[Mental health of workers and the effects of behavioral traits -validation of causal model using covariance structure analysis-].

PURPOSE: To clarify the mental health factors of workers and to verify the causal correlation between their behavioral traits and mental health. METHOD: We asked 1,425 subjects working at private enterprises and local government offices, as well as members of labor unions, to anonymously respond to questionnaires. RESULT: We examined the causal influence of workers' behavioral traits on negative mental health by covariance structure analysis. Workers'other-reward oriented self-image variables indicated by behavioral traits, such as self-repression and interpersonal dependency, directly affected negative mental health. Workers'perceived emotional support indirectly affects their mental health through self-image variables and perceived stressors. Additionally, simultaneous multi-population analysis verified that different populations did not show differences, and maintained the same structure. DISCUSSION: Other-reward oriented self-image directly affected negative mental health, and its impact was the largest. Therefore, to prevent negative mental health, the results indicate that it is important to shift self-image to a self-reward oriented one. Additionally, the results indicate the need for effort to perceive emotional support at the workplace and heighten the ability of self-expression and feelings of self-esteem. This can encourage changing to a self-reward oriented self-image and a preventive effect is expected.

Inverse association of natural mentoring relationship with distress mental health in children orphaned by AIDS.

BACKGROUND: The magnitude of the AIDS-orphaned children crisis in sub-Saharan Africa has so overstretched the resource of most families that the collapse of fostering in the sub-region seems imminent (UNICEF, 2003), fueling the need for a complementary/alternative care. This paper examines the probability of the natural mentoring care to ameliorate distress mental health in children orphaned by AIDS. METHODS: 952 children, mean age about 14 years, from local community schools and child-care centers in Kampala (Uganda) and Mafikeng/Klerksdorp (South Africa) towns participated in the study. The design has AIDS-orphaned group (n = 373) and two control groups: Other-causes orphaned (n = 287) and non-orphaned (n = 290) children. We use measures of child abuse, depression, social discrimination, anxiety, parental/foster care, self-esteem, and social support to estimate mental health. Natural mentoring care is measured with the Ragins and McFarlin (1990) Mentor Role Instrument as adapted. RESULTS: AIDS-orphaned children having a natural mentor showed significant decreased distress mental health factors. Similar evidence was not observed in the control groups. Also being in a natural mentoring relationship inversely related to distress mental health factors in the AIDS-orphaned group, in particular. AIDS-orphaned children who scored high mentoring relationship showed significant lowest distress mental health factors that did those who scored moderate and low mentoring relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Natural mentoring care seems more beneficial to ameliorate distress mental health in AIDS-orphaned children (many of whom are double-orphans, having no biological parents) than in children in the control groups.

Effects of Anma therapy (traditional Japanese massage) on body and mind.

INTRODUCTION: Anma therapy is a traditional style of Japanese massage, one of touch and manual therapies, and one of the most popular CAM therapies in Japan. It was brought from China in the 6th century and, while based on the theory of Chinese medicine, it developed in Japan according to Japanese preference and has recently come to include theories of Western medicine. The purpose of this study was to clarify the physical and psychological effects of Anma therapy. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Fifteen healthy female volunteers in their fifth decade, with chronic muscle stiffness in the neck and shoulder, received two interventions: 40-min Anma therapy and 40-min rest intervention. The design was cross-over design. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was started on Anma therapy from the first day followed by the rest intervention after a 3-day interval. The order of the Anma therapy and the rest intervention reversed for Group B. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for muscle stiffness in the neck and shoulder, state anxiety score, and salivary cortisol concentration levels and secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) were measured pre- and post-interventions. RESULTS: Anma therapy significantly reduced VAS scores and state anxiety scores. S-IgA concentration levels increased significantly across both groups. CONCLUSION: Anma therapy reduced muscle stiffness in the neck and shoulder and anxiety levels in this pilot study of 50-year-old females.

[Relationship between self-image and mental health of alcoholics].

Male patients (n=149) that consulted a physician specializing in the treatment of alcoholism at a hospital participated in this study. Their cognitions regarding emotional support networks, self-image, and mental health were investigated. Moreover, their cognition of stress was compared with a control group of general office workers (n=182). Result indicated that alcoholics had the following characteristics in comparison to the control group. (1) Lower cognition of emotional support. (2) Higher inclination to suppress real intentions and to be dependent. (3) Lower self-decision-making behavior. (4) Higher inclination to be irritated and anxious in daily life. Based on these results, it is suggested that providing support for increasing the cognition of emotional support networks and more self-decision-making behavior are important considerations in decreasing the stress cognition and improving the mental health of alcoholics.

