Relationship between Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood: Moderating Role of Independent and Interdependent Self-Construal.

During emerging adulthood, individuals' subjective well-being declines owing to challenges regarding identity, work, and romantic relationships. Although the relationships among personality traits, self-construal, and well-being have been examined, studies have focused on personal rather than relational subjective well-being. Furthermore, self-construal's moderating effect on the relationship between personality traits and subjective well-being remains unclear. Therefore, this study examined the relationships among the Big-five personality traits and subjective well-being (life satisfaction, happiness, and interdependent happiness) and the moderating effect of self-construal among 1548 Japanese emerging adults (Mage = 22.24, SD = 1.01). Regression analysis indicated that all aspects of subjective well-being were negatively associated with neuroticism and positively associated with extraversion, independent and interdependent self-construal. Further, agreeableness was positively associated with personal and relational well-being. Independent or interdependent self-construal can moderate the relationships between neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness and subjective well-being. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights for improving Japanese emerging adults' well-being.

Effects of choir singing on physiological stress in Japanese older adults: its relationship with cognitive functioning and subjective well-being.

BACKGROUND: Leisure activities are believed to contribute to healthy ageing. We compared the effects of choir singing and go playing on cortisol levels in Japanese older adults. We also examined its relevance to the older adults' emotional affect and cognitive performance. METHODS: Thirty-six older adults participated either in choir or go playing, within a 2 (groups)×2 (time points) design. Dependent measures included levels of salivary cortisol, as well as key psychological, cognitive, and neuropsychological measures. RESULTS: A significant two-way interaction was observed, showing that levels of salivary cortisol decreased for the choir but increased for the go groups. The decrease in salivary cortisol for the choir group correlated with the participant's negative affect and their degree of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: Choir singing has the potential to reduce Japanese older adults' physiological stress. The decreases can be seen more prominently for people with stronger negative affect and cognitive impairment. Further research is required to replicate these effects.

Motivation to lead in Japan: validation of a Japanese version of the motivation to lead scale.

Introduction: This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the motivation to lead (MTL) scale consisting of three factors-affective-identity MTL, non-calculative MTL, and social-normative MTL-and examine its construct validity and reliability. Methods: The participants comprised 500 university students and 500 employees aged 20-29 years registered with a Japanese research company. Results: Based on a confirmatory factor analysis, the three-factor model was found to be appropriate for the Japanese context. The measurement invariance analyses indicated scalar invariance between students and employees and between men and women. Finally, the correlation analysis with the Big Five personality traits conducted to examine construct validity indicated that affective-identity MTL and social-normative MTL had significant relationships with all five traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, open-mindedness, and negative emotionality). Although non-calculative MTL was not significantly correlated, it can be interpreted in the Japanese context. Discussion: The results indicate the adequate construct validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the MTL scale. These findings hold significant implications for leadership development and selection in Japan, highlighting the motivational factors that drive effective leadership.

Validation of the Japanese version of the revised version of the compound psychological capital scale (CPC-12R).

This study developed a Japanese version of the Revised Version of the Compound Psychological Capital Scale (CPC-12R) and tested its reliability and construct validity. The participants were 1,000 young adults (500 university students and 500 employees) recruited through an internet survey. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the four first-order factors (hope, optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy) and one second-order factor (PsyCap) model of the previous study is appropriate for the Japanese context. In addition, Cronbach's α and omega-higher-order of CPC-12R were sufficient. The measurement invariance analysis suggested sufficient scalar invariances for the employees and university students and across genders. The Japanese version of the CPC-12R had moderate positive correlations with job satisfaction, work engagement, conscientiousness, and extraversion, as well as a moderate negative correlation with negative emotionality. These findings provide evidence for sufficient reliability and construct validity of the Japanese version of the CPC-12R.

The Effects of Familial Social Support Relationships on Identity Meaning in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Investigation.

