Researcher basic information

• Master（Nursing）, St. Luke's International University, Mar. 2024

• https://researchmap.jp/yokoayu?lang=en

• https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9843-025X
• https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=202401010991330616
• https://square.umin.ac.jp/phnhokudai/index.html
• https://square.umin.ac.jp/phnhokudai/en/

• https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9843-025X

• 202401010991330616

• Human Resource Development
• Public Health Nursing
• health literacy

• Life Science, Gerontological nursing and community health nursing

• Master's degree program, Graduate School of Health Sciences
• Doctoral (PhD) degree program, Graduate School of Health Sciences

Research activity information

• A Life-Stage Comparative Study of the Psychosocial Care Burdens and Needs of Middle-Aged and Older Family Carers in Home Care
  Nanami Oe; Yuka Iwata; Yuko Tanaka; Ayuka Yokoyama; Etsuko Tadaka
  Social Sciences, 15, 2, 129, 129, MDPI AG, 16 Feb. 2026
  Scientific journal, Population aging has increased reliance on family carers, whose psychosocial burdens and support needs vary by life stage. This exploratory study aimed to compare psychosocial care burdens and support needs between middle-aged family carers (MFCs) and older family carers (OFCs) providing home-based care in Japan from a life-stage perspective. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among family carers registered with a community general support center in Sapporo, Japan. Data from 153 respondents were analyzed. Psychosocial care burden was assessed across perceived burden, underlying causes, and broader life challenges. Support needs were evaluated based on preferences for 20 types of services and supports. Overall, 60% of MFCs and 53.9% of OFCs experienced care burden. MFCs reported significantly greater burdens related to family relationships (Cramer’s V = 0.168) and work-related concerns (Cramer’s V = 0.235). They also expressed higher needs for Care Leave Accessibility, Flexible Work for Care, and Carer Job Support, with small-to-moderate effect sizes. The findings suggest that psychosocial burdens and support needs among family carers may vary across different age-defined life stages. Middle-aged carers balancing work and family responsibilities face distinct challenges, underscoring the need for targeted policies, workplace support, and life-stage-responsive, role-sensitive support systems in aging societies.

  
  Download
• Incidence of depressive symptoms and their associations with lifestyle and social support networks among community-dwelling older adults: a sex-stratified longitudinal study using the JAGES study
  Mei Amaike; Ayuka Yokoyama; Yuko Tanaka; Momoka Yamazaki; Akemi Matsuzawa; Toshiyuki Ojima; Etsuko Tadaka
  BioPsychoSocial Medicine, 19, 1, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 14 Oct. 2025
  Scientific journal, Abstract
  
  Background
  
  Primary prevention of depressive symptoms among independent older adults is a critical public health challenge. Lifestyle factors and social support networks are increasingly recognized as pivotal determinants of mental health in this population. However, few longitudinal studies have examined these relationships, and little attention has been directed to gender-based differences. We investigated the associations between lifestyle factors and social support networks and the depressive symptoms of community-dwelling independent older adults in a sex-stratified 3-year longitudinal study.
  
  Methods
  
  This study used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. Participants were functionally independent individuals aged 65 years and older. Our final analysis included data for 6,929 individuals collected between 2019 and 2022. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with depressive symptoms in 2022 as the dependent variable. Lifestyle factors and social support networks were treated as independent variables, with age, chronic diseases, and household income included as covariates. The effects of interactions between lifestyle factors and social support networks on depressive symptoms were also analyzed.
  
  Results
  
  The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 10.7% in men and 11.6% in women in the 3-year follow-up. The incidence rate of newly developed depressive symptoms (per 1,000 person-years) was 35.6 for men and 38.8 for women. Sex-based differences were found in lifestyle and social support network factors associated with depressive symptoms. In men, walking for more than 30 min per day, insomnia, and emotional support were significantly associated with the risk for depressive symptoms. In women, walking for more than 30 min per day, insomnia, and instrumental support were significantly associated with the risk for depressive symptoms. No interaction effects between lifestyle factors and social support networks on depressive symptoms were observed in either men or women.
  
