Yasu Kotera
@yasukotera.bsky.social
AscProf at UofNottingham & CollabResearcher at OsakaU #CrossCulture #MentalHealth. A dad of #triplets+1. BACP AccredPsychotherapist. REACH-global.org
Nature connection is now part of lifestyle psychiatry for depression: “nature doses,” green gyms, gardening, walking groups: integrated with sleep, movement, nutrition, stress skills, social connection, and substance reduction in stepped care.
www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/lifesty...
www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/lifesty...
Lifestyle Psychiatry for Supporting Individuals With Major Depressive Disorder | Psychiatric Times
Explore how lifestyle psychiatry transforms depression treatment through nutrition, exercise, sleep, and social connections for holistic recovery and resilience.
www.psychiatrictimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Nature connection is now part of lifestyle psychiatry for depression: “nature doses,” green gyms, gardening, walking groups: integrated with sleep, movement, nutrition, stress skills, social connection, and substance reduction in stepped care.
www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/lifesty...
www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/lifesty...
Cross-national WVS (Wave7) study links attitudes about wives outearning husbands to country context. Greater gender equality & economic development correlate w lower aversion; higher men’s unemployment correlates w wider gender gap (Lee, 2025) @elsevierconnect.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
Redirecting
doi.org
January 24, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Cross-national WVS (Wave7) study links attitudes about wives outearning husbands to country context. Greater gender equality & economic development correlate w lower aversion; higher men’s unemployment correlates w wider gender gap (Lee, 2025) @elsevierconnect.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ss...
Hartig (2021) argues restoration in nature isn’t just individual stress/attention recovery (ART/SRT), extending the theory to relationships (relational: nature + being w others shapes both the bond & benefits) and communities (collective). @springernature.com doi.org/10.1007/978-...
Restoration in Nature: Beyond the Conventional Narrative
The restoration perspective on human adaptation offers a broad view of relations between environment and health; however, it remains underutilized as a source of insight for nature-and-health studies....
doi.org
January 23, 2026 at 5:30 AM
Hartig (2021) argues restoration in nature isn’t just individual stress/attention recovery (ART/SRT), extending the theory to relationships (relational: nature + being w others shapes both the bond & benefits) and communities (collective). @springernature.com doi.org/10.1007/978-...
“Relational values” = how we ought to relate to nature (care, stewardship, flourishing): not just what nature does for us. Editorial overview + why RVs may support transformative sustainability. @elsevierconnect.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.co...
Redirecting
doi.org
January 21, 2026 at 5:16 AM
“Relational values” = how we ought to relate to nature (care, stewardship, flourishing): not just what nature does for us. Editorial overview + why RVs may support transformative sustainability. @elsevierconnect.bsky.social doi.org/10.1016/j.co...
"Metatheme Analysis: Qualitative Method for Cross-Cultural Research. Adapt thematic analysis for cross-cultural research. Use a shared protocol, code inductively, then identify “metathemes” recurring across cultures, while noting local context @ijqmonline.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1177/1609...
doi.org/10.1177/1609...
https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211019907"
January 19, 2026 at 6:14 AM
"Metatheme Analysis: Qualitative Method for Cross-Cultural Research. Adapt thematic analysis for cross-cultural research. Use a shared protocol, code inductively, then identify “metathemes” recurring across cultures, while noting local context @ijqmonline.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1177/1609...
doi.org/10.1177/1609...
Systematic review of 21 RCTs (2014–2024): most online interventions increased self-compassion, but wellbeing effects were mixed: hedonic gains inconsistent; eudaimonic gains often delayed. Mindfulness (2025) @springernature.com link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Online Self-Compassion Interventions and Wellbeing Outcomes: A Systematic Review of RCTs - Mindfulness
Objectives Self-compassion involves being kind to oneself during times of suffering and is linked to improved wellbeing. While there is a growing number of online self-compassion interventions, their ...
link.springer.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:21 AM
Systematic review of 21 RCTs (2014–2024): most online interventions increased self-compassion, but wellbeing effects were mixed: hedonic gains inconsistent; eudaimonic gains often delayed. Mindfulness (2025) @springernature.com link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Fear of the unknown might be the master fear behind anxiety. Carleton's synthesis argues that fear of the unknown could be a fundamental, transdiagnostic driver of anxiety (and neuroticism) with implications for theory & clinical practice @elsevierconnect.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ja...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ja...