This study aimed to examine whether social support promotes identity meaning among older adults. We hypothesized that when two spouses exchange social support, their sense of marital identity is enhanced. Among older adults, parental identity may be more strongly enhanced when parents provide social support to their children rather than receive social support from them. We conducted a longitudinal survey of 355 older adults (240 men and 115 women aged >60 years), who were assessed four times over 2 years. First, we confirmed the relationship between social support and identity meaning using an autoregressive path model. Second, we examined the effect of social support on the trajectory of role identities in a growth curve model. The intercepts of receiving support and providing support were significantly associated with the intercept of marital identity. In addition, the intercept of identity meaning for parents correlated with the intercept of providing support to their children but not with that of receiving support from their children. Social support between family members promotes role identities in family relationships. In particular, providing support to children correlates with parental roles which connect to subjective well-being.

Impact of moral sensitivity on moral distress among psychiatric nurses.

BACKGROUND: Moral distress occurs when one knows the right thing to do, but institutional constraints make it nearly impossible to pursue the right course of action. Moral distress was found to cause negative feelings, burnout, and/or resignation. Not only external factors such as lack of staff but also internal ones affect moral distress. Moral sensitivity, which is thought of as an advantage of nurses, could effect moral distress, as nurses being unaware of existing ethical problems must feel little distress. OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of moral sensitivity on moral distress among psychiatric nurses, and affirm the hypothesis that nurses with higher moral sensitivity will suffer moral distress more than nurses with less moral sensitivity in two different samples. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION: The study obtained ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine at Mie University (# 1111, 20.4.2010), and by the Turku University Ethics Board (29.5.2012). Permissions to undertake the study was obtained from the in two hospital districts and in one city (§ 48/4.10.2012, § 63/4.9.2012, 51/2012 27.8.2012). Informed consent was not formally obtained, because the questionnaire was anonymously reported by the participants who volunteered to answer. The participants responded voluntarily and anonymously. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire containing the Revised Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire and the Moral Distress Scale for Psychiatric nurses was conducted to 997 nurses in 12 hospitals in Japan, and 974 nurses in 10 hospitals in Finland after obtaining of approval by research ethics committees. Data were analyzed using a multi-group structural equation model analysis. FINDINGS: A set of analyses imply that the association of moral sensitivity with moral distress is significant and similar between Japan and Finland, whereas the factor structures of moral sensitivity and moral distress may be partially different. DISCUSSION: The result of this study may indicate that nurses with high moral sensitivity can sense and identify moral problems, but not resolve them. Therefore, supporting nurses to solve ethical problems, not benumbing them, can be important for better nursing care and prevention of nurses' resignation. CONCLUSION: Moral sensitivity and moral distress were positively correlated among psychiatric nurses in both Japan and Finland, although the participating nurses from the two countries were different in qualification, age, and cultural background. Nurses with high moral sensitivity suffer from moral distress.

[The relationship between grandparent role and subjective well-being of young-olds].

This study explores the influence of self-processes involving grandparenthood on the frequency of contact with grandchildren and grandparent satisfaction, and the influence of these self-processes, frequency of contact, and grandparent satisfaction on subjective well-being. A mail survey was conducted with randomly selected people between 65-74 years of age (N = 226) living in a city. The results showed that grandparent centrality and grandparent identity meanings influenced the frequency of contact with grandchildren. Grandparent-identity meanings influenced grandparent satisfaction. Additionally, grandparent-identity meanings and grandparent satisfaction influenced subjective well-being. The findings suggest that only grandparent-identity meanings in self-processes of grandparenthood influenced grandparent satisfaction and subjective well-being.

Dynamic mechanical properties of solid films of deoxyribonucleic acid.

Solid films of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from salmon testes were prepared by a solvent-casting method. The thermal molecular motion of the DNA film was examined by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Four absorption peaks and one shoulder of the loss modulus were observed in the temperature domain from approximately 150 to 490 K. To assign these, thermal analysis employing thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used in conjunction with ultraviolet (UV)-visible and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. It seems most likely that, in order of increasing temperature, they are a B(I)→B(II) conformational transition, a relatively large-scale movement associated with water molecules, water evaporation, thermal denaturation of DNA, and a glass transition.

Moral distress experienced by psychiatric nurses in Japan.

