1. HOME
  2. Research Projects

Research Projects

Apr 1, 2016 - Mar 31, 2017

Effects of Personality Traits and Self-Construals on Health and Well-being

Leader

Status of the Research

We plan to extend our previous research (Yamaguchi, A: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists B 2011–2013, 2013–2015; Yamaguchi, A: General Research C 2015–2018 and assess the influence of the Big Five Personality Traits, cultural background, socio-environmental background, and gender on the intrapersonal tendencies for life orientations (optimism and pessimism as a part of well-being), health, and well-being, including communication and psychological behavioral patterns. This study will use the mixed-methods approach, employing both quantitative and qualitative research and a cross-sectional design. Existing empirical data (secondary data) will mainly come from the social research center at the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin. Empirical data (primary data) will be collected from college students in Japan, Hawaii, and the continental U.S. The proposed research will use a holistic approach, consisting of social, psychological, health, medical, and communication literature. The previous research relevant to our field of study tended to focus on only one aspect, factor, or level. Our study will address the limitations in the existing research.

 

How to Develop and Extend the Proposed Research

Based on General Research C (Yamaguchi, A: General Research C 2015–2018), this study attempts to investigate the health and well-being from the biomarker by exploring dementia and cancer as social health issues in Japan and the U.S. To address the behaviors of cancer and dementia, the biological risk factor recently has received attention.  

First, in this study, the mediating role of social anxiety was explored within the effect of anger regulation on perceived stress in the international sample of older Japanese and U.S. adults. The results indicated that anger suppression was a significant factor in perceived stress mediated by social anxiety. Anger suppression also was directly related to perceived stress. The correlation of anger suppression with social anxiety was stronger in Japan than in the U.S. Understanding both the universal and culture-specific aspects of emotion regulation and perceived stress is essential for the development of sound theories, future research, and effective prevention and intervention efforts. Based on the findings, the proposed research (Yamaguchi, A.: General Research C 2015–2018) will explore cultural factors, such as self-construals, to determine the relationships among the Big Five personality traits, independence, interdependence, and life orientations from the biomarker including physical health approach within each culture.