Redirecting
doi.org
January 17, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Fear of the unknown might be the master fear behind anxiety. Carleton's synthesis argues that fear of the unknown could be a fundamental, transdiagnostic driver of anxiety (and neuroticism) with implications for theory & clinical practice @elsevierconnect.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ja...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ja...
Our new paper in World Psychiatry: Social inclusion of people with severe mental illness can’t be an add-on to care, and needs multi-level action, tailored to different cultures. Glad my cross-cultural section was assessed by Editor “outstanding"!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Our new paper in World Psychiatry: Social inclusion of people with severe mental illness can’t be an add-on to care, and needs multi-level action, tailored to different cultures. Glad my cross-cultural section was assessed by Editor “outstanding"!
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
New paper on nature-based mental health care. Buckley et al. argue occupational therapy is an immediately implementable pathway to deliver best-practice, guided nature-based mental healthcare for stress/anxiety/depression. @nature.com Nature Mental Health www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Client Challenge
www.nature.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:52 AM
New paper on nature-based mental health care. Buckley et al. argue occupational therapy is an immediately implementable pathway to deliver best-practice, guided nature-based mental healthcare for stress/anxiety/depression. @nature.com Nature Mental Health www.nature.com/articles/s44...
UK Household Longitudinal Study (4 waves, 2012–2022; fixed-effects): sleep problems (poor quality, disturbance, longer latency etc.) mediate & worsen mental health impact of financial strain. Sleep support may help buffer financial stress @elsevierconnect.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ja...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ja...
Redirecting
doi.org
January 13, 2026 at 11:53 AM
UK Household Longitudinal Study (4 waves, 2012–2022; fixed-effects): sleep problems (poor quality, disturbance, longer latency etc.) mediate & worsen mental health impact of financial strain. Sleep support may help buffer financial stress @elsevierconnect.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ja...
doi.org/10.1016/j.ja...
Forest > city (for immunity potential) 🌲 RCT (Scientific Reports @springernature.com 2025; n=84 men 40–70) compared a 90-min forest vs urban walk. Forest walking ↑ salivary sIgA (mucosal immunity), ↓ cortisol, ↑ dopamine, and improved mood.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Client Challenge
www.nature.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Forest > city (for immunity potential) 🌲 RCT (Scientific Reports @springernature.com 2025; n=84 men 40–70) compared a 90-min forest vs urban walk. Forest walking ↑ salivary sIgA (mucosal immunity), ↓ cortisol, ↑ dopamine, and improved mood.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The effort moralisation effect (more effort➡️seen as moral) replicated both in Germany🇩🇪 & Mexico🇲🇽 but larger in Germany. No support for the idea that younger people moralise effort less. @ucpress.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1525/coll...
doi.org/10.1525/coll...
Is It Worth the Hustle? A Multi-Country Replication of the Effort Moralization Effect and an Extension to Generational Differences in the Appreciation of Effort
Inferring moral character of individuals is an adaptive need for social decision-making. The effort moralization effect describes the finding that people who exert more effort in a task are seen as mo...
doi.org
January 11, 2026 at 6:41 AM
The effort moralisation effect (more effort➡️seen as moral) replicated both in Germany🇩🇪 & Mexico🇲🇽 but larger in Germany. No support for the idea that younger people moralise effort less. @ucpress.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1525/coll...
doi.org/10.1525/coll...
Jess’s systematic review is online: school-based climate change literacy programmes for children. 12/16 included resilience-building (active learning, problem-solving, community engagement), but only 2 explicitly supported emotional wellbeing @eerjournal.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/1350...
doi.org/10.1080/1350...
Building resilience and supporting emotional well-being in climate change education: a systematic review of school-based climate change literacy programmes for children
As climate change education becomes increasingly urgent, there is growing concern about how such education affects children’s mental health. This systematic review examined whether school-based cli...
doi.org
January 9, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Jess’s systematic review is online: school-based climate change literacy programmes for children. 12/16 included resilience-building (active learning, problem-solving, community engagement), but only 2 explicitly supported emotional wellbeing @eerjournal.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/1350...
doi.org/10.1080/1350...
