This study examined the relation between the goodness-of-fit hypothesis (GOF) and the reasons for selecting coping strategy. In this study, 351 workers reported on stressors, coping strategy, a stressor’s controllability, reasons for selecting coping strategy (to access one’s purpose and to avoid negative things), and stress response. After excluding data from incomplete questionnaires, data from the remaining 274 participants were categorized into 6 groups based on the type of stressor (task-related or interpersonal) and the type of coping strategy (problem-focused, emotion-focused, or a combination). The results of a series of correlation analysis and hieratical multiple regression analysis showed that, in line with GOF, a stressor’s controllability was negatively associated with stress response in the problem-focused coping group, whereas, contrary to GOF, controllability was also negatively associated with stress response in the emotion-focused coping group. Significant correlations were found between reason for selecting coping strategy and stress response in the emotion-focused and the combination groups, respectively. Furthermore, there was no significant interaction controllability and reason for selecting coping in any group, suggesting that these factors may influence the effectiveness of coping strategy independently.

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The purpose of this study was to reveal the characteristics of sources of exercise self-efficacy in each stage of change for exercise among older adults. The subjects were 365 people aged 60 or above (166 males, 199 females, with a mean age of 74.21) who completed a set of measurements including sources of exercise self-efficacy, exercise self-efficacy, and stages of change for exercise. Results revealed that more than half of the subjects (52.6%) were in action or maintenance stage, and that the total scores of sources of exercise self-efficacy and the total exercise self-efficacy score increased gradually as the stage progressed. Moreover, the score of each sources of exercise self-efficacy had a similar tendency. Results of this study suggest a new effective strategy to increase the amount of exercise among older adults.

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For the past several years, less than 20% of middle-aged women have been undergoing annual mammography testing Japan. This rate is surprisingly lower than the rate of middle-aged women living in Western countries, which is about 70–80%. The number of Japanese breast cancer patients is increasing every year, and because of this disease, about 12,000 patients died in 2010. Since breast cancer has a tendency to metastasize or recur, early detection and early treatment are important. Mammography testing is one of the empirically supported methods preventing breast cancer. This study was proposed to examine the psychosocial factors affecting intentions to use mammography testing for breast cancer susceptibility applying the Common-Sense Model of self-regulation (CSM) in Japan. A total of 243 Japanese college women (mean age: 18.90 ± 1.14) completed the questionnaire set, including demographics, perceived breast cancer risk, worry about breast cancer, intentions to use mammography testing, TCI (Temperament and Character Inventory), and POMS (Profile of Mood States). The findings were as follows: (1) Perceived risk was associated with family history of cancer. (2) Cancer worry was associated with TCI high harm avoidance and reward dependence. Interaction of cancer worry and harm avoidance prevented intentions to use mammography testing, whereas cancer worry and reward dependence promoted it. (3) Perceived risk and cancer worry affected intentions to use mammography testing mediated by beliefs of mammography testing. By discussing these findings from the CSM point of view, we found that CSM was applicable to a Japanese college women sample.

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The use of salivary cortisol is an active research area receiving much interest with implications for basic and clinical purposes. In this study, changes in salivary cortisol following cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) were investigated in patients with panic disorder. Nine patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia participated in a six-session CBT program. Panic disorder severity, avoidance behaviors, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and general self efficacy were evaluated before and after the program. Moreover, saliva samples for cortisol assessment were obtained 6 times (awakening, 15 and 30 minutes after awakening, 3 and 8 hours after awakening, and bedtime) before and after the program. Three cortisol parameters, the diurnal slope (changes in cortisol from awakening to bedtime), awakening response (the increase in cortisol secretion over the first 30 minutes after awakening), and total cortisol output over the day (cortisol area under the curve for the 8 hour periods after awakening) were computed for each day. Patients showed improvements in panic disorder severity, avoidance behaviors, and general self efficacy ratings following the CBT program. Analyses of cortisol parameters showed that the diurnal slope increased after completing the program (t[7]=2.51, p<0.05). Correlation analyses also demonstrated that an improvement in the panic disorder severity rating was associated with decreased total cortisol output (r_s=0.71, p<0.05) and that decreased levels of anxiety were associated with decreased total cortisol output (r_s=0.78, p<0.05) and awakening response (r_s=0.81, p<0.05). These results suggest that salivary cortisol could be a useful tool for evaluating the effects of CBT programs. It is likely that the use of salivary cortisol will continue to expand, thus being applied in a variety of clinical settings.

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[in Japanese]

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