Abstract Parenting difficulties during the first postpartum year are a public health concern. Early screening mainly uses depressive-symptom measures such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which capture concurrent symptoms but may miss broader psychosocial vulnerability linked to later parenting outcomes. We hypothesised that early multidimensional profiling using the Comprehensive Scale for Parenting Resilience and Adaptation (CPRA) would predict later parenting maladjustment. Data from two longitudinal cohorts ( N = 215) were analysed. Maladjustment was defined as an increase of at least mean + 0.5 standard deviation in the Psychological Adaptation to Parenting difficulty score from 1 to 12 months postpartum. Eight predictors, including CPRA domains and demographic factors, were entered into an Elastic Net logistic regression, followed by post-Elastic Net logistic regression. Fifty-repetition Monte Carlo cross-validation identified six stable predictors. The final model showed acceptable, reproducible discrimination (median area under the curve, 0.724; interquartile range, 0.652–0.768). Higher early difficulty in Mother’s Cognitive and Behavioural Characteristics was a stable predictor of later maladjustment. Early postpartum CPRA-derived psychosocial profiles may help identify mothers at risk of later parenting maladjustment.

Background:How paternity leave relates to postpartum adjustment remains unclear. Objective:We examined associations of paternity leave group [no leave, short (<1 month), or long (≥1 month)] with mothers' parenting adaptation and depressive symptoms at 3 months postpartum in a theory-guided SEM including mothers' reports of fathers' childcare and housework involvement and perceived coparenting quality. Methods:This cross-sectional survey included 555 mothers (primipara, n = 330; multipara, n = 225). Participants completed questionnaires assessing fathers' involvement using the Child Care Activities and Housework Scale, coparenting quality using the Coparenting Relationship Scale, parenting resilience and adaptation using the Comprehensive Scale for Parenting Resilience and Adaptation, and depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Parity-stratified SEM estimated associations. Results:In primiparous families, short and long leave were associated with higher paternal involvement; long leave had stronger associations across all four domains: Interactional Activities, Concrete Childcare Activities, Mental Support, and Housework. In multiparous families, leave was associated mainly with housework and task-based childcare, but not clearly with mental support. Across parity groups, mothers' reports of fathers' mental support showed the strongest association with mothers' perceived coparenting quality [primipara: β = 0.411, 95% CI (0.285, 0.527); multipara: β = 0.490, 95% CI (0.350, 0.612)]. Better coparenting was associated with fewer perceived difficulties in environmental resources and perceived support and with lower psychological maladaptation to parenting; psychological maladaptation was positively associated with depressive symptoms in both groups [primipara: β = 0.396, 95% CI (0.178, 0.571); multipara: β = 0.301, 95% CI (0.133, 0.459)]. Because no direct paths from paternity leave to depressive symptoms were specified, total effects represented indirect associations. These associations were small and negative for both short and long leave among primiparous mothers; among multiparous mothers, only short leave showed a small negative indirect association, whereas the association for long leave was not clearly supported. Conclusion:Paternity leave duration showed small indirect associations with maternal parenting adaptation and depressive symptoms through fathers' involvement and coparenting quality. The findings suggest that the potential relevance of leave may depend not only on uptake and duration but also on supportive involvement and coparenting.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection represents a critical public health issue that affects both sexes. We aimed to investigate HPV vaccination intention and its associated factors in young men by conducting a web-based cross-sectional survey among men aged 18-26 years in Japan. The survey assessed sociodemographic characteristics, HPV knowledge and awareness, history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, vaccination readiness, digital health literacy, and HPV vaccination intention. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was conducted with HPV vaccination intention as the dependent variable to identify associated factors. Out of 824 respondents, 814 were included in the analysis after excluding those who had already received the HPV vaccine. Overall, 122 (15.0%) participants expressed their intention to receive the HPV vaccine. Ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that HPV awareness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-2.15), HPV knowledge (AOR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.27), vaccination readiness (AOR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.78-2.96), history of COVID-19 vaccination (AOR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.31-2.74), personal income (AOR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.30-3.14), and employment status (AOR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43-0.88) were significantly associated with HPV vaccination intention. In conclusion, HPV vaccination intention among young men was positively associated with HPV knowledge and awareness, attitudes toward vaccination, and personal income; conversely, regular employment was associated with reduced HPV vaccination intention. These findings suggest that increasing HPV vaccination uptake may require broadening HPV knowledge, improving attitudes toward vaccination, and reducing access barriers.

