health promotion practices in the community.

A study on the work load of recent forestry work / 日本農村医学会雑誌

To examine the work load of recent mechanized forestry work, energy expenditure, serum sarcoplasmic enzyme and urinary catecholamine were measured during engagement in the production of trees among twelve lumberjacks. Energy expenditure was relatively high in the works of debranching by a hatchet and hanging trees on carring wire cables. At least, the debranching work by a hatchet must be changed to more safety and lighter works. It was suggested that much more attention must be paid to the physiologic character of forestry work still now on the results of the changing pattern in serum sarcoplasmic enzyme and urinary catecholamine during these working process.