【Objective】The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of body BMI, body image and diet behavior on menoxenia in young Japanese women. 【Methods】We recruited 15-39 year-old women for this study. Body height, weight, body image, diet behaviors, menstrual condition and depressive state were included as items in an online questionnaire. We calculated the percentage of subjects with different BMI classifications in each body image group, the expression rate of menoxenia for each BMI classification and each body image group, how much body image affected diet behavior, and how much diet behavior affected the expression of menoxenia. 【Result】3,274 women participated in the study. Median age and BMI of the subjects were 26 years and 20.1 kg/m², respectively. Many women with a BMI of 17-21.9 had a good body image. Menoxenia rarely happened in subjects with a BMI of 18.5-21.9 kg/m² and these subjects also had a good body image. Body image affected diet behavior. Restriction of the staple diet was an independent variable for menoxenia. Conclusion : Our survey suggested having a BMI of 18.5-21.9 kg/m² and a good body image gave low risk for menoxenia, and restriction of the staple diet might cause menoxenia in them.

【Objective】This study aimed to evaluate effects of a web-based program for the physical and mental health of postpartum women during COVID-19 pandemic. 【Method】142 women who were less than one year postpartum took part in the web-based program agreed to participate in this study. Data were analyzed for the 71 participants who completed all four programs and surveys. The program included stretching, muscle strengthening, dialogue between participants. The outcome measures were physical condition, WHO Subjective Well-being Inventory (SUBI), and changing self-care behavior. A web-based survey was conducted four times : before the first session (BL), within one week after the final session (P1), and one month (P2) and three months after the program (P3). 【Results】A significant difference was found in physical condition and changing self-care behavior. A significant improve in SUBI positive affect was seen at P1 (43.6±5.9) and at P2 (43.5±6.2) compared to BL (41.4±6.8). A significant improvement in SUBI negative affect was seen at P3 (53.8±6.4) compared to the BL (49.7±5.8). 【Discussion】The web-based program for the physical and mental health of postpartum women contributed to improvements in physical condition and subjective well-being and facilitated changing self-care behavior.

【AIM】We examined the effects of an educational program on new parents’ marital relationships across their transition to parenthood. The program was developed based on previous research and adapted to the Japanese cultural context ; it included explanatory information, rehearsals, and discussions. 【METHODS】 In this quasi-experimental study, a program was undertaken with couples after 34 weeks of pregnancy. Participants completed the Marital Dyadic Adjustment Scale (MDAS), the Japanese version of the Close Relationship Scale (love, conflict, ambivalence, and maintenance), and the Psychological Support Scale, before attending the program, at one month, and at three to four months after childbirth. 【RESULTS】 A total of 152 participants (control group, 80；intervention group, 72) were included in the study. The intervention had an effect on maintenance (β＝0.152, p＝0.022, adj-R²＝0.346) and psychological support (β＝0.172, p＝0.018, adj-R²＝0.234) at three to four months after childbirth. 【CONCLUSIONS】 The program had positive effects and supported good marital relationships at three to four months after childbirth.

This study longitudinally examined changes in anxiety levels and salivary oxytocin levels in 10 expectant and nursing mothers during the first trimester to one year postpartum. Thereafter, the study tested a hypothesis. Results indicated that, compared to multiparas, primiparas had delayed oxytocin secretion. Further, the percentage of mothers experiencing anxiety tended to be higher in primiparas than in multiparas. However, a negative correlation was observed between salivary oxytocin levels and the frequency of anxiety. Particularly, primiparas were found to have lower levels of anxiety directly before childbirth, during which salivary oxytocin levels increase. Salivary oxytocin levels were found to be high from early pregnancy in multiparas, a small percentage of whom experienced anxiety during the postpartum period. Findings from this study suggest that high oxytocin levels in multiparas may contribute to reducing depression and suicide compared to primiparas. Primiparas tend to feel anxious when they breastfeed their baby for the first time. Therefore, to reduce their anxiety and depression after childbirth, it is important to provide primiparas with breastfeeding support designed to facilitate oxytocin secretion from an early stage.

【Aims】 The purpose of this paper was to clarify the current states of life planning and fertility knowledge among Japanese high school students using the Cardiff Fertility Knowledge Scale-Japanese version (CFKS-J). 【Methods】 A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 486 Japanese high school students from June to July 2016. The survey included basic attributes, desired life plan, information sources on pregnancy and childbirth, desired educators, and CFKS-J. 【Results】 There were the following findings. 355 subjects (88.4%) had a desire to have a child by the age of 30. The average accuracy rate of CFKS-J was 41.9 (±20.7) %. Those who used the Internet as a source of information had a higher rate of correct answers (p<0.01). On the other hand, 73.7 percent of subjects relied on school as the source of information, and 66.2 percent of them preferred to receive education from midwives and doctors. 【Conclusion】 It is considered that effective education for Japanese high school students is made possible by having teachers and external supporters, such as midwives and doctors, work together from a professional standpoint in schools, and by enhancing group guidance and individualized support.

The purpose of study was to develop a psycho-educational program for prevention of eating disorder for female university students. And the purpose of study was to verify the effectiveness of a psycho-educational program. This study was conducted on a trial basis. In this study, a psycho-educational program was developed based on CBT-E (enhanced cognitive behavior Therapy). The psycho-educational program consisted of a knowledge education session (1 week) and an intervention session (1 week). The subject of the analysis was the intervention group (n=3, mean 20.33 ± 0.58 years) and the control group (n=4, mean 21.25 ± 1.89 years). As a result of the examination, dissatisfaction of “waist”, “buttocks”, “thighs / legs” and plumpness of whole body were reduced before and after the intervention session. In addition, the frequency of binge eating decreased before and after the intervention session. In the future, it is hoped that a good program for prevention of eating disorder for female university students.

The aim of this study was to identify relapse of Eating Disorders (EDs) during pregnancy and after delivery as well as postpartum depression in women who had complete remission of EDs. Of the 1,008 patients with EDs who visited outpatient clinic between 1994 and 2004, 55 experienced ED remission and pregnancy. Of these, 25 (21 with BN and 4 with AN) consented to participate in this study. They were interviewed every 2 weeks both during pregnancy and after giving birth. The eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used as reference scales for diagnosing the EDs and postpartum depression, respectively. A two-sided unpaired test was used for the statistical analysis. Sixteen participants (67%) experienced ED relapse during pregnancy and 12 (50%) relapsed after birth. Twelve had postpartum depression. Among the participants who did not have postpartum depression, there were no low-body-weight infants. This study revealed that recurrence of EDs and the occurrence of postpartum depression were higher in this population, indicating the need to closely monitor EDs during pregnancy and after birth.