Negative mental health factors in children orphaned by AIDS: natural mentoring as a palliative care.

The study examined the psychosocial mental health of some children whose parents died of AIDS (n = 373) in Uganda and South Africa. The design had 2 control groups: other-causes orphaned (n = 287), and non-orphaned (n = 290) children (grand mean age = 13.59, SD = 2.34). We utilized a battery of standardized psychosocial measures to estimate mental health in the groups. Natural mentoring relationship was estimated with the Ragins and McFarlin (J Vocat Behav 37:321-339, 1990) Mentor Role Instrument. Results indicated that AIDS-orphaned children showed highest negative, and lowest positive mental health factors in the 3 groups. Children in a mentoring relationship showed better mental health factors than those without a mentor. We ascribed the AIDS-orphaned children's highest negative mental health condition to the incidence of higher double parental loss in the group, and suggested natural mentorship as a palliative care against negative mental health.

The effect of appropriate eating habits, depressive state, and social support on postoperative symptom experience among Japanese postgastrectomy patients.

Postoperative symptoms have a major impact on the quality of life of postgastrectomy patients. This study examined the effect of potential risk factors other than medical perspectives (type of surgery or reconstruction technique) on postoperative symptom experience. Subjects were 82 Japanese postgastrectomy patients (mean age = 63.63 years, SD = 10.21; men = 50, women = 32). To control the surgical effect on symptom experience, subjects were limited to only those who had undergone distal subtotal gastrectomy and been discharged within the past 3 years without indication of recurrence. Main study variables were attribute, health status (disease stage, adjuvant therapy, time since surgery, postoperative symptoms and their frequency), eating habits, depression, and emotional support. The result showed that only depression (beta = .24, p < .05) was a significant predictor of postoperative symptoms. Frequency of symptoms was significantly predicted by marital status (beta = -.32) and depression (beta = .21). Health status and eating habits did not contribute to the incidence of postoperative symptoms among the subjects. The results suggest that to control the postoperative symptoms, encouraging the patient to develop healthier eating habits, enhancing psychological status, and providing appropriate social support may be needed.

The effect of psychological intervention on personality change, coping, and psychological distress of Japanese primary breast cancer patients.

The purpose of this study is to estimate the effectiveness of psychological intervention on personality change, enhancing perceived emotional support, and, ultimately, assisting in the adaptive coping and psychological well-being of Japanese primary breast cancer patients. The intervention consists of 3 sessions that include providing medical and psychological information and counseling using the structured association technique. The participants were 28 primary breast cancer patients (14 for the experimental group and 14 for the control group). Participants were assessed at 3 to 4 days after surgery (preintervention) and 3 months (postintervention) and 6 months (follow-up) after discharge using 5 scales: the self-repression scale, the Japanese version of the self-esteem scale, the emotional support scale, the Japanese version of the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, and the Japanese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The intervention seemed to have enhanced the short-term personality change, adaptive coping, and psychological well-being of primary breast cancer patients. However, further trials will be needed with larger samples to corroborate the findings.

Demographic correlates of constant condom use among sex workers in Tangail, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Consistent condom use, particularly by promiscuous individuals, is a major safeguard against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. This study examines some demographic factors that may affect such use among Bangladeshi female commercial sex workers at a brothel in Tangail (n = 196; mean age = 23.44 years), and the streets of Dhaka (n = 112; mean age = 25.92 years). The chi2 results indicated that sex workers over 19 years of age were 2.52 times more likely than adolescents under 19 to work on the street rather than at a brothel (chi2 = 8.73, p < .0.01, OR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.35-4.72). Brothel sex workers aged over 19 years reported 3.26 probability to regularly use condom with clients than those adolescents aged below 19 years (chi2 = 6.23, p < 0.01, OR = 3.26, 95% CI = 1.25-8.53). This study found age to be a significant demographic correlate of regular condom use, particularly, among the brothel workers.

The effect of postoperative symptom experience, and personality and psychosocial factors on depression among postgastrectomy patients in Japan.

