In this research, the effects of changes in the physical and psychological health of mothers and infants as a result of the Parent-Infant Joint Exercises were examined. Total 77 mothers raising 0-year-old infants were solicited and divided into the intervention group and the control group. The intervention group conducted the Parent-Infant Joint Exercises for 1 month. The control group was not asked to conduct the exercises. The physical and psychological health of the mothers and the infants were measured before and after the intervention. The intervention group was also surveyed on the day the exercises were implemented, to compare the health of their infants before and after the exercises. After adjustment, the results of total 63 pairs of the mothers and the infants of 2 to 9 months old were analyzed. The results indicated that the daily crying of the infants was reduced in a group which the mothers and their infants performed the Parent-Infant Joint Exercises frequently. In addition, it was found that immediately after the Parent-Infant Joint Exercises, the infants (3 to 9 months old) showed pleasant reactions, with increased levels of “relief/relaxation”, “enjoyment”, and “happiness”. This suggests that the implementation of Parent-Infant Joint Exercises may be an effective means of supporting child-rearing.

Compassion toward clients constitutes a vital aspect of welfare professionals’ work. However, few studies have examined the factors promoting compassion for clients and the associated outcomes. The present study explored the relationship between compassion toward clients and occupational well-being among welfare professionals. We also investigated individual and organizational consequences of occupational well-being, including mental health, turnover intentions, and job performance. This study included a sample of 370 welfare professionals. Structural equation modeling indicated that compassion towards clients enhanced occupational well-being and job performance. Occupational well-being is also directly associated with reduced turnover intentions and enhanced job performance. Furthermore, self-compassion influenced occupational well-being and secondary symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of cultivating compassion in welfare professionals.

This study examined whether the effects of acupuncture and mindfulness on negative feelings and attentional functions vary depending on depressive tendencies. Participants were randomly assigned to either an acupuncture (n=16) or a mindfulness-based body scan (n=15) group for a 15-minute intervention. We found that acupuncture improved negative feelings more than mindfulness. However, this effect was not statistically significant among participants with depressive tendencies. These findings suggest that acupuncture may significantly improve negative feelings, though its effectiveness remains unclear or for individuals with depressive tendencies. This study is the first to examine the effects of acupuncture from a psychological perspective. A closer examination of the results may offer valuable approaches for supporting individuals who do not benefit from mindfulness.

This study examined the relationships between psychological adjustment to cancer, body acceptance, and emotional relationships with spouses among breast cancer survivors. Participants were divided into two groups based on the time elapsed since their diagnosis: past five years (n=124) or over five years ago (n=107). The results revealed that body acceptance was crucial for psychological adjustment to cancer in both groups. Moreover, in the latter group, the emotional relationship with the spouse promoted a calm and stable acceptance of the body, which enhanced their psychological adjustment to cancer.