  Conclusion
  
  These findings underscore the importance of preventing depressive symptoms among older adults, particularly through the lens of gender-specific differences in lifestyle factors and social support networks associated with depressive symptoms. This study highlights the potential for developing targeted and effective primary prevention strategies by identifying modifiable determinants of depressive symptoms.

  
  Download
• Decision-making Skills and Their Relationship to Learning Opportunities and Health Literacy in Japanese Adults
  Ayuka Yokoyama
  聖路加国際大学大学院看護学研究科 修士論文, Jun. 2024
  Japanese, Master thesis

  
  Download
• Gender Analysis of Stress and Smoking Behavior: A Survey of Young Adults in Japan
  Ayuka Yokoyama; Yuka Iwata; Nanami Oe; Etsuko Tadaka
  Social Sciences, 23 Feb. 2024, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal

  
  Download
• Empowering Community Health Workers in Japan: Determinants of Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Competency
  Yuki Imamatsu; Yuka Iwata; Ayuka Yokoyama; Yuko Tanaka; Etsuko Tadaka
  Healthcare, 24 Jan. 2024, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal

  
  Download
• Determinants of Self-Rated Health Disparities among Independent Community-Dwelling Older Adults: An Age-Stratified Analysis
  Yuka Iwata; Ayuka Yokoyama; Nanami Oe; Eriko Ito; Azusa Arimoto; Yuko Tanaka; Etsuko Tadaka
  Healthcare, 30 Nov. 2023, [Peer-reviewed], [International Magazine]
  English, Scientific journal

  
  Download
• Aspects of Health Literacy Among Middle-aged Male Office Workers Who do not Qualify for Specific Health Guidance
  Yokoyama Ayuka; Tadaka Etsuko; Shiratani Kae; Ito Eriko; Arimoto Azusa
  Journal of Japan Academy of Community Health Nursing, 23, 1, 23, 31, Japan Academy of Community Health Nursing, 2020, [Peer-reviewed], [Domestic magazines]
  Japanese, Aim: This study aims to elucidate aspects of health literacy among middle-aged male office workers who do not qualify for Specific Health Guidance while also gaining insight into the direction of future health promotion by way of physical examination.
  
  Method: Study participants were 6 male office workers. The research question was: “How do office workers understand, evaluate, and implement the results of their physical examination?” Data were collected from individual semi-structured interviews and qualitative inductive analysis was performed. This study was conducted with the approval of the affiliated research institution.
  
  Results: Health literacy included the following eight categories: regarding the understanding of physical examination results, “a readout of current general health,” “a vague indication of future health,” and “a learned the importance of health and regular health checkup” were identified; regarding the evaluation of physical examination results, feelings of “I integrate it in my daily life,” “I recognize the significance as information to interpret my health,” and “I judge myself based on the information I get” were identified; and regarding the implementation of physical examination results, “heighten awareness of preventing risk factors of disease” and “help motivate health maintenance and improvement.”
  
  Discussion: It is necessary to improve both how individuals are notified of physical exam results and the support for utilizing the health information. It is further necessary to establish human resources and systems that support health promotion in order to change the environment for middle-aged male office workers.

