ABSTRACT
A social environment, such as relational mobility, which represents the availability of opportunities to develop new relationships in society, cultivates an individual's psychology and social network. Generalized trust, which represents trust among people in general, is a tendency to expand individuals' social ties in a fluid society. Using the data of 170 students, we analyzed whether an individual's belief of generalized trust and perception of relational mobility are related to the social network. We conducted a survey to assess psychological measures and social networks under the COVID-19 pandemic for first-year university students. The analyses revealed that generalized trust was significantly associated with the presence of outdegrees (i.e., the nomination of close friends) and the absence of indegrees (i.e., being nominated by others). In contrast, perception of relational mobility was not significantly associated with generalized trust and any social network measures. Behavioral trust, measured using a Trust Game approximately 6 months later, was not significantly associated with network characteristics. The results support the argument that the belief of generalized trust functions as a psychological mechanism to expand individuals' relationships in their social networks. © 2023 Japanese Psychological Association. Published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions on the change in muscle mass in older patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), who were not infected with COVID-19. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were obtained from outpatients who underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis at least twice before April 2020 and at least once thereafter. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI, kg/m<sup>2</sup>) was calculated as appendicular muscle mass (kg) divided by height squared (m<sup>2</sup>). Change in SMI (kg/m<sup>2</sup>/year) was calculated as (follow-up SMI-baseline SMI/follow-up period). The differences between the changes in SMI before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated using paired t test.
ABSTRACT
Aim: We present the study protocol of a multicenter, retrospective observational study that aims to investigate the efficacy of the actual treatment (the efficacy of conventional and Kampo medicines) of patients with mild to moderate or suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: This study is designed as a multicenter, retrospective observational study. Outpatients and inpatients will be recruited from Japanese hospitals. The inclusion criteria are as follows: having or suspected to have COVID-19, mild to moderate COVID-19, symptomatic, ≥20 years of age, male or female, able to communicate in Japanese, and treated with conventional and Kampo medicine. The exclusion criteria are: unable to provide informed consent due to dementia, psychosis, or psychiatric symptoms, severe COVID-19, or determined unsuitable for this study. The sample size is set at 1000, as this number of people can be treated at the collaborating medical institutions during the study period. Results: The main outcome is the number of days without fever, with a body temperature of less than 37°C. The secondary outcome is set at common cold-like symptoms other than fever (fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, sputum, diarrhea) and severity of illness and hospitalization up to 14 days after the visit. Trial registration: The trial was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network (Reservation No. UMIN000041301) on August 4, 2020. Conclusion: Our study will explore the contribution of conventional and Kampo medicine in the treatment of patients with mild and moderate COVID-19.