The purpose of this study was to measure physical fitness, motor ability, exercise habits, and exercise or sports experience in youth through a number of tests and to verify the causal relation between the constructs. The subjects in this study were 2,856 high school students comprising 1,626 males and 1,230 females. Eight items used in the Japan Fitness Test were measured for physical fitness and sixty-one items of exercise attainment were self-rated by the subjects according to three ranks for motor ability. The time spent on exercise and the frequencies of exercise were measured for exercise habit, and the numbers of sports events and days spent on exercises were measured for sports experience. The study was conducted using structure equation modeling. The results showed that exercise or sports experience directly and indirectly through exercise habit affected physical fitness and motor ability, and that exercise or sports experience more strongly affected exercise habit than physical fitness and motor ability. It is also suggested that exercise habit had a stronger effect on physical fitness than on motor ability, and that sports experience had a stronger effect on motor ability than on physical fitness. Consequently, the comparison of causal model goodness of fit in respective genders did not result in indications of significant differences between genders.

This study aims to examine how students' perception of psychosocial school environment is associated with satisfaction with school and health complaints among Japanese high school students. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted with 2,852 students at 25 public high schools in Okinawa, Japan. The psychosocial school environment was measured by demands (unrealistic expectations), student autonomy and control (justice of the rules and participation in school activities), and support from teachers and students. Students who perceived high demands, low control, and low support reported the highest health complaints, whereas students who perceived low demands, high control, and high support showed the lowest complaints. Each demand-control combination with low support was more likely to have health complaints than those with high support. The high demands, high control, and high support group reported the highest satisfaction, whereas the low demands, low control, and low support group showed the lowest satisfaction. Each demand-control combination with low support had less satisfaction with school than those with high support. This study suggests that interventions which improve the psychosocial school environment are needed in order to promote school-related health.

The objective of this study is to analyze the attitude of Neighborhood Watch scheme participants towards "stranger danger". The subjects consist of 140 participants in local Neighborhood Watch schemes. The data were obtained by anonymous hand-distributed questionnaires to scheme participants. In addition we carried out on-site surveys (inspections) of the Neighborhood Watch residences. Participants whose residences scored full marks on the scale of suitability as Neighborhood Watch houses had made a conscious decision to stay at home during the hours children travel to and from school. We concluded that the ability of children to avoid harm is connected with (a) scheme participants level of risk perception and (b) community awareness. Furthermore, improving residents sense of community may play an important role in protecting children from "stranger danger".

This paper reports on activities carried out as part of the International Educational Cooperation Base System by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The purpose of this project is to promote a transfer of educational technology on the school health area. We have proposed a method for the improvement of school environment health and school safety, as well as improvement in the lifestyle, growth and development, and physical strength of students. In particular, the paper reports on the proposal of the Health Quality Control (HQC) method for the improvement of students’ lifestyle. We proposed an improvement strategy at five conferences for schools participating in the scheme in the Chiang Mai and Ubonrachathani provinces in Thailand. In the lifestyle improvement strategy based on the HQC technique, we proposed (a) a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle, (b) a cause and effect analysis using a fishbone diagram, and (c) an HQC check sheet. Participating schools reported on lifestyle improvements and school hygiene and safety. The reports were based on the improvement strategy proposed by us, and they confirm its effectiveness. Currently, we are in the process of constructing a model school to exemplify the improvement strategy. Moreover, an implementation manual is being prepared based on these results.