Purpose: The object of this research was to describe what it means for elderly people to participate in community activities, to explore social context in the background of community activity that builds social capital.

Method: Using ethnographic principles, I collected and analyzed data from semi-structured interviews with 12 people, participant observation, district survey, and informal interviews, all data being taken from one district in A village.

Results: Interviews showed that, for the elderly participation in community activities means “changing their lives, discovering a new self”, and “regaining a sense of connection with others in the community”. In addition, participation “making them feel peace, being supported by others, and giving them something to live for”.

Discussion: The results indicated that social context, such as environmental and life history, is closely linked to the meaning of participation in community activity for elderly people. The elderly can regain connectedness with trust and reciprocity, find peace, and develop a zest for life through concerned action, reminiscing about memories of Yui (the traditional community mutual-aid system), and re-experiencing what had been lost in community activity. It also appeared that their social character was changed by joint experience in community activity, and new selves were discovered.

Purpose: This study investigated mothers’ satisfaction with the role of the father and explored associated factors.

Methods: The participants were mothers of 3–6-year-old preschoolers. All the mothers were over 20 years old and were married. The data for this study were gathered through anonymous, self-reported questionnaires, collected by mail. The questionnaire included the mother’s and father’s characteristics, the degree of the father’s participation in childcare, the support from the father, and the mother’s satisfaction with the person playing the role of the father. Associated factors were analyzed using a t-test and multiple regression analysis.

Results: The questionnaires were received by 398 individuals, and 183 responses were collected; of these, 179 (45.0%) were considered usable. The average satisfaction score of the participants was 34.5±10.0 points (on a scale of a possible 10–50 points). Higher satisfaction was associated with greater participation in childcare (β=0.20) and greater support on the part of the husband (β=0.68).

Conclusions: To ensure that mothers are satisfied with the man playing the role of the father, some childcare participation and support must be received from the father. In particular, the support of the husband was found to promote spiritual support for mothers burdened with childrearing, which is considered important for stable childrearing.

Objectives: To explore the causes of the near misses that guardians of infants have experienced during early infancy.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 428 guardians of four-month-old infants living in a small area. Questions on the survey assessed the background information on each guardian and the child’s development. Factors relating to the near misses were recorded using a chi-squared test on SPSS ver. 15.

Results: Valid responses were obtained from 332 (77.6%) guardians, and 59% had experienced near misses. Guardians without such experience exhibited significant differences in family living unit, childcare support for the guardian, and education in accident prevention for the guardian. Other significant differences found were regarding the child’s development, namely, with regard to head stability and bouncing of the legs when the child is supported from both sides.

Conclusions: This study acquired information that may help prevent accidents among infants. The causes of near misses may include lack of effective adult supervision of the infant and lack of education on accident prevention.

Purpose: This study elucidates the experiences of elderly people at a refuge during the acute disaster phase that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Methods: Nine elderly residents of a refuge were studied through the data obtained from semi-structured interviews, with the contents being analyzed using a qualitative inductive method.

Results: At the refuges, the elderly subjects were exposed to life crises, experiencing “huddling together to endure cold” and having “access to the minimum food and water for survival”. They described life in unsanitary environments that promoted health problems, recounting “the experience of using unfamiliar portable toilets”, “living without changing their clothes due to a lack of daily necessities”, and “having to live in unsanitary conditions”. They experienced “progression of disease together with insufficient medical care” because the medical institutions were damaged and transportation was not functioning properly. Moreover, they experienced “sympathy for and submission to a victim’s experiences, which divide life from death and illustrate the reality of human relations”. They recognized that many people supported their experience of “recognizing the strength of life and gaining an appreciation for a life involving mutual assistance”.

Discussion: The experiences pf elderly participants in refuges indicate that effective support systems require cooperation among local people, concerned individuals, and supporters from other organizations.

Objective: The present study aimed to clarify the health of primary industry workers as perceived by public health nurses.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out for eight public health nurses who had more than five years of work experience in towns that rely mainly on primary industry sectors. The responses obtained were then analyzed using a qualitative descriptive design.

Results: Six definitions regarding health as a state of well-being for primary industry workers were determined based on perceptions of the nurses: “their livelihood is dependent on the blessings of nature”, “they prioritize earning a living to secure their livelihood”, “their health and physical strength comprise the human capital for work”, “they are considerate and caring toward their co-workers”, “they make efforts as producers to inform others regarding food culture”, and “they are proud of their occupation”.

Discussion: In this study, public health nurses perceived health as a state of well-being of primary industry workers, who are meant to work in accordance with nature, to prioritize interactions with family and co-workers, and to fully engage as producers for others. These results suggest a deeper understanding of how primary industry workers live in association with nature and their co-workers. Additionally, their perceived role as producers could improve the delivery of their services to help achieve an optimal work–life balance.