2011 年 56 巻 3 号 p. 304-315
Using the Mental Health Pattern for Children (MHPC), a scale enabling two-dimensional assessment of negative and positive aspects of mental health, 121 elementary school children (grades 4-6) were studied to determine whether children’s mental health is different because of eating habits, physical activity, and the willingness to act. The following results were obtained. 1) Scores on positive aspects were significantly higher among boys than girls. Scores on negative aspects were significantly higher among sixth graders than fourth graders. 2) Children with desirable eating habits, especially related to breakfast, in terms of frequency, time, and menu, tended to have higher scores on positive aspects of mental health. 3) Mental health of two dimensions on negative and positive aspects of children who have or like chance of physical activity in daily life and play was excellent. 4) Health-conscious children were found to have good mental health with respect to both positive and negative aspects. Our findings suggest that desirable eating habits, especially related to breakfast, physical activity, the willingness to act about health and health consciousness, help elementary school children maintain good mental health with respect to both positive and negative aspects.