“International research project „Diurnal and Circadian Rhythms and Life Style Habits – Behavioral Specifics”

Assoc. Prof. Milada Krejčí, PhD1, Assoc. Prof. Tetsuo Harada, PhD2, Kai Wada1,2
1 Dept of Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic 
2 Laboratory of Environmental Physiology, Faculty of Education, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of our research cooperation is to solve the problems of life style and mental health of Czech and Japanese children and youth (aged 3 - 18 years old, 1200 Czech and 1200 Japan participants, males 50% and females 50%); to analyze the role of sport and physical activities according circadian typology; to realize an intervention program to promote the active life style including adequate movement regime and mental health support. Internet communication, mobile phone, mid-night TV, convenience store opened 24hrs are included in nowadays live. Environmental aspects change dramatically and impact children including infants. Playing games on the display is widely spread among children in the world and the opportunities to play in the nature outside decrease due to it.

METHODS, Procedure
The research project planned for next 3 years (2010-2012) using comparative methods and correlation links between evening type preference and mental changes and between circadian typology and life style habits of Japanese and Czech children and youth. By elected samples will be used laboratory methods of collecting saliva to analysis the melatonin and serotonin concentration and system to measure core body temperature. The research cooperation started in 2007. During 2007 - 2008 we realized a pilot research study in infants aged 3 - 6 years old.  697 (360 girls, 337 boys) Japanese infants and 627 (305 girls, 322 boys) Czech infants were investigated by inquire method for parents, which answered the standardized questionnaire (Torsvall, Åkerstedt, 1980) for themselves and their own infants instead. Application of these facts in primary education will set up natural approach to health and performance by preadolescents, adolescents and adults. This work is focused on the analysis of the circadian rhythm and sleep schedule of the Czech and Japanese preadolescents and adolescents. The main tool of the data collection is the questionnaire of daily routines and sleep rhythms. The result of this work is to identify bad habits in non-sleep mode, the associated poor sleep hygiene, and irregular in catering especially for the younger girls in preadolescence and adolescence age. The ES was given from 120 preadolescents and adolescents (60 girls, 60 boys) who attended affiliated junior high school in Kochi and 120 (60 girls, 60 boys) preadolescents and adolescents of a junior high school in Ceske Budejovice. Effects of the different intervetions were estimated by an integrated questionnaire on whether the adolescents could participate in the 7 items after the class and a questionnaire on diurnal rhythms (MEQ Torsvall and Åkerstedt (1980) version, sleep habits, ID No. etc.). Most of the questionnaire was administered twice: just before and 1 month after the class. One-by-one comparison of before-class data to after-class The human nervous system is best activated by move. A motion, especially guided and controlled throughout, is of considerable therapeutic value at any age (e.g. Górny 1998). It shows the state of the nervous system, its inherent structure and level of development. As a psychosomatic system, yoga has a favorable influence not only on the physical level, but it favorably effects the psychical and social development of a personality, too. New experience and feelings connected with relaxation, controlled rhythm of breathing and slow motion represented a wholly new quality of motion experience. Data were statistically analyzed with the use of SPSS software (12.0 J for Windows; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS
Results demonstrated that Czech children were more morning-typed than Japanese children, while Czech parents were more evening-typed than Japanese parents. M-E scores (morningness – eveningness) of Czech infants were much higher than those of their parents (Mann-Whitney U-test, z=-12.33, P=5.97x10), whereas those of Japanese infants were relatively similar to those of their parents (Mann-Whitney U-test, z=-2.09, P=0.03). Correlation value (r-value) between M-E scores of infants and parents was 0.405 in Japanese participants, whereas it was relatively low (0.297) in Czech ones. Average bedtime and sleep duration of Japanese infants was later by 1.3hr and shorter by 1hr, respectively, compared with those of Czech infants. Czech children were depressed more frequently than Japanese ones who were more frequently angry than the Czech children. Infants who were angry often were significantly more evening-typed than those who feel angry less frequently in both countries (Mann Whitney U-test, Czech: χ2-value=13.02, df=3, P=0.0045; Japan: χ2-value=12.87, df=3, P=0.0049).
Results have shown that de-synchronization of the circadian clock system is accompanied by emotional instability and depressed mood. Intervention programs to promote the sleep and mental health in different age groups of children and youth in sense to shift to morning – type would be very useful in school education process. The actual observations from this work could be used in the process of teaching: for example in the subjects as health education. The basic necessity is knowledge and categorization of the circadian rhythms which largely affect our general life and behavior. This issue includes the basic natural questions like sleeping process. Although the knowledge about sleep is applied in various spheres its importance is enormous. In common civilian life we deal with the meaning, disorders and the influence upon activity and well-being. Application of these facts in primary education will set up natural approach to health and performance by preadolescents, adolescents and adults. This work is focused on the analysis of the circadian rhythm and sleep schedule of the Czech and Japanese preadolescents and adolescents. The main tool of the data collection is the questionnaire of daily routines and sleep rhythms. The result of this work is to identify bad habits in non-sleep mode, the associated poor sleep hygiene, and irregular in catering especially for the younger girls in preadolescence age. Very specify role can have yoga techniques. In yoga is possible to realize soon correction of wrong stereotypes and synchrony of breath and movement. Yoga movement is relaxed, slow, conscious controlled, coordinated with breathing process. Improving of elasticity and presumed and tested support of metabolic and endocrinology system is benefit for healing of overweight. From this view we can speak about re-educative effect of yoga exercises on body structure. System of breathing exercises improves cardiopulmonary capacity, improves of tissue aerobic saturation and hypoxia adaptability of tissues.