Financial strain predicts poorer mental health & life satisfaction but the mental health hit isn’t equal. 13-wave UKHLS fixed-effects (2009–2022; 58k): stronger association for Black adults vs White; stronger for Indian, weaker for Chinese @springernature.com
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Racial/ethnic Variations in the Association Between Financial Strain and Well-Being: Evidence from the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Survey - Applied Research in Quality of Life
Financial strain is a major social stressor that adversely affects well-being, yet few studies have comprehensively examined whether its association differs by race/ethnicity. This study investigates ...
link.springer.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Financial strain predicts poorer mental health & life satisfaction but the mental health hit isn’t equal. 13-wave UKHLS fixed-effects (2009–2022; 58k): stronger association for Black adults vs White; stronger for Indian, weaker for Chinese @springernature.com
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Hard copy arrived 📕 Purpose in Life as Ancient but Nascent, published in @cambridge.org
Our chapter: “Self-Compassion and Ikigai” (Kotera, Wilkes, Colman). Hope readers find it helpful!
Our chapter: “Self-Compassion and Ikigai” (Kotera, Wilkes, Colman). Hope readers find it helpful!
January 6, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Hard copy arrived 📕 Purpose in Life as Ancient but Nascent, published in @cambridge.org
Our chapter: “Self-Compassion and Ikigai” (Kotera, Wilkes, Colman). Hope readers find it helpful!
Our chapter: “Self-Compassion and Ikigai” (Kotera, Wilkes, Colman). Hope readers find it helpful!
Do happiness activities work the same way across cultures? Layous et al tested gratitude letters + act of kindness in US & South Korea 6 wks. Kindness ⬆️ wellbeing in both; gratitude helped less in Korea possibly due to mixed feelings in dialectical culture.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Culture Matters When Designing a Successful Happiness-Increasing Activity - Kristin Layous, Hyunjung Lee, Incheol Choi, Sonja Lyubomirsky, 2013
Research shows that performing positive activities, such as expressing gratitude and doing acts of kindness, boosts happiness. But do specific positive activiti...
journals.sagepub.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Do happiness activities work the same way across cultures? Layous et al tested gratitude letters + act of kindness in US & South Korea 6 wks. Kindness ⬆️ wellbeing in both; gratitude helped less in Korea possibly due to mixed feelings in dialectical culture.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
New evidence synthesis: compassion for others linked to [email protected]
Zhuniq et al meta-analysed 54 effect sizes: found a moderate positive association btn compassion for others and wellbeing->consistent across psychological, cognitive, social wellbeing
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Zhuniq et al meta-analysed 54 effect sizes: found a moderate positive association btn compassion for others and wellbeing->consistent across psychological, cognitive, social wellbeing
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Compassion for others and well-being: a meta-analysis - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Compassion for others and well-being: a meta-analysis
www.nature.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:03 AM
New evidence synthesis: compassion for others linked to [email protected]
Zhuniq et al meta-analysed 54 effect sizes: found a moderate positive association btn compassion for others and wellbeing->consistent across psychological, cognitive, social wellbeing
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Zhuniq et al meta-analysed 54 effect sizes: found a moderate positive association btn compassion for others and wellbeing->consistent across psychological, cognitive, social wellbeing
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A quick year-end snapshot (Google Scholar): 52 papers, 1,980 citations in 2025.
Grateful to all collaborators 🙏
Here’s to 2026: more learning, more collaboration, and meaningful impact!
Grateful to all collaborators 🙏
Here’s to 2026: more learning, more collaboration, and meaningful impact!
December 31, 2025 at 5:36 AM
A quick year-end snapshot (Google Scholar): 52 papers, 1,980 citations in 2025.
Grateful to all collaborators 🙏
Here’s to 2026: more learning, more collaboration, and meaningful impact!
Grateful to all collaborators 🙏
Here’s to 2026: more learning, more collaboration, and meaningful impact!
Happiness isn’t always “more is better”. In 61 countries, “happiness maximization” is most common in WEIRD societies. Authors link it to benign ecology (e.g., Gulf Stream NW Europe) and warn against universalising it in policy. @journals.sagepub.com
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Happiness Maximization Is a WEIRD Way of Living - Kuba Krys, Olga Kostoula, Wijnand A. P. van Tilburg, Oriana Mosca, J. Hannah Lee, Fridanna Maricchiolo, Aleksandra Kosiarczyk, Agata Kocimska-Bortnows...
