Internet addiction (IA) is a common public health problem among college students, but little is known about the psychological mechanism of its relation to sense of coherence. This study extends ...previous literature by examining the associations between sense of coherence, psychological distress, escape motivation, and IA. Cluster random sampling is used to obtain a sample of Chinese college students (N = 4171, Mean age = 19.26, SD = 1.18) through an online survey. Data are analyzed by using structural equation modeling. Results indicate that sense of coherence not only directly predicts IA, but also indirectly affects IA through the mediators of psychological distress and escape motivation of Internet use. In particular, sense of coherence decreases the level of psychological distress (β = −0.639, p < 0.001), which in turn, increases the level of escape motivation (β = 0.353, p < 0.001), thereby positively predicting IA (β = 0.339, p < 0.001) among Chinese college students. This study contributes to the current knowledge of the protective and risk factors of IA and reveals the psychological mechanisms from sense of coherence to IA. Practical implications are also provided for clinical interventions to reduce IA among Chinese college students.
The association between perfectionism and addictive behaviors has been examined in previous literature; however, few pieces of research have investigated the mediating and moderating mechanisms ...underlying this relationship. Using a sample of 2016 Chinese college students, the present study examined the mediator of depression between maladaptive perfectionism and Internet addiction and the moderator of gender in such associations. The findings indicated that maladaptive perfectionism was directly related to students' Internet addiction and indirectly predicted students' Internet addiction via the mediator of depression. Gender moderated the direct effect, rather than the indirect effect, of maladaptive perfectionism on Internet addiction. Even though males reported a lower score on Internet addiction compared to females, the effect of maladaptive perfectionism on Internet addiction was stronger for males than for females. These findings revealed the psychological mechanisms from perfectionism to Internet addiction, which contributed to the theoretical development in addiction research and provided implications for interventions to reduce Internet addiction among Chinese college students.
The object of this study is to examine the effects of a short-term intensive-type Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention to prevent internet addiction among Chinese college students. We ...conducted a randomized controlled trial applying a group counseling intervention program based on CBT. Data included 21 participants in the intervention group and 22 participants in the control group. The results showed that the intervention program reduced college students' internet addiction symptoms and procrastination and improved their sense of coherence. Regarding the sustained effect, internet addiction symptoms decreased and perceived social support from significant others improved in college students. However, the intervention program did not significantly reduce their average daily internet use time and psychological stress. Overall, this study developed a short-term intensive-type intervention program based on CBT theory, which is complementary for Chinese college students with internet addiction.
Background: Hikikomori is a Japanese social withdrawal phenomenon which, in recent years, is spreading in western developed countries as well. Spending a lot of time secluded indoors, watching and ...playing with fictional narratives may be relatively common for Hikikomori people and may represent a protective factor for their psychological well-being.
Method: We evaluated the role of enjoying fictional narratives on empathy, relaxation, depression, and anxiety in people with Hikikomori experience, in relation to their daily consumption of fictional narratives and their emotional transportation toward fictional narratives. Hikikomori from one psychiatric clinic and three different support facilities were enrolled in this study. Multidimensional empathy scale, CES-D, STAI questionnaire, and relaxation inventory self-report scale were used as outcome measures.
Results: We found a significant correlation between empathy and emotional transportation toward fictional narratives and between relaxation during watching and reading fictional narratives and consumption frequency of fictional narratives. We failed, however, to find any significant correlation with depression and anxiety.
Conclusions: These findings suggest a possible correlation between fiction and empathy/relaxation response; however, any causal relationship is not proven, consequently we deem that further investigations with a larger sample size are required for a better understanding.
Binge drinking is a common and risky behavior among college students. In Japan, however, research on the prevalence of binge drinking and alcohol-related consequences, and the relationship between ...them, is currently scant. The aim of this study is to examine the status of binge drinking and alcohol-related problems, and the relationship between them, among Japanese college students. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of college students who participated in a health seminar or lecture including alcohol-related contents from December 2018 to January 2019. Drinking patterns and alcohol-related consequences were assessed using the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (B-YAACQ) and demographic data. A total of 382 students participated in the seminar, of whom 280 agreed to cooperate in this study and 249 had drinking experience. A total of 88 men (67.7%) and 42 women (32.2%) were classified as binge drinkers. Binge drinkers more significantly experienced various consequences, such as hangover, feeling remorse and embarrassing behavior and some of them were suspected of physical dependence. Furthermore, logistic analysis revealed that among men, the B-YAACQ scores of binge drinkers were 2.01-fold higher those of non-binge drinkers. The findings of this study indicated that binge drinking may cause not only physical consequences but also mental and social problems, especially among men. It is important to tell college students these risks properly not to engage in binge drinking.
Background
The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) is one of the standardized parent rating scales used to identify disruptive behavior problems in children in Western countries. This study aimed ...to determine norms for the Japanese version of the ECBI, including clinical cutoff scores among the general population in Japan.
Methods
This study established norms for the Japanese version of the ECBI using a sample of 1,992 parents of children aged 2–7, living in Japan. The research evaluates the validity and the reliability of the ECBI scores for the Intensity Scale and the Problem Scale. After validation, a clinical cutoff value of the ECBI scores was calculated, setting the cutoff to above the +1 standard deviation (SD) level based on the population distribution.
