• NPO法人 コシコシの会

RESEARCH ARTICLES

2020

ELDERLY IN INSTITUTIONALIZED CARE: ENHANCING INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AS SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION: TOWARDS FAMILY SOCIAL WORK IN SRI LANKA

RESEARCH ARTICLE E-Journal of Social Work 2020 – 4 (1): 24-31 [PEF] nisd.ac.lK

Varathagowry Vasudevan
 Director, Training Division, National Institute of Social Development
Koichi Yaguchi
 Director of Non-Profit Organization for Supporting Mental Health of Children and Senior Citizenss in Japan Ex-Professor of Department of Social Work, School of Health Sciences, Tokai University, Japan

Abstract :
This evidence-based practice paper attempts to reflect learning of a particular problem through ualitative inquiry of working with individual, families, and group of institutionalized elderly women. It reflects the elderly problems, intervention process, and outcome of the social work practice. It attempted to analysis the planned use of empirically supported assessment and intervention methods combined with the use of monitoring and evaluation strategies for the purpose of improving.

https://nisd.ac.lk/images/pdf/ejournal_2020_issue1/3ELDERLY_IN_INSTITUTIONALIZED_CARE_ENHANCING_INTERPERSONAL_RELATIONSHIPS.pdf

2018

Effects of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia on sleep and usage of hypnotics among community-dwelling older adults: Randomized controlled trial

Mika TANAKA, Mayumi IKEUCHI, Hideaki MATSUKI, Koichi YAGUCHI, Tomoko KUTSUZAWA, Katsutoshi TANAKA and Yoshitaka KANEITA

Jpn J Public Health ,Vol.65,No.8:386-398.2018(Japanese Society of Public Health)Abstract in English : p398

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jph/65/8/65_17-064/_pdf/-char/ja

2017

Young People Caring for Their Parents: A Collaborative Study in Japan and Sri Lanka

International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice Horizon Research Publishing Vol.5. No.4 November, 2017, pp. 157-172

Koichi Yaguchi, Varathagowry Vasudevan, Koh Miyanaga, Mika Tanaka, Fumiko Mega,Osamu Kobayashi, Chiyoko Kodama, Masaaki Abe, Kazue Kanno, Tomoko Kutsuzawa,Riddley Jayasinghe, Kaluvila M. Y. Karunaratna, Wijesinghe M. Danapala, Jeyaruban V. R.

Abstract :
Population aging is a global problem, but its magnitude and manifestation vary across countries. Japan faces the challenge of a super-aged society, whereas Sri Lanka is experiencing rapid demographic transition: a problem in the Asia Pacific region that needs urgent attention. The degree to which young adults provide support for aging parents depends on their awareness/consciousness of older adults, and differs according to social images that influence intergenerational relationships. This quantitative study investigated young adults’ opinions and perceptions toward their aging parents and intergenerational activities, and explored their care consciousness and anticipated challenges. Representative samples of 1064 university students from Japan and 600 students from Sri Lanka (aged 20–22 years) completed a self-administered questionnaire. Students who had an attitude of discrimination toward older people also perceived older adults as having a significant amount of experience and knowledge. They believed in traditional forms of caregiving with social support and appeared to have developed values to prepare themselves to face the challenges of population aging. Overall, female students were more concerned about population aging than male students. However, with the aging population increasing, opinions and social values about older adults face dramatic social challenges, despite maintenance of cultural and religious traditions.