Psychological science tends to treat subjective well-being and happiness synonymously. We start from the assumption that subjective well-being is more than bein...
journals.sagepub.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Happiness isn’t always “more is better”. In 61 countries, “happiness maximization” is most common in WEIRD societies. Authors link it to benign ecology (e.g., Gulf Stream NW Europe) and warn against universalising it in policy. @journals.sagepub.com
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Congratulations to REACH members (Research Ensemble for Advancement in Cross-cultural Healthcare)! 🎉 40 publications in 2025, bringing our long-term average to 27.25 publications/year. It’s not all about numbers, but it’s one way to show the synergy of our collaborative effort 😀
December 29, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Congratulations to REACH members (Research Ensemble for Advancement in Cross-cultural Healthcare)! 🎉 40 publications in 2025, bringing our long-term average to 27.25 publications/year. It’s not all about numbers, but it’s one way to show the synergy of our collaborative effort 😀
Nature isn’t a luxury; it’s mental health infrastructure: linked to lower stress/psychiatric symptoms & better mood. Benefits are often greatest in disadvantaged areas. Scale nature prescriptions, urban greening, and nature-friendly wards. www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/nature-...
Nature Nurtures: Evidence for Nature’s Impact on Mental Well-Being | Psychiatric Times
Discover how access to nature enhances mental health, promoting healing and resilience through green spaces and innovative therapeutic practices.
www.psychiatrictimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Nature isn’t a luxury; it’s mental health infrastructure: linked to lower stress/psychiatric symptoms & better mood. Benefits are often greatest in disadvantaged areas. Scale nature prescriptions, urban greening, and nature-friendly wards. www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/nature-...
Noelia’s new paper is out, nice work! 🇪🇸🇯🇵 Spain n=260 vs Japan n=177: social support protects against depression & suicidal ideation; perceived burdensomeness is a strong predictor in both; interpersonal competence protective mainly in Japan.
www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/16...
www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/16...
www.mdpi.com
December 25, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Noelia’s new paper is out, nice work! 🇪🇸🇯🇵 Spain n=260 vs Japan n=177: social support protects against depression & suicidal ideation; perceived burdensomeness is a strong predictor in both; interpersonal competence protective mainly in Japan.
www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/16...
www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/16...
Well done, Sue! New paper: “Depression across cultures: MDD in China vs the US”. Prevalence gaps may reflect culture + diagnosis (incl. “neurasthenia”), not just burden. @tandfresearch.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Depression across cultures: a comparison of major depressive disorder in China and the United States
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a widespread and debilitating condition, yet its prevalence and manifestation vary significantly across cultures. This paper compares MDD in China and the United ...
www.tandfonline.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Well done, Sue! New paper: “Depression across cultures: MDD in China vs the US”. Prevalence gaps may reflect culture + diagnosis (incl. “neurasthenia”), not just burden. @tandfresearch.bsky.social
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Lifestyle behaviours shape mental health, but are underused in care. New lifestyle psychiatry framework (43 contributors, 15 countries) maps key domains + behaviour-change barriers, with an equity and recovery lens. @bmj.com Mental Health
mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1...
mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1...
Lifestyle psychiatry: a conceptual framework for application in mental healthcare and support
Lifestyle-related behaviours—such as sedentary behaviour, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep and substance use—are increasingly recognised as important factors in the onset and persi...
mentalhealth.bmj.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Lifestyle behaviours shape mental health, but are underused in care. New lifestyle psychiatry framework (43 contributors, 15 countries) maps key domains + behaviour-change barriers, with an equity and recovery lens. @bmj.com Mental Health
mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1...
mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1...
Grateful for my @springernature.com Year in Research 2025 summary.
📊 115k+ accesses
📚 381 citations
📝 8 new articles w Springer Nature
A reflection of generous collaborators and research that’s travelling beyond academia. Thank you all. yir.sn.pub/fOSpIC #SNAuthors #YiR2025
📊 115k+ accesses
📚 381 citations
📝 8 new articles w Springer Nature
A reflection of generous collaborators and research that’s travelling beyond academia. Thank you all. yir.sn.pub/fOSpIC #SNAuthors #YiR2025
Year in research 2025
Explore a personalised summary of your research's reach and impact in 2025 and share highlights with friends and colleagues.
yir.sn.pub
December 20, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Grateful for my @springernature.com Year in Research 2025 summary.
📊 115k+ accesses
📚 381 citations
📝 8 new articles w Springer Nature
A reflection of generous collaborators and research that’s travelling beyond academia. Thank you all. yir.sn.pub/fOSpIC #SNAuthors #YiR2025
📊 115k+ accesses
📚 381 citations
📝 8 new articles w Springer Nature
A reflection of generous collaborators and research that’s travelling beyond academia. Thank you all. yir.sn.pub/fOSpIC #SNAuthors #YiR2025