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What is Empowerment? Empowerment is to give people dreams and hopes, encourage them, and bring out the wonderful power of life that they originally have. Everyone is born with great power. And you can continue to exert great power throughout your life. Empowerment is to bring out that wonderful power. Just as gushing out from the spring, it is critical to bring out the vitality and potential of each person. In practices such as psychology, health, medical care, welfare, education, administration, management, and community development, the wonderful potential that each person originally has is brought up and manifested, and through activities, can create positive change for the development of people's lives and society. We will make use of it. In addition, in groups such as organizations and communities, the vitality and abilities hidden in each person are effectively drawn out, and this power is used as energy to support the growth of people and the development of the community. This is the empowerment required of organizations, communities, and people.

Objectives Social relationships may help in maintaining functional status among older adults. This study examined the types of social relationships that were related to functional status among Japanese community-dwelling older adults. Study design This is a prospective cohort study. Methods We used baseline data from 2008 and conducted follow-up surveys six years later. Participants included individuals older than 65 years who lived in a suburban community in Japan. The Index of Social Interaction measure was used to assess multiple elements of social relationships. Two functional status outcomes were set: (1) functional decline and (2) functional decline and mortality. A multiple logistic regression model was used to examine the association between social relationships and functional decline six years later. Results After controlling for age, sex, family structure and disease status in 2008, poor social curiosity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.69) and interaction (OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.20–5.51) were found to be associated with functional decline. Furthermore, social curiosity (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.14–1.69) and interaction (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.44–5.59) were also associated with the composite outcome. Conclusions Social curiosity and interacting with others were significantly associated with functional status. Promotion of social interaction may be essential for preventing future need for care.

Aim Previous studies have shown that social relationships positively contribute to the functioning of older adults. However, the particular aspects of social relationships that are most predictive remain unknown. Consequently, the current study aimed to clarify what elements of social relationships impacted the maintenance of functioning among older adults. Methods The present study used baseline data collected in 2011, and follow-up surveys were carried out 3 years later. Participants included individuals aged 65 years or older who lived in a suburban community in Japan. A total of 434 participants met inclusion criteria for the study and were included in analysis. The Index of Social Interaction measure consists of five subscales (independence, social curiosity, interaction, participation and feeling of safety), and was used to assess the multiple elements of social relationships. Results After controlling for age, sex, disease status and mobility in 2011, the results showed that the social curiosity subscale was significantly associated with functional status after 3 years (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.02–1.63). Other Index of Social Interaction subscales were non-significant. Conclusions The current study suggests that interaction with environment and multifaceted social relationships have the strongest impact on functional ability for older adults in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1522–1526.

Summary Background Since limited, specific assessments of social environments have previously been used, with the effect of a change in social interaction proving rare in previous studies, this study sought to clarify the specific association between changes in social interaction and symptoms of dementia. Methods The participants were elderly people, aged > 60 years, from a suburban community. All the participants formed part of the investigation from 2008 to 2011. The Index of Social Interaction was used to measure social interaction among elderly people. Data of dementia were obtained from Health and Welfare Center of local government. The chi-square test and a logistical regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between changes in social interaction and dementia. Results There were 321 participants without missing data. The results showed that “reading newspapers” was a positive change in social interaction in relation to the risk of dementia (odds ratio = 3.45, confidence interval: 1.04–11.45). Conclusion This study focused on changes in social interaction and found that a positive change could help prevent dementia. Specifically, this study indicated that elderly people's engagement with the social environment and in intellectual activities would prevent dementia.