This study aimed to: (1) develop and evaluate the Moral Distress Scale for Psychiatric nurses (MDS-P); (2) use the MDS-P to examine the moral distress experienced by Japanese psychiatric nurses; and (3) explore the correlation between moral distress and burnout. A questionnaire on the intensity and frequency of moral distress items (the MDS-P: 15 items grouped into three factors), a burnout scale (Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey) and demographic questions were administered to 391 Japanese psychiatric nurses in 2007-2008. These nurses experienced relatively low levels of moral distress despite the fact that they were commonly confronted by morally distressing situations. All the circumstances in which the participants experienced moral distress were included in the 'low staffing' factor, which reflects the characteristics of Japanese psychiatric care. The frequency score of the low staffing factor was a significant predictor of burnout.

Hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B fiber column reduces circulating interleukin-8 concentrations.

In the present study, we examined whether the performance of hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B fiber column (DHP-PMX) reduces circulating interleukin-8 concentration in patients with sepsis. Fifteen patients with sepsis satisfying the following criteria were enrolled in the study: (i) signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by infection; and (ii) mean arterial blood pressure > or =60 mm Hg (irrespective of the use of catecholamines). A thermodilution catheter was inserted prior to DHP-PMX for appropriate intravenous infusion, and the DHP-PMX was carried out twice at 24 h intervals (for 3 h each time). Circulating interleukin-8 concentration was measured seven times. The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was calculated twice. Circulating interleukin-8 concentration was 55 +/- 15.7 pg/mL before DHP-PMX, while it was 101 +/- 58.8 pg/mL immediately after the first session of treatment. It was 24 +/- 9.0 pg/mL before the second session of DHP-PMX, and it was 28 +/- 8.0 pg/mL immediately after the second session. The IL-8 level was 17 +/- 4.3 pg/mL at 48 h afterward, and 18 +/- 4.3 pg/mL at 72 h afterward, showing a significant decrease from 48 h onwards, compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). The SOFA score was 9 +/- 1.5 and the APACHE II score was 19 +/- 2.0 before DHP-PMX, while the SOFA score was 7.0 +/- 0.9 at 72 h afterward, showing a significant decrease compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). The present findings indicate that DHP-PMX indirectly reduces circulating interleukin-8 concentration and improves SOFA score.

Hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B fiber column improves tissue oxygen metabolism.

Recently, direct hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-coated fiber column (DHP-PMX) has been increasingly used for the treatment of sepsis, and an improvement in outcomes has been reported. However, the mechanism of the method is not known in detail. In the present study, we examined whether the performance of DHP-PMX improved tissue oxygen metabolism in patients with sepsis. Twenty-two patients with sepsis, satisfying the following criteria, were enrolled in the study: (i) signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by infection; and (ii) mean arterial blood pressure > or =60 mm Hg (irrespective of the use of catecholamines). A thermodilution catheter was inserted prior to DHP-PMX for appropriate intravenous infusion, and the DHP-PMX was carried out twice within 24 h (for 3 h each time). Then, the gastric mucosal-arterial PCO(2) difference (PCO(2) gap) was calculated as the gastric mucosal PCO(2) minus arterial PCO(2). A PCO(2) gap > or =8 mm Hg was used to define abnormal tissue oxygen metabolism. PCO(2) gap was measured before PMX-DHP, as well as 24, 48, and 72 h afterward. PCO(2) gap was 20 +/- 4.9 mm Hg before DHP-PMX vs. 16 +/- 2.7 mm Hg (P = 0.189) at 24 h, 12 +/- 2.8 mm Hg (P = 0.046) at 48 h, and 11 +/- 2.2 mm Hg (P = 0.045) at 72 h afterward, showing a significant decrease from 48 h onward compared with before treatment. These findings suggest that DHP-PMX improves tissue oxygen metabolism.

Pressure dependence of local structure in liquid carbon disulfide.

High pressure x-ray diffraction measurements on liquid carbon disulfide up to 1.2 GPa are performed by using an energy dispersion method. The results are compared with a molecular dynamics calculation with usual Lennard-Jones potential. They give very good agreement for all pressures measured. It becomes clear that the liquid structure changes like hard core liquid up to the pressure just below crystallizing point. The relation between structural change and optical response at high pressure is discussed.

Hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B column reduces the blood level of neutrophil elastase.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether direct hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B column (DHP with PMX) could reduce the blood level of neutrophil elastase. METHODS: 20 sepsis patients were enrolled in the study. DHP with PMX was performed twice within a 24-hour period. Neutrophil elastase was measured 7 times. RESULTS: Neutrophil elastase was 468 +/- 75.1 microg/l, while it was 1,531 +/- 201.7 microg/l immediately after the first session, declined to 351 +/- 73.9 microg/l before the second session of DHP with PMX, and increased again to 599.3 +/- 112.7 microg/l immediately after the second session, 328 +/- 73.7 microg/l at 24 h, 264 +/- 39.3 microg/l at 48 h, and 230 +/- 36.1 microg/l at 72 h after DHP with PMX. The levels from 48 h onwards were significantly lower compared with that before treatment. CONCLUSION: DHP with PMX has an overall effect that reduces circulating neutrophil elastase levels.

Early hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B fiber column eliminates humoral mediators and improves pulmonary oxygenation.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to clarify the efficacy and mechanism of action of direct hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B fiber column (DHP-PMX) in patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by sepsis. METHOD: Thirty-six patients with sepsis were included. In each patient a thermodilution catheter was inserted, and the oxygen delivery index and oxygen consumption index were measured. DHP-PMX was performed in patients with a normal oxygen delivery index and oxygen consumption index (> 500 ml/minute per m2 and > 120 ml/minute per m2, respectively). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was used as an index of the severity of sepsis, and survival was assessed after 1 month. The humoral mediators measured were the chemokine IL-8, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and neutrophil elastase (NE). These mediators were measured before DHP-PMX treatment, and at 24, 48, and 78 hours after the start of treatment. The arterial oxygen tension (PaO2)/fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio was measured before DHP-PMX treatment and at 24, 48, 72, 92, and 120 hours after the start of treatment. RESULTS: All patients remained alive after 1 month. Before DHP-PMX treatment, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 24 +/- 2.0, the IL-8 level was 54 +/- 15.8 pg/ml, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was 133 +/- 28.1 ng/ml, and NE was 418 +/- 72.1 mug/l. These three humoral mediators began to decrease from 24 hours after DHP-PMX treatment, and the decline became significant from 48 hours onward. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 244 +/- 26.3 before DHP-PMX treatment but improved significantly from 96 hours onward. There were significant negative correlations between the PaO2/FiO2 ratio and blood levels of NE and IL-8. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of action of DHP-PMX is still not fully understood, but we report the following findings. The mean blood levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, NE, and IL-8 were significantly decreased from 48 hours after DHP-PMX treatment. The mean PaO2/FiO2 ratio was significantly improved from 96 hours after DHP-PMX treatment. Improvement in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio appeared to be related to the decreases in blood NE and IL-8 levels.

Hemoperfusion with an immobilized polymyxin B fiber column inhibits activation of vascular endothelial cells.

Involvement of the activation of neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells in the pathology of sepsis has recently been reported. We therefore investigated whether direct hemoperfusion (DHP) with a polymyxin B immobilized fiber column (PMX) could reduce the level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), an index of vascular endothelial cell activation. Twelve sepsis patients satisfying the following criteria were enrolled in the study: (i) stable global oxygen metabolism (oxygen delivery index>500 mL/min/m2 and oxygen consumption index>120 mL/min/m2); (ii) abnormal tissue oxygen metabolism (PCO2 gap: gastric mucosal PCO2 minus arterial PCO2 difference>8 mm Hg); and (iii) mean blood pressure>or=60 mm Hg. Direct hemoperfusion with PMX was performed twice (for 3 h each time) within 24 h. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was measured a total of 5 times: before PMX-DHP, immediately after the first DHP with PMX session (3 h after the start), and 24, 48, and 72 h afterward. The PAI-1 value was 150+/-30.0 ng/mL before DHP with PMX, 178+/-60.0 ng/mL immediately after DHP with PMX, 90+/-22.1 ng/mL at 24 h after, 65+/-21.0 ng/mL at 48 h after, and 64+/-18.3 ng/mL 72 h after. The values were significantly lower from 48 h onward compared with baseline. These data suggest that DHP with PMX inhibits vascular endothelial cell activation.