Background Postnatal depressive symptoms have been reported to have a negative impact on infant development and mother-child interactions. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent postpartum depression during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for postpartum depressive symptoms up to three months postpartum. Methods Data were collected from self-reported questionnaires and participants' medical records. We recruited women in their second trimester of pregnancy, and 90 participants completed the questionnaires. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that weight gain during pregnancy was related to postpartum depressive symptoms at two to five days postpartum. Childbirth satisfaction and one-minute Apgar scores were associated with depressive symptoms at two weeks postpartum. Childbirth satisfaction and bonding failure at one month postpartum were related to postpartum depressive symptoms at one month postpartum. Conclusions We consider the factors identified in this study to be useful indicators for assessing postpartum depressive symptoms. Screening for postpartum depressive symptoms during each period could be beneficial as the risk factors differed between periods.

Background: Taste perception plays an important role in a person's food preferences. Promoting an interest in taste and developing taste perception are important factors for healthy eating habits. However, only a few studies have been conducted to investigate the association of taste perception with personal background factors, nutrition, and eating habits. Aim: To investigate the current status and associated factors of taste perception among primary school children in Japan through a cross-sectional study design. Methods: A total of 77 children aged 9–11 years participated in this study between July and August 2022. Taste perception was assessed using the validated “Taste Strips” test, and participants were classified as either having high taste perception if their total taste score was ≥9 or having low taste perception if their score was <9. Data on demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, eating habits, nutrient intake, and self-efficacy were collected through questionnaires and regular health checkups. Results: Among the participants, 20% were classified as having low taste perception. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that family commensality at dinner (adjusted odds ratio: 5.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–28.0) and having a positive attitude (adjusted odds ratio: 1.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.0–1.1) were significantly associated with children’s taste perception. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of nutrition education and the home environment in supporting the development of taste perception, potentially guiding interventions to promote healthy eating habits during children's critical formative period.

BackgroundOne life event that requires extensive resilience and adaptation is parenting. However, resilience and perceived support in child-rearing vary, making the real-world situation unclear, even with postpartum checkups. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the psychosocial status of mothers during the child-rearing period from newborn to toddler, with a classifier based on data on the resilience and adaptation characteristics of mothers with newborns. MethodsA web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted. Mothers with newborns aged approximately 1 month (newborn cohort) were analyzed to construct an explainable machine learning classifier to stratify parenting-related resilience and adaptation characteristics and identify vulnerable populations. Explainable k-means clustering was used because of its high explanatory power and applicability. The classifier was applied to mothers with infants aged 2 months to 1 year (infant cohort) and mothers with toddlers aged >1 year to 2 years (toddler cohort). Psychosocial status, including depressed mood assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), bonding assessed by the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), and sleep quality assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) between the classified groups, was compared. ResultsA total of 1559 participants completed the survey. They were split into 3 cohorts, comprising populations of various characteristics, including parenting difficulties and psychosocial measures. The classifier, which stratified participants into 5 groups, was generated from the self-reported scores of resilience and adaptation in the newborn cohort (n=310). The classifier identified that the group with the greatest difficulties in resilience and adaptation to a child’s temperament and perceived support had higher incidences of problems with depressed mood (relative prevalence [RP] 5.87, 95% CI 2.77-12.45), bonding (RP 5.38, 95% CI 2.53-11.45), and sleep quality (RP 1.70, 95% CI 1.20-2.40) compared to the group with no difficulties in perceived support. In the infant cohort (n=619) and toddler cohort (n=461), the stratified group with the greatest difficulties had higher incidences of problems with depressed mood (RP 9.05, 95% CI 4.36-18.80 and RP 4.63, 95% CI 2.38-9.02, respectively), bonding (RP 1.63, 95% CI 1.29-2.06 and RP 3.19, 95% CI 2.03-5.01, respectively), and sleep quality (RP 8.09, 95% CI 4.62-16.37 and RP 1.72, 95% CI 1.23-2.42, respectively) compared to the group with no difficulties. ConclusionsThe classifier, based on a combination of resilience and adaptation to the child’s temperament and perceived support, was able identify psychosocial vulnerable groups in the newborn cohort, the start-up stage of childcare. Psychosocially vulnerable groups were also identified in qualitatively different infant and toddler cohorts, depending on their classifier. The vulnerable group identified in the infant cohort showed particularly high RP for depressed mood and poor sleep quality.