Depression, the most common affective disorder in cancer, has a major impact on quality of life. Various risk factors may interact and affect a cancer patient's depressive state. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between depression and postoperative symptom experience, personality, and psychosocial factors in Japanese gastrectomy patients. Causal relationships of these variables were also estimated. Eighty-two Japanese gastrectomy patients (M age = 63.63 years, SD = 10.21; men = 50, women = 32), who had been discharged within the last 3 years with no indication of cancer recurrence, participated in the study. Results showed significant correlations between depression and age, time-since-discharge, postoperative symptom experience, frequency of symptoms, self-esteem, and emotional support. Path analysis showed sufficient goodness of fit index (GFI = 0.993, AGFI = 0.963). Interpersonal dependency, emotional support, and marital status showed a direct effect on self-esteem, which, along with postoperative symptom experience, had a direct effect on depression. Findings provide a useful reference point for further understanding the mental health condition of postgastrectomy patients.

Correlates of adolescent assertiveness with HIV avoidance in a four-nation sample.

Adolescents are frequently admonished to be socially assertive in order to confront negative interpersonal peer influences. Since the advent of HIV/AIDS in human social chemistry, the admonition has become more critical than ever. But the warning is often proffered in the misguided presumption that social assertiveness is the all-required psycho-structure against risk. The present cross-national study examines social and sexual assertiveness in four-country adolescent samples of Nigerian, Thai, Chinese, and Japanese college students. The findings reveal that sexual rather than social assertiveness was the sine qua non against risk, cross-culturally.

Implications of Amae for HIV risk in Japanese young adults.

Assertiveness, defined as perceived confidence to express true feelings in interpersonal relationships, has been reported to correlate with HIV risk avoidance. However, Japanese social structure encourages amae or self-repression. The present study investigated the implications of amae for HIV risk avoidance among Japanese university students. The results indicated that amae was antithetical to risk reduction.

Mental health condition of the only-child: a study of urban and rural high school students in China.

The mental health of the only-child continues to generate interest in research literature. The present study examines the issue in China, where the one-child phenomenon is highest due to deliberate government policy. Subjects are 299 and 333 students in two high-rank high schools in urban Harebin and rural Qing an Xian, respectively (mean age = 17.2 years). Both locations are in the Heilongjiang Sheng Province of China. Results showed that urban only-children experienced significantly lower love awareness from family, higher neurotic and social depression, trait anxiety, perceived stressors, and interpersonal dependency than did urban non-only children. No significant differences were found in the rural only- and non-only children. Low love awareness from parents and peers was associated with high negative mental health conditions in the children. Low love awareness also precipitated perceived stressors which resulted in negative mental health in the covariance structure analysis.

Anger and aggression among Filipino students.

This paper describes the extent of anger and aggression in a sample of secondary school students in the southern Philippines. A total of 650 students in both public and private schools completed a self-report survey of levels of anger and aggression, and homeroom teachers rated them on aggression. Results indicated that their overall levels of aggression and anger were average. Students in private schools had higher overall aggression and anger compared to students in public schools. Teachers rated males as having a higher level of aggression compared to females. Self-reported anger and aggression were significantly higher among older students, but teachers rated them as being less aggressive. The implications of these findings for intervention and future research are discussed.

[Mental health and psychosocial factors with single-child high school students in an urban city of China].

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated psychosocial factors underlying the mental health problems of single-child high school students in China, where society and the family situation have been rapidly changing since introduction of the open-economy policy. METHOD: Three hundred and ten college-bound high school students in Heilong Jiangsheng Harbin completed self-administrative questionnaires in February, 2000. The subjects were divided into single-child and non single-child groups. Analysis of correlations was performed for general attributes, mental conditions measured by General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), personality variables, stressors, and emotion support network. Cause-and-effect factors were also analyzed using Covariance Analysis. RESULT: In the single-child and in non single-child groups, the percentage suffering neurotic tendencies were 73% and 39%, and the values for a tendency to depression were 63% and 25%, respectively. In the single-child group, anxiety, interpersonal dependence, and perceived stressors were significantly higher while the perceived self-esteem and emotional support from family members were significantly lower than in the non single-child group. Among the variables, having siblings was highly correlated with all the measured factors influencing mental health. The results indicated that a poor emotional support network could cause low self-esteem, high anxiety trait, strong interpersonal dependence, and increased sensitivity to stressors and worsening of mental health. CONCLUSION: The incidence of mental health related problems was found to be significantly higher in the single-children than in the non single-children. Thus having siblings has positive effects on mental health. The emotional support network also plays an important role in the mental condition, development of a healthy personality, and building a positive attitude toward stressors.