Social, Preventive, and Occupational Health Research

Social, Preventive, and Occupational Health Research

— Exploring the Mechanisms for Living Healthily within Society —

This research area aims to scientifically understand how people maintain health within social contexts.

Our studies focus on a broad range of topics including health promotion through long-term care prevention and sports, psychological and physical health among workers, and social connectedness within communities. Through these themes of social, preventive, and occupational health, we comprehensively examine the interactions among environment, psychology, and behavior.

The research integrates perspectives from physical therapy, public health, and sociology, and is conducted in diverse fields such as healthcare institutions, workplaces, and community settings.

1. Preventive Medicine — Health Promotion through Long-Term Care and Sports

This area focuses on developing strategies to promote health from both physical and psychological perspectives.

Among older adults participating in long-term care prevention programs and community health classes, we analyzed the relationship between physical performance tests (e.g., Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test) and quality of life (QOL), and identified cutoff values indicating risk for functional decline.

We also examined the effects of motivational counseling by physical therapists, showing that even a single intervention may enhance participants’ awareness toward behavioral change.

In the field of sports science, we have analyzed the relationships among anxiety, depression, and athletic performance among university athletes, highlighting the importance of mental health support for elite players.

Representative work

坂本祐太, 甘利貴志, 奇特貴代, 山田徹, 小野美奈 5 回立ち上がりテストにおけるQuality of Life 低下のカットオフ値：介護予防事業参加者を対象とした横断研究による検証 日本ヘルスサポート学会誌,2019;4,25-32.

Sakamoto, Y.; Komagata, J.; Otsuka, A.; Shinya, Y.; Sendouda, M.; Masu, Y. Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression among Elite Collegiate Badminton Players in Japan: Exploratory Analysis. Psychiatry Int. 2024, 5, 470-481. https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint5030033

2. Occupational Health — Interactions among Job Stress, Pain, and Psychological Factors

This research area investigates the relationship between pain and occupational stress among workers.

Pain is not merely a nociceptive signal of tissue damage—it is an emotional and sensory experience that varies depending on cognitive and affective states. In chronic pain, psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and pain catastrophizing play a greater role in the persistence and severity of symptoms than nociceptive input itself.

Healthcare professionals are particularly vulnerable, as they experience higher rates of low back pain and work-related musculoskeletal disorders compared to other occupations. Our studies using multivariate analyses demonstrated that cognitive aspects of pain (e.g., catastrophizing, anxiety) amplify stress responses in healthcare and rehabilitation workers. Furthermore, by examining the relationships among physical activity, mental health, and job satisfaction, we found that exercise may attenuate the psychological impact of chronic pain. However, in individuals with persistent pain, the expected benefits of exercise or workplace stretching may be diminished due to pain-related psychological factors.

These findings suggest that chronic pain contributes to occupational stress and highlight the need for comprehensive interventions that combine physical and psychological approaches. In the context of Japan’s aging society, “health-oriented management” has become increasingly vital. Our goal is to contribute to the development of sustainable working environments by identifying effective strategies to prevent health problems and manage stress among workers.

Representative work:

Sakamoto Y, Oka T, Amari T, Shimo S. Factors Affecting Psychological Stress in Healthcare Workers with and without Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Multiple Regression Analysis. Medicina, 2019;55,652. DOI: 10.3390/medicina55100652

Sakamoto Y,Amari T,Shimo S. The relationship between pain psychological factors and job stress in rehabilitation workers with or whithout chronic pain. Work,2018:61(3),357-365. doi: 10.3233/WOR-182814.

3. Social Capital and Community Participation — The Science of Connection and Well-Being

Ongoing research in this area explores how social connectedness and community participation influence well-being, particularly in rural and depopulated regions.

We analyze the associations between social participation behaviors—such as volunteering, involvement in local activities, and frequency of interaction with neighbors—and individuals’ subjective well-being. By conceptualizing these elements as social capital, we examine how regional characteristics and demographic changes affect health and happiness.

The findings are expected to inform community-based integrated care systems and health promotion initiatives aimed at enhancing collective well-being.

Representative work

Conclusion

The overarching goal of the Social, Preventive, and Occupational Health Research program is to establish a scientific foundation for holistic well-being, enabling people to live healthily in physical, psychological, and social dimensions. By addressing health challenges that span from individual behavioral change to community-level social relationships, our research seeks to visualize the social structure of health and translate evidence into practical strategies for sustainable, health-promoting societies.