Introduction: Previous studies have shown that social relationships positively contribute to functional status. However, studies comparing the influence under changing social circumstances are still limited. Consequently, this study investigated how social interaction influenced long-term functional status among older Japanese adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A two-wave longitudinal cohort design was used to compare pre-pandemic (2017–2020) and post-pandemic (2020–2023) cohorts. Data were obtained from the Community Empowerment and Care study in T-Village, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Social interaction was assessed using the Index of Social Interaction (ISI) and functional status was measured based on long-term care needs. Logistic regression analyzed predictors of functional health over 3 years, controlling for demographic and life-style covariates. Results: Social interaction declined during the pandemic. Higher ISI scores, particularly for social curiosity and adaptability, predicted better functional outcomes in both cohorts. Interaction with non-family members and willingness to use new technology were strong protective factors. Discussion: Promoting meaningful social engagement and behavioral adaptability may help preserve functional independence in aging populations, especially during periods of social disruption.

Background: While the detrimental intergenerational effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well-documented, the potential developmental benefits associated with parental positive childhood experiences (PCEs) warrant further clarification, particularly concerning the social competence of offspring. The present study examines the relationship between parental PCEs and social skills in preschool-aged children, as well as the moderating role of the home-rearing environment. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three kindergartens in Xuzhou, Shangqiu, and Tianjin, representing the eastern and northern regions of mainland China. The study included 320 Chinese preschoolers (mean age = 4.76 years, SD = 1.01) and their parents. Parental PCEs were assessed using the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, children’s social skills were measured with the Social Skills Scale, and the home-rearing environment was evaluated using the Index of Child Care Environment. Results: The findings demonstrated a significant positive association between parental PCEs and social skills in children ( β = 1.15, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the quality of the home-rearing environment moderated this relationship, with more supportive environments amplifying the benefits of PCEs ( β = 0.54, p < 0.05). Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of incorporating both parental experiences and family environments in interventions aimed at fostering children’s social development.

Background: School burnout (SBO) poses a growing threat to the psychological well-being of primary school students in high-pressure educational systems. While negative parenting has been implicated in academic maladjustment, the psychological mechanisms underlying this association and whether they operate consistently across both parents remain poorly understood. This study investigates the mediating role of ego-resilience (ER) in the association between fathers’ and mothers’ negative parenting behaviors (rejection, overprotection, and lack of emotional warmth) and SBO among Chinese primary school students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a public primary school in Hebei Province, China, involving 853 students from grades 4 through 6. Fathers’ and mothers’ parenting behaviors were assessed using the Chinese version of the Short-form Egna Minnen av. Barndoms Uppfostran (S-EMBU-C); SBO was evaluated using the Adolescent Student Burnout Inventory (ASBI), and ER was measured using the Chinese version of the Ego-Resilience Scale (ER89-C). Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation and mediation analysis via PROCESS macro (Model 4) to test the indirect effects of parenting behavior on SBO through ER. Results: Both fathers’ and mothers’ negative parenting was positively associated with SBO and negatively associated with ER. Mediation analyses revealed that ER significantly and partially mediated the relationship between negative parenting and SBO for both fathers ( β = 0.16, 95% CI: [0.13, 0.20]) and mothers ( β = 0.16, 95% CI: [0.13, 0.20]), accounting for 31.9 and 31.5% of the total effects, respectively. Conclusion: ER functions as a pivotal psychological mechanism through which both fathers’ and mothers’ negative parenting behaviors are associated with SBO. The structural consistency across both parents suggests that preserving students’ ER represents a universal protective target independent of parental role. These findings offer a theoretically grounded basis for family–school interventions aimed at fostering adaptive capacity and mitigating SBO in competitive educational contexts.

This study examined the relationship between changes in social interactions and sleep status, specifically sleep duration and restoration, among older adults in Japan to inform interventions for healthy aging. A 6-year longitudinal study (2017–2023) was conducted under the Community Empowerment and Care Project in suburban Japan. A total of 473 older adults with normal sleep in 2017 were followed. Sleep duration (< 6 h defined as deprivation) and sleep restoration (subjective restfulness) were assessed according to national guidelines. Social interaction was measured using the 18-item Index of Social Interaction (ISI). Changes in the ISI were analyzed continuously and categorically. Lo-gistic regression models were used to examine the association between ISI changes and sleep outcomes. After six years, 16.3% of the participants experienced sleep deprivation, and 26.2% reported non-restorative sleep. Declining ISI scores were significantly asso-ciated with a higher risk of sleep deprivation and non-restorative sleep. Persistently low or declining ISI scores increased the odds of poor sleep. A one-point ISI increase re-duced the risk of sleep deprivation and non-restorative sleep, even after adjusting for confounders. Negative or persistently low social interaction is linked to worse sleep outcomes; maintaining or improving social interaction may protect sleep quality.

This longitudinal observational study examined the association between multidimensional social interaction and motor function among community-dwelling older Japanese adults over a 9-year follow-up period (2011–2020). Using data from the Community Empowerment and Care Cohort Study in suburban central Japan, the analysis included 304 participants aged 65 years and older who had no baseline motor impairment and completed follow-up. Social interaction was assessed using the Index of Social Interaction (ISI), and motor function was evaluated using the Kihon Checklist. After adjustment for age, IADL status, and baseline motor function score, higher total ISI was significantly associated with higher odds of having normal motor function at follow-up (odds ratio [OR]: 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.47; p = 0.044). Among the ISI subscales, social curiosity showed a significant association with motor function at follow-up (OR: 1.39; 95% CI 1.01–1.92; p = 0.045). These findings suggest that baseline social interaction, particularly social curiosity, may be a relevant predictive factor for later motor function among community-dwelling older adults. However, because the analysis was observational and conditioned on survival and continued participation, the findings should be interpreted as predictive associations rather than causal effects.

Background/Objective: This study investigated the associations between dietary patterns and cognitive function among older Japanese adults and examined whether these associations differed according to sleep duration. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study was conducted using data from the Community Empowerment and Care study (2017–2020). Data were obtained from the Community Empowerment and Care Study of the T-Village, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Latent class analysis was used to identify dietary patterns based on the intake frequencies of seven food groups. Logistic regression models assessed the associations between dietary patterns and cognitive function stratified by sleep duration (optimal: 7–8 h; unfavorable: 8 h). Results: The following three dietary patterns were identified: diverse, balanced, and restricted. Diverse (odds ratio [OR], 0.44) and balanced (OR, 0.39) diets were associated with lower odds of cognitive decline. Stratified analysis revealed stronger protective effects of these diets in those with unfavorable sleep. Conclusion: Dietary quality plays a key role in cognitive health and may be particularly beneficial for older adults with suboptimal sleep durations. The study findings underscore the need for integrated lifestyle interventions that target both nutrition and sleep in aging populations.