Results
The means of the Intensity and Problem Scale scores were 100.07 and 6.57, respectively. Cronbach's α for both the Intensity and the Problem scores was 0.91. At this point, we propose cutoff scores of 125 for the Intensity Scale and 14 for the Problem Scale.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that the Japanese version of the ECBI is highly reliable and may be useful as a tool for assessing behavior problems in children.
Introduction
The present study conducted a secondary data analysis of a comprehensive survey from Child Guidance Centers in Japan to identify factors that are associated with child abuse severity in ...infancy (0–3 years, 1,868 cases) and preschool age (4–6 years, 1,529 cases). A predictive model for abuse severity was developed.
Methods
The data originated from a nationwide survey that was conducted in April 2013, consisting of details of abuse cases, including child characteristics, abuser attributes, and family situation. Abuse severity was assessed on a five-level scale (suspected, mild, moderate, severe, and life-threatening) that was converted into a binary outcome. Logistic regression analysis was used to create a predictive model using two-thirds of the data, which was validated with the remaining third of the data.
Results and discussion
As a result, in infancy, risks of severity increased with younger age of the abused child, physical abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence, and the involvement of Child Guidance Centers or hospitals in detection. The abuser's mental problems and cumulative child damage contributed to severity. For preschool age, similar factors applied, with additional risks that included abuse overlap and guardian separation. Cumulative abuser issues and child physical damage impacted severity. Validation yielded moderate prediction accuracy (areas under the curve: 0.703 and 0.714).
Background: Hikikomori is a Japanese social withdrawal phenomenon which, in recent years, is spreading in western developed countries as well. Spending a lot of time secluded indoors, watching and ...playing with fictional narratives may be relatively common for Hikikomori people and may represent a protective factor for their psychological well-being.
Method: We evaluated the role of enjoying fictional narratives on empathy, relaxation, depression, and anxiety in people with Hikikomori experience, in relation to their daily consumption of fictional narratives and their emotional transportation toward fictional narratives. Hikikomori from one psychiatric clinic and three different support facilities were enrolled in this study. Multidimensional empathy scale, CES-D, STAI questionnaire, and relaxation inventory self-report scale were used as outcome measures.
Results: We found a significant correlation between empathy and emotional transportation toward fictional narratives and between relaxation during watching and reading fictional narratives and consumption frequency of fictional narratives. We failed, however, to find any significant correlation with depression and anxiety.
Conclusions: These findings suggest a possible correlation between fiction and empathy/relaxation response; however, any causal relationship is not proven, consequently we deem that further investigations with a larger sample size are required for a better understanding.
Excessive drinking by college students is a major public health problem in Japan. However, data on heavy episodic drinking (HED) and nomihodai, a several-hour all-you-can-drink system, are scarce. We ...surveyed the drinking behavior of undergraduate and graduate students at 35 colleges, and examined the association between HED and use of nomihodai. The study used a cross-sectional design conducted by a self-administered questionnaire. From December 2016 to March 2017, we sampled undergraduate and graduate students aged 20 or older at 35 colleges in the Kanto area, including Tokyo. The following items were measured: 1) frequency of drinking; 2) frequency of binge drinking in the past year; 3) nomihodai use; 4) the number of drinks consumed when using or not using nomihodai; and 5) sex and age for demographic data. Paired t-test was used to compare means between use and non-use state of nomihodai. The Fisher’s exact test was used to evaluate the significance of the distribution difference between the two types of states. A total of 511 subjects completed the questionnaire, including 274 men and 237 women. The amount of drinking was increased 1.8-fold (85.9 ± 49.7 g vs. 48.2 ± 29.5 g) among men and 1.7-fold (63.7 ± 39.3 g vs. 36.5 ± 26.7 g) among women during nomihodai use, comapred with non-use states. Among them, 109 (39.8%) men and 71 (30.3%) women reported HED only at nomihodai states. These data suggest that the use of nomihodai system may lead to excessive drinking among college students.
Binge drinking by college students is a problematic behavior. However, data on binge drinking and the reasons for drinking by college students in Japan are scarce. We explored the reasons for ...drinking among college students. The study used a cross-sectional design and a self-administered questionnaire. From December 2016 to March 2017, we sampled undergraduate and graduate students aged 20 or older at 35 colleges in the Kanto region of Japan. The questionnaire addressed 1) frequency of drinking alcohol, 2) amount of drinking per day, 3) frequency of binge drinking in the past year, and 4) reasons for drinking (with 12 possible responses). The t-test was used to compare the means between binge drinkers and non-binge drinkers. Logistic regression analysis was conducted on binge drinking and the reasons for drinking. The participants included 303 men and 260 women. Significant differences between men and women included the presence of binge drinking (men: 74.9%; women: 59.6%). Among male students, the statistically significant reasons given for binge drinking were “to feel happy or be in a good mood” and “to relieve stress,” whereas among female students, the reasons were “to feel happy or be in a good mood,” “to facilitate interpersonal relationships,” “to forget something bad,” and “to relieve stress.” The reasons for drinking associated with binge drinking were identified. It is important to incorporate these results into preventive education about binge drinking aimed at college students in Japan.
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