EFFORTS OF UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBAEfforts of University of Tsukuba
Formation and Function of Sense of Coherence (SOC), the Ability to Manage Stress
Approaches from both risk factors as well as salutary factors are vital for health promotion, with empirical researches of the latter having become an academic need for public health in recent years.
With this background, this research unit targets a variety of life stages, seeking to clarify the formation and function of the Sense of Coherence (SOC) responsible for our ability to manage stress, one of the salutary factors, its maintenance and improvement throughout our lifetime as well as preserving and improving wellness.
In this research we carry out a variety of empirical studies in schools, region, rehabilitation facilities, etc., for health promotion at various life stages, measures to improve SOC for effective prevention of recidivism among criminals and development of societal reintegration programs.
Specifically, our empirical studies are for 1) formation and function of SOC in upper elementary school children, 2) function of SOC in middle-aged women, 3) relationship between exercise/sports and SOC of community dwelling older adults and 4) SOC and the tendency for recidivism among criminals at a rehabilitation facility.
We have continued to make steady progress toward our objectives, clarifying 1) the relationship between SOC and stress management strategies, social support and mental health in upper elementary school children, 2) the discrepancy in stress buffering of SOC in middle-aged women by type of stressor, 3) efficacy of improvement to SOC through exercise and sports in local elderly people and 4) the relationship between low SOC and the tendency for recidivism among criminals at a rehabilitation facility.
Professor, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
Associate Professor, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
HOTOGE Shuko
Instructor, University of Human Arts & Sciences