This study examined the effects of distraction on college students’ depressive tendencies caused by interpersonal stress, focusing on attentional control, mindfulness, and distraction skills. We conducted a web-based survey of college students (N=267; mean age=19.66 years, SD=1.40) that administered scales assessing attention control, mindfulness, distraction skill, and depressive tendencies. An analysis of covariance was conducted to examine a model in which attentional control alleviates depressive tendencies by increasing mindfulness, which influences distraction skills. Multiple regression analyses of attentional control and mindfulness effects on distractor skills revealed that “Non-reactivity” in mindfulness affects distraction skills. In contrast, “observing” promoted reliance on distraction, suggesting that increased mindfulness and attentional control are essential to prevent dependence on distraction. Future studies need to implement mindfulness meditation interventions to increase attentional control and mindfulness and elaborate changes in each variable and the relationships among the variables.

Our previous study demonstrated that infection prevention behaviors can be divided into six types characterized by health literacy. This study examined the effects of differences among these types on physical and mental health, daily life problems, and vaccination behavior. The participants (N=3,000, 558 men and 442 women, Mean age 52.53±15.75 years) responded to a questionnaire survey in January 2021. The results indicated that the different characteristics of each segment in terms of their impact on physical health, mental health and real-life impacts. Three segments were identified as high-risk for promoting infection prevention behaviors. The “Over-vigilance/social defense” factor delayed the detection of severe illnesses by curtailing hospital visits, which could exacerbate future health risks. Moreover, the “Threat denial” and the “Optimism/affinity for false rumors” factor decreased infection prevention behaviors by failing to encourage vaccination and interfering with related health behaviors. We have discussed the need to avoid excessive messaging when information is presented repeatedly.

This study examined the association of differences in sensitivity to punishment (behavioral inhibition/avoidance system [BIS]) and reward (behavioral activation system [BAS]) on workplace contextual evaluation perspective, coping selection, the workplace approach, and workplace stress. The study recruited 662 newly employed graduate participants (297 men and 365 women, mean age: 25.3±2.2 years). The study classified the participants into four groups: BIS-dominant, BAS-dominant, both-high, and both-low. The results demonstrated that the BIS-dominant group was more likely to evaluate the workplace context from the perspective of others, engage in avoidant coping, and were less likely to engage in the workplace approach. The BAS-dominant and both-high groups were more likely to evaluate the workplace context from the perspective of the self and others, were problem-focused, and employed avoidant coping and the workplace approach. The stress response was the lowest in the BAS-dominant group. The both-high group was comparable to the BIS-dominant group. The both-low group displayed generally low levels of all the variables. Based on these results, the study formulated workplace stress management methods according to the degrees of BIS and BAS.

This study examined alexithymic tendencies and the effect of these tendencies on somatic complaints in Japanese adolescents. Japanese adolescents (n=2,759; age range 12—20 years) participated in the study. Alexithymic tendencies were assessed by the Alexithymia Scale for Adolescents (ASA) and somatic complaints by the Somatic Complaint List (SCL). The results indicated the following. (1) The total ASA score remained high from early to late adolescence. (2) The ASA total scores remained high because ASA subfactors, difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF), and difficulty describing feelings (DDF) increased during adolescence, whereas externally oriented thinking (EOT) decreased, (3) The DIF significantly affected adolescents’ somatic complaints irrespective of their grade or gender. (4) The DDF increased somatic complaints of junior high and high school-aged male participants only, but this effect disappeared as respondents’ age increased and they became undergraduates. These results indicate that the effect of alexithymic tendencies on somatic complaints changes with age. The study further revealed that the DIF consistently affects the increase in somatic complaints.

This study provides an overview of the content and outcomes of consulting activities in Japanese educational settings. The study examined teacher-related factors to enhance consulting efficacy. The results of the descriptive analysis indicated that teacher-related factors include demographics, such as age and gender, and factors related to knowledge acquisition, teaching attitudes (types of teaching), and daily appearance, including demeanor and impressions of teachers as consultants. These findings suggest the need to assess not only age and years of teaching experience, which are addressed in annual training, but also individual teachers’ learning history (experience) and teaching type from the perspective of teacher assessment. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the need for future research to examine the effects of consultations on teacher assessment.