峰 友紗

INTRODUCTION: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) professionals, such as nursery school teachers in Japan, are essential for children's development but face substantial physical and emotional demands that may affect their health. In recent years, workplace social capital (WSC)-defined as trust, reciprocity, and cooperative relationships within the workplace-has been recognized as an important determinant of employee health. Although associations between WSC and health outcomes have been reported in several occupational groups, little is known about its role among ECCE professionals. This study investigated the relationship between WSC and self-rated health (SRH) among Japanese nursery school teachers caring for children under 3 years of age. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study from February to May 2024, targeting 5,000 randomly selected childcare facilities across Japan. Self-administered questionnaires collected data on demographics, work-hours-related conditions, WSC, and SRH. SRH was assessed using a single-item measure and dichotomized into "good" and "poor." WSC was measured using the Japanese version of the Finnish Public Sector Study (FPSS) scale and categorized into four groups. Logistic regression models estimated crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of 2,470 valid responses, 10.4% reported poor SRH. Compared with the very high WSC group, participants in the very low WSC group had significantly higher odds of poor SRH (adjusted OR = 5.60; 95% CI: 3.24-9.70). This association remained significant after adjusting for work-hours-related conditions. Notably, additional adjustment for taking daily rest breaks attenuated the association (adjusted OR = 4.43; 95% CI: 2.40-7.00). CONCLUSION: This study provides the first nationwide evidence linking WSC with SRH among Japanese nursery school teachers. Lower WSC was strongly associated with poor SRH, independent of work-hours-related conditions. Supportive and cohesive workplace relationships may enhance perceived health and facilitate effective recovery from fatigue, underscoring their importance in ECCE settings.

type:text [要約] OECD（経済協力開発機構）による保育の質に関する議論の要点を整理し，特に低年齢児の保育の質に関する議論と，OECDが行った幼児教育・保育従事者調査の国際比較の結果を概観した。その結果，第一に，保育の質の中でも子どもに最も直接的に作用する質の側面として「プロセスの質」が注目されていること，低年齢児保育のプロセスの質として「互恵的で応答的な関係性」「ケアと教育の一体性」「乳児特有の発達ニーズ」「家庭との連携の重要性」が挙げられていた。第二に，プロセスの質の調査方法として，尺度等を用いた自己報告の質問紙調査，Situational Judgement Questionsによる質問紙調査，観察評定があり，それぞれの長短があることを確認した。観察評定だけでなく保育者の信念や認識も調べることの重要性も指摘された。第三に，国際比較調査から各国共通の特徴と日本独自の特徴があること，低年齢児保育ならではの特徴があることも示唆された。以上をふまえ，海外の低年齢児保育の質に関する取り組みに学ぶと同時に，我が国ならではの質の確保・向上のための取り組みが必要であることを考察した。