小・中・高・大学生の冷え症と健康状態に関する研究

Abstract

Although sensitivity to cold is reported in more than half of Japanese females, there are few studies investigating it in young generations including male subjects. This study examined relationships between sensitivity to cold and the health status in elementary, middle, high school, and college students in order to collect basic data to provide health care support for young people. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted involving 81 elementary, 226 middle, and 353 high school students living in Nara Prefecture, and 521 college students in Kyoto Prefecture (549 males and 632 females). The survey included questions that asked about the presence or absence, region, and level of sensitivity to cold, and health status (physical and psychological symptoms), and the results were compared between age groups and gender. In total, 70% of the female students and 30% of the male students reported sensitivity to cold, and they increased with age in both genders. In female subjects, the level of sensitivity to cold increased with age, and, in male subjects, it was strongest in high school students. The health status was poorest in high school students of both genders, and female subjects presented significantly greater physical and psychological symptoms in all age groups than males. A significant positive correlation (r=0.66) was observed between the levels of sensitivity to cold and health status. Although sensitivity to cold and a poor (physical and psychological) health status were identified mostly in female subjects in all ages, sensitivity to cold was also present in many male subjects. A strong correlation between sensitivity to cold and the health status suggested the importance of implementing measures to improve symptoms of sensitivity to cold and providing health care guidance. The poorest health status among high school students in both genders also indicated the need to provide health care guidance particularly for high school students.