  
  Download

• The Multilevel Outcomes of Community Health Development / Capacity building by Nursing Professionals: A Scoping Review
  Yuko TANAKA; Ayuka YOKOYAMA; Yuka IWATA; Yasuyuki KURASAWA; Yuichi ISAJI; Takashi KITAGAWA; Kisaki KOBAYASHI; Moe NEMOTO; Jun KAMENO; Etsuko TADAKA
  29th The East Asian Forum of Nursing Scholars Conference(Singapore), Feb. 2026
• 若年成人における主観的健康感と社会的孤立の関連：援助要請態度による緩衝効果
  横山歩香; 田中裕子; 亀野淳; 田髙悦子
  第84回日本公衆衛生学会(静岡県), 29 Oct. 2025
  29 Oct. 2025 - 31 Oct. 2025
• 地域包括支援センター保健師の地域づくりに関する専門能力評価尺度の妥当性の検討
  田中裕子; 横山歩香; 亀野淳; 田髙悦子
  第84回日本公衆衛生学会(静岡県), Oct. 2025
  29 Oct. 2025 - 31 Oct. 2025
• 2040 年に向けた自治体保健師活動のあり方－人口構造 の変化や格差への取組その1
  春山 早苗; 尾島 俊之; 田高 悦子; 牛尾 裕子; 前田 香; 西本 美和; 今松 友紀; 田中 裕子; 横山 歩香; 大江 七実; 岡澤 皓子
  第84回日本公衆衛生学会(静岡県), Oct. 2025
  29 Oct. 2025 - 31 Oct. 2025
• 地域包括支援センター保健師の地域づくりに関する専門能力評価尺度の信頼性の検討
  田中裕子; 横山歩香; 亀野淳; 田髙悦子
  日本地域看護学会第28回学術集会(東京都), Sep. 2025
  06 Sep. 2025 - 07 Sep. 2025
• Gender Analysis of Stress and Smoking Behavior: A Survey of Young Adults in Japan
  Ayuka Yokoyama; Yuka Iwata; Nanami Oe; Etsuko Tadaka
  15th International Nursing Conference & 28th East Asian Forum of Nursing Scholars(Seoul), 13 Feb. 2025
  13 Feb. 2025 - 14 Feb. 2025
• ヘルスリテラシーと意思決定スキル「お・ち・た・か」および自己決定への意識の関連
  横山歩香; 中山和弘; 米倉佑貴
  第83回日本公衆衛生学会総会(北海道), 30 Oct. 2024, Japanese, Oral presentation
  29 Oct. 2024 - 31 Oct. 2024
• 一般市民のヘルスリテラシー向上を目的とした意思決定のスキルとその学習の機会に関する検討：学校教育に焦点を当てて
  横山歩香; 中山和弘; 米倉佑貴
  第32回日本健康教育学会学術大会(長野県), 07 Jul. 2024
  06 Jul. 2024 - 07 Jul. 2024
• 特定健康診査を受診した特定保健指導非対象者のヘルスリテラシーの様相 ―壮年期男性事務職に焦点を当てて―
  横山歩香; 田髙悦子; 白谷佳恵; 伊藤絵梨子; 有本梓
  第22回日本地域看護学会(神奈川県), 18 Aug. 2019
  17 Aug. 2019 - 18 Aug. 2019

• 公衆衛生看護活動論演習Ⅰ, 2024年, 修士課程, 保健科学院
• 公衆衛生看護学実習Ⅰ, 2024年, 修士課程, 保健科学院
• 公衆衛生看護学実習Ⅱ, 2024年, 修士課程, 保健科学院
• 公衆衛生看護学実習Ⅲ, 2024年, 修士課程, 保健科学院
• 看護統合実習, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部
• 地域生活支援技術論Ⅰ, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部
• 地域生活支援技術論Ⅱ, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部
• 地域看護学実習, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部
• 在宅看護学実習, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部
• 在宅看護学援助論, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部
• 在宅看護学概論, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部
• 災害看護論, 2024年, 学士課程, 医学部

• Japan Academy of Nursing Science
• Japanese Academy of Human Resource Development
• Japanese Society of Public Health
• Japanese Society of Health Education and Promotion
• Japan Academy of community Health Nursing

• 自分らしく決める方法「胸に『お・ち・た・か』」：進路選択や病気の治療法など大事なことを決める時どうしたらいいの？
  中山和弘, 横山歩香, Apr. 2023, この動画は、JSPS科研費20H03967の助成を受けたものです。
  https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-20H03967, [Educational materials]

• ポジティヴヘルスを育む地域を創る地域包括保健師エンパワメントプログラムの開発評価
  科学研究費助成事業
  Apr. 2025 - Mar. 2029
  田中 裕子; 田高 悦子; 亀野 淳; 横山 歩香
  日本学術振興会, 基盤研究(C), 北海道大学, 25K14346

• Aug. 2023 - Present
  Elementary School Teacher License
• Apr. 2019 - Present
  Public Health Nurse License
• Apr. 2019 - Present
  Nurse License
• Nov. 2019
  障害支援区分認定調査員研修修了証書（第19ー131号）