While assistance to help independence of individuals with mental disorders is promoted, the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF), which was released in 2001, proposed that "living in a society" could be recognized from the aspect of functioning. By referring to the ICF, a rating scale for functioning in individuals with mental disorders was created to evaluate these functions. This scale measures the functioning of individuals with mental disorders, and consists of activity and participatory aspects. The present study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the participatory aspect of the rating scale for functioning in individuals with mental disorders. Fourteen psychiatric day-care staff evaluated the daily living function of 143 psychiatric daycare users. The results showed high reliability of the scale' Pearson's correlation coefficient for the test-retest method was 0.80 (p<0.01) ; and Pearson's correlation coefficient for the split-half method ranged from 0.86 to 0.92 (p<0.01). With a Cronbach's reliability coefficient of each factor ranging from 0.86 to 0.91 (p<0.01), internal consistency was demonstrated to be high. Factor analysis was conducted for validity and 4 factors were extracted. With a high accumulated proportion in the factor analysis of 70.5%, validity was indicated to be high. The correlation coefficient between evaluation by others and self-evaluation was 0.40, which demonstrates the reliability and validity of the scale.

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This study demonstrated the validity and reliability of Interaction Rating Scale(IRS) by interaction characteristics for children with behavioral or environmental difficulties. IRS constructs 10 subscales, 1) Autonomy, 2) Responsiveness to caregiver, 3) Empathy, 4) Motor self regulation, 5) Emotional self regulation, for child items and 6) Sensitivity to child, 7) Responsiveness to child, 8) Respect for child's autonomy, 9) Social-emotional growth fostering, 10) Cognitive growth fostering, for caregiver items. It clarifies the interaction characteristics both subscale score and total score. Participants were 58 children (1-6 year old), among whom ADHD, FDD, MR, a delay of development for behavioral difficulties, and abuse, neglect, inappropriate interaction and caregiver's stress for environmental difficulties, evaluated by the child items of IRS. As expected, "Autonomy" "Responsiveness to caregiver" "Empathy" and "Emotional self regulation" predicted child behavioral or environmental difficulties. The findings showed the usefulness of IRS to get information on interaction characteristics for child support.

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Aim : It was aimed to evaluate reliability and validity of Japanese version RAS (J-RAS) among the executive nurses. Method : Attributes of the objects, the ways of their stress-copings and the feature of their assertiveness by J-RAS was investigated. The investigation targeted 203 objects consisted of head nurses, sub-head nurses or chief nurses working for three university hospitals in Tohoku Kanto area. Results : The Japanese version of the RAS indicated high coefficients of reliabilities in a test re-test (r=0.71 p<0.01), split-half reliability test (r=0.79 p<0.01), Cronbach's alpha (0.82 p<0.01). Six factors were extracted by using factor analysis in principal factoring with a Parsimax rotation, so the Japanese scale had a few implicative differences from the original RAS, but its validity was suggested to be high. High validity was also evaluated by acknowledging average point of stress-coping method. Consideration : It was evaluated that J-RAS had high internal consistency and high validity. Moreover, executive nurses' assertiveness score was higher than novice nurses'. Head nurses tended to have higher assertiveness score than sub-head nurses. As a result of this research, reliability and validity of J-RAS for the executive nurses were suggested.

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Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine a correlation between physical, mental and social characteristics and incidence of the frail elderly who was walk possible, but going out frequency deteriorated and subjective withdrawal. Participants : Seventy-eight participants (average age 79.7 years old, SD= 5.59, from 66 to 92 years old) out of 83 adults (10 males [12.0%] and 73 females [88.0%]) who use "Nursing Care Prevention and Local Mutual Support Program" day service Methods" We focused on outing frequency and the subjective housebound who tend to stay inside the house all day long. We separated the housebound-to-be from the non-housebound and compared physical, mental, and social characteristics. Results : The housebound-to-be were 36 (46.2%) out of 78 participants. This was more than the reports of the housebound in other studies. As for physical characteristics, knee aches, deconditioning, and poor physical strength were reported and the decline of ability of usual activities was recognized. It is likely that these physical conditions cause the decline of outing frequency and prevent social interaction. The housebound tend to have depression compared with the non-housebound. Depression might increase the housebound state. We suggest that support from a medical viewpoint such as care for physical pain and visit to appropriate medical institutions and means to go out are needed. And it would be necessary to offer opportunities for social interaction and to coordinate social resources that could enhance social support.

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The perpose of this study is to clarify the stress of Cambodian living in Japan suffer from because of acculturation. The questionnaires were anonymous and filled out by the subjects in both Japanese and Cambodian language. The questionnaires were distributed to sixty six Cambodians through events sponsored by Cambodians, and through clinics and my friends. A number of valid responses was forty nine (74%) and found the following things. 1. Causes with a level higher than intermediate for LASC-I include "he/she cannot communicate in Japanese" "he/she miss his/her family and friends in Cambodia", "he/she was ever discriminated" "it is difficult for him/her to understand Japanese culture and a sense of value" and "high prices of things to buy". 2. We found a correlation between a level of acculturative stress and an academic background. As a result of this, it is suggested that reforms and promotions are needed for education systems, an education of Japanese language, and employment systems in order to help them decrease their acculturative stress. Regarding discrimination, it is also needed to develop a program to promote an education for the people in the host country to understand a different culture.

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