Tomohiko Murase

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between depression and life factors in the independent elderly living in regional cities. Data were collected from 1,269 people aged 60 or more in 7 regional cities (and towns). Seventeen question items representing 4 life-factors were selected and a questionnaire including a geriatric depression scale (GDS) was administered to them. Hayashi's quantification Theory (type I) was used to examine the relationship between depression and life factors. The main results were as follows: 1) Females have higher depression than males and people with a higher age-stage have higher depression. 2) Satisfaction to economical state and self-recognition to physical fitness and health relate to depression. 3) Also, going out, volunteer experience, and having best friends are important factors relating to depression.

In this study, we prepared estimation equations to discriminate health status based on physical fitness variables in middle-aged and elderly women. All subjects participated in medical check-ups and physical fitness tests. Multiple discriminant analysis was applied to prepare the estimation equations, and the correct discriminant probability was used to evaluate the validity of the equation. Physical fitness variables seleeted fcr the equation were BMI (body mass index), perent body fat grip strength, one-leg balance with eyes closed, reaction time, sit-ups, Vo_2may (maxitnal oxygen uptake) and age. The correct discriminant probabilities of discriminant functions obtained were 69.4%. This result indicates that it is possible to discriminate the health status with reasonable accrocy with the estimation equation based on the physical fitness items selected in this study. The estimation equations would be useful in various practical settings to maintain and promote health status in middle-aged and elderly women.

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between health status and physical fitness, and the contribution of each element of physical fitness to the health status of middle-aged and elderly men and women. The subjects were 889males and females aged 30 to 69years. Physical fitness tests and medical check ups were performed. According to health status, the subjects were divided into two groups ; the healthy group(HG, n=348)and the unhealthy group(UG, n=207). Multiple discriminant analysis was applied to the multivariate data. Correct discriminant probabilities of multiple discriminant functions to discriminate the HG and UG were 70.2% and 68.2% for men and women, respectively. These results suggested that there was a relatively strong relationship between health status and the level of physical fitness in both men and women. The contribution of each element of physical fitness to health status was evaluated by correlation coefficients between the discriminant score representing health status, and performance on each element of the physical fitness test and age. Age and muscle endurance contributed significantly to health status in both men and women. In addition, close relationship was seen between health status and elements of cardiorespiratory endurance, balance, and muscle strength in men, while change in physique correlated with health status in women. From these findings, it was concluded that exercise programs for health promotion in middle-aged and elderly people should be provided separately with consideration of the degree to which these specific elements contribute to health status.

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of discrimination and rating of force in grip, elbow flexion and extension for preschool children. The subjects were 20 healthy Japanese children (mean age: 5.7-5.9yrs) for each motion. Standard stimuli were 3 forces of 1.0 kgf, 2.0 kgf and 3.0 kgf, and comparison stimulus changed at an interval of 0.1 kgf. Consecutive discriminations of force in 3 motions were administered and the results were compared among both 3 standard stimuli and 3 motions with one-way ANOVA. Lower threshold (LT), upper threshold (UT) and interval of uncertainty (IU) were selected as variables in discrimination of force, and point of subjective equality (PSE) and absolute error (AE) in rating of force. Furthermore test-retest reliability of the discrimination of force was examined at standard stimulus of 2.0 kgf. Results were discussed for both the discrimination and rating of force. Pearson's correlation coefficients between two performances for LT and UT in 3 motions ranged from 0.642 to 0.841 (p &lt.01) . It was suggested that the method for discrimination of force in this study could be applied to preschool children. Performances in discrimination of force increased with a gain in standard stimulus for 3 motions, not in rating of force. LT, UT and IU in elbow flexion were larger than those in elbow extension, but the differences among 3 motions for PSE and AE were not clear.

The present study was designed to determine the relationships between motor ability based on maximum ability exertion tests and pass or fail tests in preschool children. A total of 192 healthy Japanese children aged 4.0 to 6.5 years were selected as subjects for this study. Twelve maximum ability exertion tests measuring motor ability elements and 14 pass or fail performance tests representing the fundamental movement domains were selected, and these tests were administered to the subjects. The factor analytic technique was applied to a correlation matrix, consisting of the 12 test variables to measure motor ability, to clarify the factorial structure of motor ability. To examine the relationships between motor ability factors and pass or fail tests, the theory of Quantification I and the biserial correlation method were used. The main results can be summarized as follows: 1) The motor ability in preschool children aged 4.0 to 6.5 years was considered to be composed of 5 motor ability factors: power, flexibility, muscular strength, balance, and muscular endurance. 2) The pass or fail tests representing the movements of "standing" and "jumping and throwing" were closely related to muscular endurance and power factors, respectively. Most of the tests concerning the movements of "walking and running" were not correlated significantly with any of the above 5 motor ability factors. 3) The pass or fail test battery showed a strong relationship with the motor ability measured by the maximum ability exertion test battery. Therefore it was suggested that the pass or fail test battery can estimate motor ability in preschool children.