Although early institutionalization has been shown to have broad, detrimental effects on child developmental outcomes, there have been few attempts to systematic measure which aspects of the institution and caregiving environment associate with negative psychological outcomes. The current study uses a culturally and contextually modified early adolescent version of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory (EA-HOME-JP) in Japanese child welfare institutions (CWIs) to provide preliminary data on relevant variables in the caregiving environment that associate with domains of perceived self-competency. Forty-six children and young people (Agemean = 13 years 9 months) and their 35 primary caregivers from 11 CWIs were interviewed using EA-HOME-JP. Children and young people also self-reported on their perceived cognitive, physical, social competencies, and sense of self-worth. Participants within the same residential environments exhibited marked variation across each EA-HOME-JP subscale suggesting that the same rearing environment can be experienced differently by different individuals. Interestingly, EA-HOME-JP scores did not vary with care type (large-ward, middle-ward, and family-like), Instead, CWIs grouped within the same care type showed significant variation to one another on EA-HOME-JP subscales. Importantly, EA-HOME-JP scores, rather than care type, associated with aspects of competency (cognitive competency and sense of self-worth). As these findings are based on a small number of participants, they will require further replication in larger samples ascertained from other regions in Japan. Ultimately, these data may contribute to considerations over optimal packages of residential rearing in Japan.

Oxytocin (OT) has a positive effect on the amount of affectionate and stimulatory involvement parents have with their infants. However, the association between OT and parenting toddlers is unclear in relation to a parenting approach that aims to develop and support child autonomy. Thus, we hypothesized that parental OT might be inversely correlated with parenting that supports autonomy in toddlers. We recruited a convenience sample of 50 women (age range 24–44) and 30 men (age range 31–42) in Japan via community sampling and obtained urine samples to measure OT levels. The Interaction Rating Scale, which evaluates the social competence of children and the parenting skills of caregivers, including autonomy support, was used. Multiple regression analysis that adjusted for covariates (age, number of children, self-rated health, and education) was performed to evaluate the association between OT and parent–toddler interactions. Maternal OT levels were inversely correlated with children’s empathy and mothers’ respect for autonomy and responsiveness development (p

Although active listening is an influential behavior, which can affect the social responses of others, the neural correlates underlying its perception have remained unclear. Sensing active listening in social interactions is accompanied by an improvement in the recollected impressions of relevant experiences and is thought to arouse positive feelings. We therefore hypothesized that the recognition of active listening activates the reward system, and that the emotional appraisal of experiences that had been subject to active listening would be improved. To test these hypotheses, we conducted functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on participants viewing assessments of their own personal experiences made by evaluators with or without active listening attitude. Subjects rated evaluators who showed active listening more positively. Furthermore, they rated episodes more positively when they were evaluated by individuals showing active listening. Neural activation in the ventral striatum was enhanced by perceiving active listening, suggesting that this was processed as rewarding. It also activated the right anterior insula, representing positive emotional reappraisal processes. Furthermore, the mentalizing network was activated when participants were being evaluated, irrespective of active listening behavior. Therefore, perceiving active listening appeared to result in positive emotional appraisal and to invoke mental state attribution to the active listener.

Objectives The aim of this study was to explore students’ perception of their learning from the interprofessional program implemented in Japan where the implementation and evaluation of interprofessional education is behind that of western countries. Methods We conducted a qualitative research of opinions of students who participated in the interprofessional program implemented in the University of Tsukuba. The participants were 105 medical, 65 nursing, and 35 medical science students. At the completion of the program, we asked that the participants write their opinion on what they gained by participating in the program. From their responses, significant descriptions were extracted, coded by content, and then grouped into subcategories. These subcategories were then separated into main categories based on their emergent themes. Results The main categories identified were such as “understanding of medical professionals,” “interprofessional work,” “holistic care,” “communication,” “sharing,” and “empowerment.” Conclusions The categories extracted in our study, for the most part, matched previous studies, suggesting that the program helped students enhance their understanding of interprofessional work. Although the Japanese health care system and medical education system are different from those of western countries, this suggests that the benefits of interprofessional education in Japan will be similar to those of western countries.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effects of (a) parent–child interaction and (b) home environment on the early development of empathy in toddlers. A total of 176 Japanese families (both young children and their parents) were enrolled in this study. Laboratory assessment of children's empathy development and caregiver's rearing competence was made during a controlled observation of parent–child interaction. The results of this study suggest that of all the factors examined, the degree of parent–child interaction, the stability of long-term parenting practices, parental attitude, and mother's mental health status were correlated with development of empathy in children. These findings provide new indicators for the development of individualized intervention methods for use in clinical practice.

