Background: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a common screening instrument excluding somatic symptoms of depression and anxiety, but previous studies have reported inconsistencies of its factor structure. The construct validity of the Japanese version of the HADS has yet to be reported. To examine the factor structure of the HADS in a Japanese population is needed.

This article reviews conceptual and methodological issues in the measurement of psychological acculturation. The major issues involve the question of dimensionality and the assessment of specific domains of cultural change. Bidimensional scales that cover both overt and internal domains are more informative for the assessment of general levels of psychological acculturation. The validity of such scales must be examined in terms of the actual exposure of individuals to and involvement in each culture, and the influence of sociocultural factors on the course of acculturation. The parallel application of qualitative and quantitative methods may be useful for validity studies. The complementary use of emic and etic approaches will enhance the psychometric soundness of acculturation scales.

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of personality (temperament and character) on specific depression and specific anxiety. A total of 541 Japanese undergraduates were investigated by using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that specific depression was predicted by lower Reward-Dependence, Persistence, Self-Directedness, Cooperativeness, and Self-Transcendence; specific anxiety was predicted by higher Novelty-Seeking, Harm-Avoidance, Persistence, and Self-Transcendence, and lower Self-Directedness. Immaturity of Self-Directedness is a risk factor for negative affectivity. Immaturity of all character dimensions is a risk factor for specific depression. The relationship between Harm-Avoidance and depression in previous studies may be linked partly to somatic symptoms that were deliberately eliminated in the HAD scale.

In this study, the author demonstrates that cultural differences between China and Japan contribute to the social support relationships in the early migration stages. Twenty-two Chinese immigrants in Japan underwent semistructured interviews, the data from which were analyzed qualitatively. The author identified three impression management strategies that related to concepts of shared "face," social debt and benevolence, and independence. All three reflect the Chinese concept of face. This social context enhanced immigrants' commitment to support relationships and to the use of available support from Japanese providers. The author discusses differences between face and self-esteem in terms of impression management strategies. The findings suggest that cultural conflict must be recognized if integration of cultural differences between the two countries is to be achieved.

Aim: Assessing social competence is important for clinical and preventive interventions of depression. The aim of the present paper was to examine the factor structure of the Japanese Interpersonal Competence Scale (JICS).Methods: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the survey responses of 730 participants. Simultaneous multigroup analyses were conducted to confirm factor stability across psychological health status and sex differences. Results: Two factors, which represent PerceptiveAbility and Self-Restraint, were confirmed to show a moderate correlation. Perceptive Ability involves a more cognitive aspect of social competence, while Self-Restraint involves a more behavioral aspect, both of which are considered to reflect the emotion-based relating style specific to the Japanese people: indulgent dependence (amae) and harmony (wa). In addition, Self-Restraint may be linked to social functioning. Both constructs may confound a respondent's perceived confidence. Conclusion:Despite its shortcomings, the JICS is a unique measure of social competence in the Japanese cultural context.