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Objective: To examine lifestyle habits and cancer screening behavior in relation to a family history of cancer among Japanese women., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on baseline data from the Japan Nurses' Health Study collected from June 2001 to March 2007. Participants were 47,347 female nurses aged 30-59 years residing in 47 prefectures in Japan. We compared lifestyle habits and the utilization of cancer screenings (cervical and breast) between women with and without a family history of the relevant cancer., Results: Although there were no differences in lifestyle habits with the exception of smoking status, women with a family history of uterine cancer were more likely to have undergone cervical cancer screenings (p<0.01). Women with a family history of breast cancer were also more likely to have undergone breast cancer screenings regardless of their age (p<0.01), but lifestyle behaviors did not differ. Among women with a family history of uterine cancer, those with a sister history were more likely to have undergone not only cervical (OR, 1.89; 95% CIs, 1.39-2.58), but also breast cancer screenings (OR, 1.54; 95% CIs 1.13-2.09)., Conclusion: Having a family history of cancer was associated with cancer screening behavior, but not health promotive behaviors., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Grossarth-Maticek and colleagues have shown, in their prospective studies, a strong relationship of their personality types, Types 1 and 2, to cancer and coronary heart disease (CHD), respectively. Relevant information is limited from replication studies, and little is known about psychosocial factors in relation to cancer or CHD in Japan. Subjects included 95 cases of lung cancer (LC), 94 cases of myocardial infarction (MI) and 596 controls. The controls were men and women who visited a clinic for a health checkup. The Grossarth-Maticek personality types, Types 1 to 6, were assessed using the Short Interpersonal Reactions Inventory. The distributions of the 6 personality types were compared between the case and control groups, adjusting for sex and age class. The relation of each of the 6 types to LC and MI were examined in terms of odds ratio, using a logistic regression model controlling for age, sex, job status, education level, and smoking status. As regards the distribution analysis, Types 1 and 2 in the LC and MI groups each were not more prevalent than the controls, respectively. High score of the Type 1 scale was associated with a statistically nonsignificant decrease in LC risk. MI risk was significantly, positively associated with the Type 2 and 5 scales, and unexpectedly, positively related to the Type 3 scale. The present findings partly supported the Grossarth-Maticek theory, but there remain some conflicting issues to be confirmed in future studies.

The present research is an examination of the parameters and correlates of kanashibari, operationally defined as being unable to move upon awakening or before falling asleep. Nonclinical Japanese individuals (N = 720), 34% of whom reported an experience of kanashibari at least once, were administered D. I. Templer's (1970) Death Anxiety Scale, R. Brown's (1990) Locus of Control Scale, and a questionnaire devised by the authors to collect information about kanashibari. The results showed that the kanashibari experience was positively correlated with death anxiety, with being a woman, and with external-other locus of control; this last measure assessed the extent to which these individuals felt that their lives were determined by fate, good luck, or chance.

In order to determine the factors causing anxiety in raising young children, data were collected from questionnaires completed by 1164 mothers of 3-y-old children at a standardized baby check-up. Factors concerning demographic characteristics, delivery and child rearing practice were used in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that mothers rearing first children and toddlers who were susceptible to common illnesses were likely to worry. Improvements in the child rearing environment are needed.