Purpose It was reported that maternal-infant bonding failure predicts abusive parenting. Maternal-infant bonding is important to prevent child abuse. This study aimed to investigate the association between prenatal depressive symptoms, anxiety, cortisol, and oxytocin levels, and postnatal maternal–infant bonding. Methods The participants completed a self-report prenatal questionnaire that included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in the second trimester. Blood and saliva were collected in the second trimester. Cortisol levels were measured in plasma, while oxytocin levels were measured in saliva. Postnatal questionnaires, including the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS), were administered at 2–5 days, 1 month, and 3 months postpartum. Multiple linear regression and generalized estimating equation (GEE) were conducted for analysis. Results Sixty-six primiparas participated in the study. Prenatal depressive symptoms (EPDS ≥ 9) and anxiety (STAI-S ≥ 42) were observed in 21.2% and 28.8% of the participants, respectively. The median cortisol and oxytocin levels were 21.0 µg/dL and 30.4 pg/mL, respectively. Multivariate linear regression showed that postnatal social support, prenatal depressive symptoms, anxiety, and salivary oxytocin levels predicted MIBS scores at 2–5 days postpartum. At 1 month postpartum, household income, history of miscarriage, postnatal social support, and prenatal anxiety predicted MIBS scores. At 3 months postpartum, only postnatal social support predicted MIBS scores. The results of GEE showed that prenatal anxiety, oxytocin levels, postpartum period, household income, and postpartum social support were associated with MIBS scores. Conclusion Prenatal depressive symptoms, anxiety, and lower salivary oxytocin levels were predicted to worsen maternal–infant bonding at 2–5 days postpartum. Prenatal anxiety was predicted to cause the same 1 month postpartum. Measuring prenatal depressive symptoms, anxiety, and salivary oxytocin levels may render the assessment of the risk of maternal–infant bonding failure during the early postpartum period and intervene during pregnancy possible.

One life event that requires extensive resilience and adaptation is parenting. However, resilience and perceived support in child-rearing vary, making the real-world situation unclear, even with postpartum checkups.

日本の木造建築の保存修理等に用いる和釘について，可能な限り往時の技術を継承して作製することを目的とした．そのため，たたら製鉄が成熟期を迎える安土桃山時代から江戸時代の和釘の技術的な特徴を化学成分，皮膜構造，耐食性の観点から調査した．その特徴を活かした鉄母材を作製し，鍛冶職人の手作業による熱間鍛造により作製した和釘について，鉄汚染性，長期耐食性を電気化学測定及び腐食促進試験により評価した．

Background: Massage has been practiced since around 3 months of age for the purpose of interacting with children, but there are few reports on its ongoing effectiveness, no unified views, and few reports on growth and development. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of massage given by mothers to their 3-month-old infants based on autonomic activity and growth development of 4- and 5-month-old infants one month later. Methods: The subjects were healthy 3-month-old infants and their mothers who were born as full-term, singleton babies. The study design was an inequivalent control group design: 25 mother-child pairs were massaged for one month and 12 mother-child pairs were not massaged. Data were collected twice, once on the first day at 3 months of age and one month later. As indicators of autonomic nervous system activity, axillary temperature before and after massage, heart rate and heart rate variability during massage were measured. As an indicator of growth, body weight was measured after the massage. As an indicator of development, mothers were asked to respond to a questionnaire (KIDS). The axillary temperature, rate of change in heart rate and heart rate variability, and KIDS scores were compared on the first day and one month later. Results: Axillary temperature and LF/HF ratio of children at 1 month were significantly lower after massage (p<0.05). Overall developmental age and expressive language domain of KIDS at 1 month were more developmental than in the non-massage group (p<0.05). Heart rate and HF were not significantly different after 1 month. Conclusion: It was found that when children received massage from their mothers for one-month, cardiac sympathetic nerve function was suppressed and the development of expressive language skills was promoted.

