Objectives: The proportions of male midwives as well as regulations and training plans targeting male midwives were investigated.Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 109 United Nations member countries where midwifery associations had opened their e-mail addresses. Respondents were persons in charge of midwifery education or policy recommended by midwifery associations, researchers, or acquaintances. The questionnaire inquired about the number of midwives and obstetrician-gynecologists by gender in the country, as well as regulations and training plans relevant to male ones. For those countries that either failed to respond or provided insufficient information, supplemental Internet searches were conducted.Results: Data from 77 countries were analyzed (57 countries returned the questionnaires, and data on another 20 were obtained through Internet searches). Of the 19 countries without male midwives, five did not allow men to become midwives. In 37 countries with male midwives whose proportion data were available, the median proportion was 0.63%. Respondents in 13 countries described regulations respecting women who unwanted care by male midwives and in other two explained training plans for male midwives considering their specific characteristics.Conclusion: The proportion of male midwives is small, and regulations and training plans for male midwives varied depending on social content in countries.

To explore the role of pilot tests in developing gender policies, this study investigates their use of policy‐making for the introduction of male midwives in the United Kingdom. A literature review was performed, and data that contradicted the statements of researchers studying male midwives or male midwives who had participated in the pilots were excluded. Any uncertainties were clarified through consultation with nursing and midwifery associations. The United Kingdom's Midwives Act 1902 initially restricted midwifery to women. However, the Sex Discrimination Act 1973 debates led to the consideration of introducing male midwives. While professional associations resisted, public bodies supported it, on the condition that it guaranteed women's right to select the gender of their attendant midwives. The government decided to conduct pilots to assess the acceptability of male midwives and the financial implications of having chaperones with male midwives. Despite pressure from the European Commission, the decision to permit male midwives across the United Kingdom, made in 1984, was withheld until the results of the pilots were available. However, substantive gender equality issues, such as the working conditions for male midwives, remain largely unexplored. To ensure gender inclusivity in midwifery, scientific pilot tests focusing on both formative and substantive equality are recommended.

Employment and job-hunting can improve well-being by increasing confidence among emerging adults when equal employment opportunities exist for women and men. However, the relationship between well-being, traditional gender role attitudes, and job-hunting among women in emerging adulthood remains unclear. This study examined the interactions between gender role attitudes and job-hunting in relation to the well-being of emerging adult women. An online survey was conducted in five universities and five companies in Japan. The dependent variable was well-being. The explanatory variables were job-hunting experience within the past 6 months and traditional gender role attitudes measured by the gender role stressor scale. Of the 137 women, we analyzed the data from 132 participants with no missing data. Thirty-five (26.5%) participants were employed and had job-hunting experience. Multiple regression analysis showed that job-hunting experiences were negatively associated with well-being. Additionally, gender role attitudes were not associated with well-being. In the interaction between job-hunting experience and gender role attitudes, the more traditional one’s attitude toward gender roles is, the more negative the relationship between job-hunting experience and well-being. Job-hunting may not necessarily lead to well-being for all women, so women’s attitudes toward gender roles should be considered and respected.

This pilot study aimed to examine the feasibility and immediate psychological impact of a conductor-led percussion ensemble programme on older Japanese adults regardless of their musical background. Six participants, including those with no prior musical experience outside school or who could not read music sheets, engaged in a 60-minute exercise and a 7-minute performance incorporating culturally relevant Japanese rhythms. Video analysis of the final performance revealed that all participants followed the instructions without interruption, indicating the programme's feasibility. Participants completed a questionnaire before and after the intervention. Furthermore, at least four participants reported enhanced subjective well-being and psychological safety, increased positive emotions, and decreased negative emotions. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed statistically significant improvements in subjective well-being (p = .039) and a reduction in negative emotions (p = .042) after the programme. Spearman’s rank correlation linked deeper ensemble immersion to larger drops in negative emotions (r = -.857, p = .029); yet leave-one-out sensitivity analysis (r = -.725 to -.918, p = .028 to .165) suggests that the limited sample size warrants cautious interpretation of this result. The findings offer preliminary evidence that the percussion ensemble programme is feasible for older adults with diverse musical backgrounds, and may offer immediate psychological benefits.

Psychological resilience is a key protective factor for mental health. Reducing inequalities in access to childhood experiential activities may foster resilience across socioeconomic backgrounds. However, Japan limits policies ensuring equitable access to such activities before entering elementary school. This cross-sectional study examined the association between exposure to experiential activities before entering elementary school and psychological resilience in Japanese individuals aged 15–39 years (n = 8000). Experiential activities were classified into nature-related, social, and cultural domains and by number and combination (none, any single, any two, and all three types). Psychological resilience was assessed using the 14-item Resilience Scale (Japanese version). Multivariable linear regression models were adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic covariates with Benjamini–Hochberg (BH) correction. Exposure to one or two activity domains was significantly associated with higher psychological resilience, except for the nature-related plus social activities combination. Exposure to all three domains showed the strongest association (β = 8.06, 95% confidence interval [6.73, 9.38], BH-adjusted p < 0.001). Therefore, early childhood experiential activities may promote psychological resilience, with persistent long-term effects. Implementing social policies to reduce the disparity in access may be a key strategy for promoting psychological resilience among Japanese individuals aged 15–39 years.