With increasing numbers of women joining the evening/nighttime and extended-hour workforce, there is a need for quality childcare during these hours. This project, conducted in Japan, sought to compare the effects of expanded child-care on the health of 271 school-aged children. Parents completed a survey on the childrearing environment at home, their feelings of self-efficacy, and the presence of support for childcare; and childcare professionals evaluated the development of these school-aged children. Children responded to questions regarding their health. Results of the multiple regression analysis indicate that factors in the home environment, not length of time in center-based care, explained health risks at school age.

We aimed to clarify the effects of the praise of mothers on their 18-month-old offspring by tracing the trajectory of the latter’s’ social competence from this time to 30 and 42 months. The participants were 226 mother-child dyads whose interaction was observed when the children were 18, 30, and 42 months old. The features of mother-child interaction, and specifically the social proficiency of the children, were examined using the Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an aspect of social competence. Our findings indicate that caregivers’ praise of 18-month-old children is very important in promoting a high-level trajectory of child social competence from that time to 30 and 42 months. It is hoped that caregivers and health care professionals will use these findings appropriately when providing care giving support to parents.

Effects of early extended child care on children’s functioning from age one year through the end of year six were examined in the Japan Child Care Cohort Study. This longitudinal project sought to assess the developmental and adaptation effects on children. Parents completed a survey on the childrearing environment at home, their feelings of self-efficacy, and the available support for childcare. Childcare professionals evaluated the development of children. The results, using a panel cohort method, indicated that although parenting was a stronger and more consistent predictor of children’s development than was the early extended child-care experience, support from the spouse predicted higher vocabulary development.

Background: With increasing numbers of women joining the evening/nighttime and extended-hour workforce, there is a need for quality childcare during these hours. Methods: This project, conducted in Japan, sought to compare the effects of expanded child-care on the development and adaptation of 185 young children after five years in care. Parents completed a survey on the childrearing environment at home, their feelings of self-confidence, and the presence of support for childcare. Childcare professionals evaluated the development of children. Results: The results of multiple regression analysis indicate that factors in the home environment, not length of center-based care, explained developmental risks five years later. Conclusion: High quality center-based childcare provides good condition of children's development after five years. For further evidence to study children's development, it is important to follow up to evaluate various features of longer duration.

Background: The present study examines gender differences in the correlations between intelligence and developmental problems as well as social competence in first graders. Methods: Ninety parent-child dyads participated in this study. The children comprised 7-year-olds recruited from the first grade of an elementary school. All the children were administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Third Edition (WISC-III), Parent-child Interaction Rating Scale (IRS), and the parent report version of Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results: The findings clarified that the processing speed of boys significantly correlated with their peer relationship. On the other hand, the emotional symptoms exhibited by girls had a more common association with their intellectual abilities. The correlations between parenting and intellectual abilities differed in boys and girls. Conclusions: Children’s gender should be taken into account when assessing the diversity in their intellectual abilities and developmental problems. Moreover, parenting also influences the development of children in various ways.

With increasing numbers of women joining the evening/nighttime workforce, there is a need for quality childcare during these hours. This project, conducted in Japan, sought to compare the effects of expanded childcare on the development and adaptation of 866 young children after one year. Parents completed a survey on the childrearing environment at home, their feelings of self-efficacy, and the presence of support for childcare. Childcare professionals evaluated the development of children. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicate that factors in the home environment, not type of centerbased care, explained developmental risks one year later.

With increasing numbers of women joining the evening/nighttime workforce, there is a need for quality childcare during these hours. This project, conducted in Japan, sought to compare the effects of child day care, child evening care, and child night care on the development and adaptation of young children. Caregivers completed a survey on the childrearing environment at home, their feelings of self-efficacy, and the presence of support for childcare. Childcare professionals evaluated the development of children. The results of the discriminant analysis indicate that factors in the home environment, not type of center-based care, explained developmental variance.

