This study examines the determinants of binge drinking behavior in working women in their 20s and 30s who require health guidance for alcohol reduction. The study used a longitudinal design and analyzed factors influencing behavioral intentions and actions through a web-based survey. The participants were women (n=474, Age range, 20–39 years) engaging in binge drinking at least once a month, having Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test scores ranging from 8 to 14. The participants reported a mean binge drinking rate of 6.16±7.8 times per month. Emotional attitudes, situational norms, and self-efficacy significantly influenced the intentions to binge drink. This study indicated that behavioral intentions, habits, the interaction between intentions and habits, health risk awareness, and media advertisements for alcoholic beverages are essential factors influencing binge drinking behavior.

This research investigated the moderating role of self-compassion (SC) on variables associated with cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) in workplace settings. Employees (N=600 Mean age 46.5±10.4 years, 466 men and 134 women) participated in this study, which assessed SC, perspectives on contextual evaluation of the work environment, coping, stress responses, and job performance. Participants scoring 0.5 standard deviations above the SC mean were classified as the high SC group, whereas those scoring below this threshold formed the low SC group. Multiple group analyses were conducted to evaluate SC’s moderating effects on workplace CBSM variables, including contextual evaluations of the work environment, coping, stress responses, and job performance. Results indicated that employees in the high SC group demonstrated enhanced job performance when they adopted coping strategies informed by contextual evaluations of their workplace environment. These findings suggest that integrating SC-enhancing techniques into traditional workplace CBSM programs may decrease stress responses and improve job performance.

This study examined the mental health literacy of Japanese university students regarding social anxiety disorder (SAD). The study delivered an online survey to 680 students using a vignette illustrating SAD. Only 26.6% of respondents recognized the name of the disorder. Moreover, 77.9% acknowledged that seeking professional help is an appropriate coping strategy for SAD, whereas only 48.1% reported an intention to do so if they encountered similar problems. Logistic regression analysis revealed that students who perceived the vignette as depicting a mental disorder were more likely to indicate a preference for counseling or hospital assistance. Conversely, students who cited a belief that seeking help from specialists would be ineffective were less likely to consider counseling. These findings suggest that Japanese university students have a limited understanding of SAD and underscore the role of recognizing a perceived disorder in seeking counseling or hospital assistance.

Mindfulness and compassion practices emphasize the importance of the four immeasurable attitudes—loving-kindness, compassion, empathic joy, and equanimity—as foundational to the well-being of oneself and others, rooted in central Buddhist teachings. However, no Japanese version of the Four Immeasurables Scale has been available to assess negative and positive emotions associated with these attitudes. This study was designed to develop and validate the Japanese Self-Other Four Immeasurables Scale (SOFI-J) for adults in Japan (N=494, M age=42.40, SD=9.85). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the SOFI-J reliably measured the same four factors as the original scale, demonstrating good two-week test-retest reliability. Correlations with measures of self-compassion, compassion for others, mindfulness, and negative and positive emotions supported its convergent and discriminant validity. These findings suggest that the SOFI-J can be a valuable tool for investigating self-compassion and compassion mechanisms in future research.

This study developed a scale for assessing the four sources of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) among Japanese university students. Undergraduate students from three universities in Japan (N=270, age range, 18–23 years) participated in this study. Data were collected via a questionnaire administered during the final 20 minutes of a lecture. We utilized the stages of change theory to assess motivation for career decision-making behavior and the Japanese version of the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale to measure CDMSE. We also conducted four focus group interviews with 26 university students to generate items for the new scale, which resulted in 50 preliminary items. Participants rated these items on a four-point Likert-type scale. Exploratory factor analysis refined the scale to 29 items organized into four factors, effectively capturing the four sources of CDMSE.