Impulsivity and Alcohol-Drinking Behavior: Evidence from Japan.

Despite the attempt by the Japanese government to reduce alcohol consumption, reduction of alcohol consumption requires improvement. We explore this issue from the impulsivity perspective and investigate whether a causal relationship exists between impulsivity and drinking behavior. We used data from the Preference Parameter Study of Osaka University to capture respondents' drinking status. Our probit regression showed that procrastination, a proxy measure of impulsivity, was significantly associated with drinking behavior, while hyperbolic discounting, a direct measure of impulsivity, was insignificant. Our findings suggest that impulsive people will discount their health in the future; thus, the government should consider impulsivity in policymaking. For example, awareness programs should focus more on future healthcare costs from alcohol-related problems so that impulsive drinkers can understand how much they may need to spend in the future compared to current satisfaction with alcohol drinking.

Impact of Changing Socioeconomic Conditions on Family Caregiving Norms: Evidence from Japan.

Eldercare is a major public health concern in many East Asian countries, including Japan, because of the ever-growing elderly population, and significant changes in family caregiving norms. The changes are due to global diffusion and the influence of socioeconomic and demographic shifts. Consequently, perceptions of the norm of family caregiving need investigation. We examined how demographic and socioeconomic factors influence the perception of family caregiving norms in Japan, using data from Osaka University's preference parameter study. According to the results of the probit regression, age, education, full-time employment, marital status, the number of sons and daughters, interactions between females and age and females and full-time employment, and parents' education are negatively related to the participants' perceptions of family caregiving norms. Our results suggest that people traditionally perceived as caregivers are less likely to have a positive attitude towards family caregiving, despite the government's efforts through Universal Long-Term Care Insurance, implemented in 2000. Therefore, authorities must reassess the role of families, explore alternative forms of community-based care, and provide more assistance to caregivers.