Longitudinal studies of a village in Japan that has been followed for over 20 years provide data to analyze the relationship between various types of social interaction and participation and social ties, and longevity and functioning among older residents in a small fishing village (n=@5000) in Japan. Data have been collected every three years in this village for over 20 years. Interviews and assessments include physical and mental health conditions assessments, as well as data about level and types of social interaction and participation (from telephone contacts to participation in local community meetings). Data have shown over time that social interaction is positively related to longevity and life satisfaction. More recent analyses focus on various types of social activities and how those change as one ages. While the types of activities may change (e.g., due to physical limitations), the simple element of being connected, even through thin ties, remains important.

本研究は,理学療法士(PT)のケアマネジメント関連項目に対する自己評価の特徴を明らかにし,今後のあり方検討への一助とすることを目的とした.対象はPT210名,コントロール群(他保健福祉専門職)922名であり,ケアマネジメント関連項目評価票への回答を依頼した.97.1%以上のPTが本項目の必要性を認め,職種間による差異は少なかった.クラスター分析による項目間の構造の妥当性が得られ,クロンバッファα係数は各領域で0.95以上と高い信頼性が得られ,本評価票の指標としての可能性が示唆された.PTのケアマネジメント自己評価特性から,専門職が共有可能なケアマネジメント評価法の確立の必要性が示された.

Since the revision of the Law for the Welfare of the Physically Handicapped, the Japanese government has been giving financial support to Information Centers for persons with Hearing Disabilities or ICHD. In September 1994, eight ICHDs provided a variety of services for the deaf and the hard-of-hearing. This paper reports on some of the services and problems at these ICHDs. The answers to questionnaires, that had been sent to the centers in September 1994, were collected by November of the same year. The questionnaires consisted of 36 questions from six areas: administration, staff, equipment, users, service programs, and linkage with other social facilities. As a result of examining the answers, it was found that the ICHDs shared the following two problems. First, although making and lending captioned video tapes was the most common service program and occupied the majority of the staff, other services such as rehabilitative consultation, library, sign language interpretation and facsimile-telephone relay service were not yet developed to a sufficient degree. Second, most of the ICHDs had a solid linkage with the local government, the deaf community, and social welfare councils, whereas their relationship with public libraries, employment security offices, and public health centers was not particularly close.

Empowerment in Asian countries is a relatively new concept, and the manner in which it has been implemented has varied across cultural settings and with different groups. In this chapter we discuss the concept of empowerment, and then present a specific model for the process of community empowerment (the CASE Model, developed in Japan), as well as how empowerment has been applied effectively in various conditions. The stages of this model are Creation, Adaptation, Sustenance, and Evaluation/Expansion (CASE), and require different skills and steps at each stage. These are outlined in this chapter, along with critical factors for success in empowerment efforts in any cultural environment, whether at the personal, social, and/or systemic levels of community development.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between children’s social competence and initial index of theory of mind at 30 months of age.Methods: The participants of the study were 322 toddlers and parents/caregivers who were registered with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project. They completed a five-minute interaction session, which was coded using the Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an evidence-based practical index of children’s social competence. In addition, the children were asked to complete a diverse-desire task as a ToM (theory of mind) index.Results: The results showed that the ToM index was related to the total score and subscales of the IRS, such as Empathy and Emotional regulation.Conclusions: These findings show that the IRS score was related to ToM task performance at 30 months of age.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the presence and form of elder abuse and to identify associated risk factors for abuse in a small sample of frail elders using support services in a suburban community in Japan. Design and Methods: The participants were all frail elderly (n = 78) among a sample of persons aged 60 or older (n = 1,134) in an agricultural village on the main island of Japan. Results: The key results were that 17.9% were categorized as being abused, with psychological abuse, neglect, and financial abuse being the most common forms. Implications: Cultural factors may impact who an abuser is, but the contributing factors in this Japanese sample do not significantly differ from results found in other countries. Preventive strategies need to be targeted at multiple levels.