Purpose: A higher peak bone mass (PBM) in adolescence lowers the risk of osteoporosis later in life. This study examined the factors affecting bone mass in female adolescents in relation to lifestyle and environmental factors to promote bone mass development before reaching PBM. Design and methods: The subjects were female students aged 15-16 years and their mothers at a public high school in Osaka, Japan. Bone mass was measured using quantitative ultrasound parameters. The body composition was measured using a multi-frequency segmental body composition analyzer. Nutrient intake, exercise habits, and maternal factors as environmental factors were examined using a questionnaire. Results: Logistic regression analyses revealed that the adolescents' lean mass was significantly related to the BUA (p < .05). The adjusted odds ratio was 1.29 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.54). In contrast, the adolescents' exercise habit was significantly related to the SOS (p .05). The SOS was significantly higher in the adolescents who exercised 4 times a week than in those who exercised <2-3 times a week. The adjusted odds ratio was 2.83 (95% CI: 1.06-7.56). The adolescents' nutrient intake and maternal factors were not significant factors affecting the adolescents' bone mass. Conclusions: The present study suggests that increasing lean mass and exercising more than four times a week were important for increasing bone mass in female adolescents. Practice implications: Nurses should intervene to help female adolescents acquire healthy lifestyle skills and maintain proper body composition and exercise habits to promote bone mass development before reaching PBM. (c) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND:Infant massage, in which mothers stroke their infant's skin slowly and gently, can cause pleasant sensations in the infant that can be affected by the velocity of massage. However, the massage velocity at which infants feel the most pleasant sensations remains unclear.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of massage velocity on heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) in healthy infants.METHOD:Twenty-two infant-mother dyads two to seven months of age were recruited. Mothers stroked their infant's skin at three massage velocities (5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 cm/s) in a randomized order for 15 min. The rhythm of massage velocity was calculated according to the length of three body areas. The massage velocity of the mothers was regulated using a metronome. HR and HRV (high frequency [HF] and low frequency [LF]) were measured at rest and during massage for each velocity. The effects on pleasantness were evaluated using percent change in median baseline value compared with median values for the three massage velocities. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance mixed effect models to exclude "period" and "carryover" effects during massage.RESULTS:When measuring HF, massage (7.5 cm/s) caused a significant increase in pleasantness compared with 10.0 cm/s (p = 0.04). The HR and LF/HF ratio were not significantly changed between velocities.CONCLUSION:Results of this study suggested that a massage velocity of 7.5 cm/s was the most pleasant for infants. Future research should investigate the relationship between an infant massage by optimal velocity and infant development in longitudinal studies.

Introduction: Depressive symptoms and anxiety are the most common mental health problems during pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between each trimester’s maternal depressive symptoms, anxiety, and infant birth weight. Methods: We recruited pregnant women in their second trimester. Participants’ blood and saliva were collected in the second trimester to investigate plasma cortisol and saliva oxytocin levels. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires that included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in the second and third trimesters. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was conducted using stepwise selection. Results: Eighty-one primiparas participated in the study. As the results of linear regression showed, gestational age, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, and depressive symptoms in the third trimester were associated with infant birth weight. Depressive symptoms in the third trimester predicted lower infant birth weight. In contrast, depressive symptoms in the second trimester, state anxiety, and trait anxiety in both the second and third trimesters did not predict infant birth weight. Similarly, maternal plasma cortisol and saliva oxytocin levels were not related to infant birth weight. Conclusion: Maternal depressive symptoms in the third trimester predicted lower infant birth weight. Mental health care for depressive symptoms in late pregnancy might be important for infant birth weight increases.

This study clarifies the association between postpartum depression (PPD) and satisfaction with social support after childbirth through an anonymous survey of 427 postpartum mothers. Mothers' PPD was found to be significantly associated with satisfaction levels regarding formal-instrumental support (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.162-0.632), informal-instrumental support (OR: 0.547, 95% CI: 0.313-0.955), and informal-psychological support (OR: 0.591, 95% CI: 0.384-0.912) in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. To prevent PPD, specialists as formal support providers must provide qualified care based on comprehensive judgments, and families as informal support providers should help with childcare, housework, and mental support.

Purpose: Peak bone mass, an important determinant of osteoporosis risk, is reached during adolescence. We evaluated the impact of mother-child dyad dietary intervention using the transtheoretical model (TTM) on bone mineral density in Japanese female adolescents. Design and methods: The participants were dyads of female adolescents aged 15-16 years and their mothers (who are generally responsible for cooking). We enrolled 92 dyads, with 56 assigned to the intervention group and 36 to the control group. Bone mineral density was measured using quantitative ultrasound parameters (QUS). Nutrient intake and stage of behavioral change were collected via questionnaires. Evaluations were conducted at baseline and seven months later. The intervention group underwent the 7TM-based dietary education program for six months. Results: After the intervention program, the ratio of change of the quantitative ultrasound parameter-speed of sound (SOS)-was significantly higher in the intervention than the control group (p <0.001). Finally, we demonstrated that the intervention was found to significantly affect post-test outcomes in terms of SOS according to the result of analysis of covariance (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dietary intervention for female adolescents and their mothers using the TTM may enhance the bone mineral density in female adolescents. Practice implications: We suggest that dietary intervention for female adolescents and their mothers using the transtheoretical model may enhance the bone mineral density in female adolescents. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved.