The present study examined the additive effects of age discrimination, as well as the buffering effects of psychosocial resources in reducing the negative impact of age discrimination on job satisfaction, among older employed men in Japan. Data were obtained from a national survey administered in 2016 to a probability-based sample of men aged 55 to 64 years ( n = 514). The results indicated that perceived age discrimination at work was associated with a lower level of job satisfaction. Moreover, a high level of social support from supervisors and coworkers decreased the negative impact of perceived age discrimination on job satisfaction. Our findings suggest that organizational-level interventions might be necessary to mitigate age discrimination and increase social support for keeping older employees in the workforce beyond their conventional retirement age.

AimThe aim of our study was to investigate factors associated with burnout of nurses and care workers in nursing homes and geriatric hospitals in Japan. The use of Buddhist priests, the major religion in Japan, was also explored.MethodsQuestionnaires for nurses and care workers were sent to 10 care facilities. The survey questions included basic demographic information, the Japanese Burnout Index and the Japanese version of the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care Of Dying Scale Form B. They also asked questions about use of Buddhist priests for tasks such as helping to manage the anxiety or distress of patients, families, and staff, or providing sutra chanting.ResultsIn total, 323 questionnaires were returned, of which 260 were used for analysis. Only 18 (6.9%) answered that they had any religious beliefs, which was relatively low compared to 27% from governmental survey data. In total, however, 71% expressed a need for Buddhist priests to help with anxiety or distress among patients. A positive attitude towards providing end-of-life care was a protective factor against depersonalization. It was, however, also related to lower feelings of personal accomplishment.ConclusionCare homes and geriatric hospitals may want to consider calling more on religious resources as a support for staff and patients.

The present study showed that older age was associated with being less likely to receive hospital inpatient care. The findings regarding the risk of inpatient care and total number of HBD in the last year of life help to understand resource use among older dying adults, and to develop evidence-based healthcare policies within aging societies. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 737-743.

The term "hikikomori", often associated with geek culture, originated in Japan. 1 It is defined as a complete withdrawal from society for 6 months or longer. According to the Cabinet Office of Japan, 2 the incidence of hikikomori among those aged 40-64 years is 1.45%, and the estimated number of people with hikikomori syndrome is 613,000. It was thought to be unique to Japanese culture, but case studies show that psychiatrists in many countries are encountering hikikomori syndrome. 3 Japan has the world's most aged society;

This study examined the additive effects of social support and negative interactions in various relationship domains and the cross-domain buffering effects of social support on the detrimental impact of negative interactions on mental health among older adults in Japan. Data were obtained from a survey of residents of 30 municipalities in the Tokyo metropolitan area ( N = 1,592). The results indicated that family members living together may share ambivalent social ties, anchored in positive sentiments and serving as sources of support but where criticism and excessive demands may occur. We found that negative interactions had a more potent additive effect on mental health. Moreover, the interaction effects of negative interactions with family and social support from other relatives suggested reverse buffering. Our findings suggest that interventions might be more necessary to cope with the negative social exchanges of close kin relationships among the elderly Japanese.