Conclusions
The objective was to assess which of four types of interventions in school environment is most effective for shifting adolescents to morning-type.

1. Continuous 2 classes (50min x 2) of lecture to explain the three reasons why morning-type life promotes high marks in the subjects: (1st) Sufficient REM sleep which morning-type can get, leads to the fixation of new memories, (2nd) Well-coupling of the two oscillators in morning-type can promote better mental health, (3rd) Tryptophan taken from rich breakfast is transferred to serotonin (to keep concentration).
2. Continuous 2 classes (50min x 2) of lectures to recommend 7 items (Harada et al., 2008) for changing to a morning-type: (1), (4) morning sunlight exposure before and after breakfast, (2) avoidance of night fluorescent lamp, (3) a nutritionally rich breakfast including Tryptophan and Vitamin B6, (5) avoidance of going to night shops (convenience store, Video rental shop, 24h-opened-internet –café etc), (6) early morning study at home, (7) avoidance of using Visual Digital Terminal at night).
3. 1 class of lecture to explain the three reasons and continuous another 1 class of lecture to recommend the 7 items (combination of Type 1 and Type 2). Control group to which no lectures were given was made. Most of the questionnaire was administered twice: just before and 1 month after the class. One-by-one comparison of before-class data to after-class one showed that significantly higher increase in M-E scores and also higher decrease in the frequency to be depressed in Type 3 class students than that in the other three classes (P<0.05 in both).
4. Interventional yoga program and relaxation development After the interventional yoga program realization ES participants were able to use separately compensatory and relaxation techniques to negotiation mental fatigue and stress in their everyday life and to be considerate to contiguous people. In presented intervention program is recommended to practice 40 - 60 minutes every day (the average decrease of weight was about 1, 5 – 3kg monthly) and to improve general condition. Positive changes in emotional state and regulation in sense of Self-Control and Self – Esteem improvement are significantly documented.

Combination of classes on fundamental knowledge and detailed techniques to promote health of diurnal rhythms and sleep might be effective for preventing the shift of Japanese adolescents to evening-type and promoting sleep and mental health.
Findings of study declare that after interventional yoga program and relaxation development were analyzed deepen knowledge in the area of healthy life style and morning – evening orientation of participants. After interventional yoga training program and relaxation development in all age ES groups were found positive changes in opinions and attitudes in meanings interpersonal characteristics of Self -  Efficacy, Self - Control and Self - Esteem. Positive changes in mood states correlate with tests results. Analyses of results brought significant changes in all five of negative emotive factors questionnaire POP, as is shift from anxiety to state fair, from depressive moods to vitality, from wrathfulness to humility, , from fatigue to force and energy, from confusion and uncertainties to assured and self - respect. All participants shifted to be Morning typed. Gooneratne (2008) notes complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are frequently used for the treatment of sleep disorders, but in many cases patients do not discuss these therapies directly with their health care provider. There is a growing body of well-designed clinical trials using CAM that have shown the following:

1. Melatonin is an effective agent for the treatment of circadian phase disorders that affect sleep; however, the role of melatonin in the treatment of primary or secondary insomnia is less well established.
2. Valerian has shown a benefit in some, but not all clinical trials.
3. Several other modalities, such as Tai Chi, acupuncture, acupressure, yoga, and meditation have improved sleep parameters in a limited number of early trials.

Future work examining CAM has the potential to significantly add to our treatment options for sleep disorders in older adults. In health education of youth chronobiologie parameters are important from the view of periodic disorders, especially in depressive and afects disorders in preadolescents and adolescents. Within this context it is possible to suppose the hypotetic reason of panicked states and disorders affectivity as well.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The presented research study was supported by grant of Czech grant agency GACR  - research project 406/08/0352 (2008-2010) “Health Education – Teaching Strategy of Mental Hygiene“ and by Academic financial support from the President (Prof. Yusuke Sagara) to T. Harada. We would like to thank all those members of the kinder gardens who cooperated with this survey. This study was performed as an official international research project based on The Official Academic Exchanging Agreement between South Bohemia University and Kochi University.

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