https://www.hrpub.org/download/20171130/IJRH2-19290475.pdf

2014

Interest in and standard of selection of clothing related to quality of life in older Japanese adults: Sex, age, and physical function di­erences

e Japanese Journal of Health Psychology 2014, Vol. 27, No. 2, 103–112

Akitomo Yasunaga , Koichi Yaguchi and Kyoko Noguchi

Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional association between quality of life (QOL) in older adults and their interest in and standard of selection of clothing. The QOL of older adults in this study was assessed by the sense of life worth living (in Japanese, Ikigai). We hypothesized that having an interest in clothing and dressing behaviors may help maintain and enhance the QOL of older adults. In January 2010, a questionnaire survey including demographic factors (age, sex, and activities of daily living), interest in clothing, standard of selection of clothing, and sense of life worth living was distributed to 850 older Japanese people (aged 70-95 years) who were registered with a survey company. Responses from 499 people (256 men and 243 women; response rate, 58.7%) were analyzed. For standard of selection of clothing, all scores for women were higher than they were for men; no significant age-group differences were observed, however. Furthermore, scores for interest in one’s own and others’ dressing behavior and interest in fashion were significantly greater in those who were younger or independent. The hierarchical multiple regression analyses also showed that the clothing-related variables significantly explained variance of the sense of life worth living (Ikigai) in older people (from 10% to 23%). We suggest that selecting personal taste in dress and/or an interest in clothing contribute to maintaining and enhancing QOL in older adults.

https://kokoroshien.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/jhp2014-vol27s.pdf

e Japanese Journal of Health Psychology 2014, Vol. 27, No. 1, 1–1

Personality traits, self-e­cacy for exercise, and exercise levels in older Japanese adults

Akitomo Yasunaga and Koichi Yaguchi

Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between the five factor model of personality and exercise level and self-efficacy (SE) for exercise in older Japanese adults. This study also examined whether SE mediates the association between personality and exercise behavior. Methods: A questionnaire survey was distributed that determined age, sex, physical health, exercise level, SE for exercise, and personality traits of 1,515 older Japanese adults. Of these 1,515 people, 876 aged 60–92 years completed the questionnaire survey. Results: Extraversion and conscientiousness were signififcantly and positively associated with exercise level after controlling for age, sex, and physical health. All domains of personality traits (extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were positive, but neuroticism was negative) were significantly correlated with SE for exercise. Structural equation modeling showed that only extraversion was directly aected by exercise level, all personality traits showed significant pathways to SE for exercise, and SE for exercise was the greatest predictor of exercise level in all pathways in the final model. Conclusion: Extraversion is directly associated with exercise level, extraversion, and other personality traits that are affected by SE for exercise. Additionally, SE for exercise is the greatest predictor of exercise level in older Japanese adults.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jahp/27/1/27_1/_pdf

2012

Characteristics of Psychosocial Problems for the Elderly in Japan 
(Invited Symposium : Measures to Aging in Japan)

Japanese journal of applied psychology 38(Special issue), 144-151, 2012-11

Yaguchi Koichi

https://kokoroshien.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/toka-2009-39-4.pdf

2010

Indirect effects of school volunteering by senior citizens on parents through the “REPRINTS” intergenerational health promotion program

Japanese Society of Public Health ,Vol.57,No.6 :p458-466.(June,2010)
Abstract in English : p466

Yoshinori FUJIWARA, Naoki WATANABE, Mariko NISHI, Hiromi OHBA, Sangyoon LEE, Youko KOUSA, Satoru YAJIMA, Hiroto YOSHIDA, Taro FUKAYA, Naoko SAKUMA, Hayato UCHIDA and Shoji SHINKAI

Background and Purpose
We have launched a new intervention study, called “REPRINTS” (Research of productivity by intergenerational sympathy), in which senior volunteers aged 60 years and over are engaged in reading picture books to school children, regularly visiting public elementary schools since 2004.
So far, no repeated cross-sectional studies to demonstrate indirect effects on parents have been reported, although reciprocal effects on senior volunteers and children have been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to examine the changes of evalu ation of “REPRINTS” program by parents of school children during the 2 years.

Methods
Subjects & setting: Four to six volunteers as a group visited an elementary school in a suburb of Kawasaki city twice a week to read picture books. A baseline survey was conducted one month after launching the volunteer activity. First to fourth follow-up surveys were conducted every 6 months after baseline surver.
Of 368 parents, 230 whose children were in 1st-4th grade were analyzed. Measurements: School grade of children, gender, emotional image scale of older adults by the SD (Semantic Differential) method (13 items), parents’ evaluation of activity of “REPRINTS” volunteers such as promotion of reading for children, or children’s respect for older adults, appreciation, familiarity with older adults, indirect effects on promotion of safety in the community, and reducing parent’s physical and psycho logical burdens of volunteer service for school, Repeated cross-sectional analyses by ANCOVA, ad justed for confounding factors, were conducted in order to compare changes in responses between parents of 1st-2nd grade children (lower-grade children) with those of 3rd-4th grade-children (middle-grade children). We examined experiences of being read with picture books,greeting and having conversations with volunteers among all of 330 students of 1st-4th grade. These three items were examined using Chi-squared test to compare longitudinal change between parents of lower-grade and middle-grade children.

Result
Evaluation of children’s familiarity with older adults significantly declined among parents of middle-grade children, but was maintained among those of lower-grade children during the 2 years.
Physical burdens of volunteer service for school were lower among parents’ of lower-grade children atbaseline, and were significantly reduced among parents’ of all grades.
Promotion of reading for children, indirect effects on promotion of safety in the community, and frequency of hearing episodes of “REPRINTS” volunteers from children were higher among parents’ of lower-grade children at baseline. Psychological burdens were reduced and level of knowledge of “REPRINTS” volunteers was increased among parents’ of all grades.
In terms of parents’ emotional image scale of older adults in general, no significant difference was found among the grades of school children and number of surveys for all the subscales of ‘socializa tion’, ‘activity’, and ‘cheerfulness’,

Conclusion
The level of knowledge and a number of items of evaluation of “REPRINTS” volunteers were significantly increased among parents of both lower-grade and middle-grade children during the 2 year intervention. This study indicates that the “REPRINTS” program can contribute to establish ing trust and reliance between generations of older adults and parents of school children with the children as mediators.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jph/57/6/57_458/_pdf

2009

Psychological health and the functional fitness in japanese older adults

The School of Physical Education, Tokai University No.39 Page11-17(March ,2010)

Koichi YAGUCHI, Akitomo YASUNAGA and Yoshio SUGIYAMA

Abstract
The aim of this study was to test for an association between functional fitness and psychological health in older people in Japan. Forty-nine men and sixty-seven women volun teers in a rural area of Japan were the subjects of the study. Their ages ranged from 60-91 years; adjustments for the effects of age were made by analyses of covariance. Each individual’ s functional fitness was obtained using the functional fitness test developed by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Psychological health was assessed using the Philadelphia Geriatric Center (PGC) morale scale. The results. showed that psychological health was better in the group with the highest physical fitness than in the groups with the lowest physical fitness in women, but there was no significant difference in psychological health in men. We conclude that, for women, psychological health is better in individuals having high functional fitness, and that elderly people should be encouraged to maintain their physical fitness.

https://kokoroshien.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/tokai-2009-39.pdf

1998

An Applicability Study of the AAHPERD’s Functional Fitness Test for Elderly American Adults to Elderly Japanese Adults

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 3, 130-140, October, 1998

Koichi YAGUCH and Manabu FURUTANI

Abstract:
In 1990 a functional fitness test for the elderly was proposed by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). This study was undertaken to determine the applicability of that test for elderly Japanese adults. The fitness parameters of the test were “total body flexibility”, “agility and dynamic balance”, “coordination of eye, arm and hand movements”, “strength and endurance”, and “aerobic capacity”. The sample consisted of five hundred thirty-four healthy normal elderly adults between the ages of 60 and 90.
The results indicated that each test item possessed relatively high reliability and validity.
It would be useful to give this test to the elderly Japanese adults in order to determine their functional fitness levels measured by each test item individually and also to assess the relationships between their functional fitness levels and their activities of daily living, particularly those involving cognitive and social abilities.

https://environhealthprevmed.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1007/BF02931703.pdf