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Background: A number of studies have shown that social support has a direct beneficial effect on well-being and also serves as a buffer to protect people from health problems due to excessive stress. Although preliminary studies report a positive relationship of alexithymia both with depression and reduced social support, there is no study examining whether the beneficial effect of social support on depression differs with the presence of alexithymia. Methods: A total of 120 workers aged 19–39 completed the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to measure alexithymia, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to evaluate depressive symptomatology, and the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) to assess job strain based on Karasek’s demand-control-support model. The interrelationship among TAS-20, BDI-II and 3 subscales of JCQ (job demand, control, and support) were examined. Results: A significant association of depression with low support and high alexithymia was observed. Alexithymia was also associated with reduced support. Further, a statistically significant interaction between alexithymia and support in terms of their effect on depression was observed. Nonalexithymic individuals with low support showed a significantly higher depression score than those who received high support, while alexithymics did not differ in their depression score depending on the degree of support. Consistent results were obtained from the logistic regression analysis examining the odds ratio for depression by support by alexithymia; a significantly increased odds ratio for depression associated with low social support was observed only among nonalexithymics. Conclusions: Alexithymic individuals might be unable to benefit from social support because of their cognitive deficits of emotion.

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The Sanbagawa metamorphic belt of southwest Japan is one of the type localities of subductionrelated high-P metamorphism. However, variable pressure-temperature (P-T) paths and metabasic assemblages have been reported for eclogite units in the region, leading to uncertainty about the subduction zone paleo-thermal structure and associated tectonometamorphic conditions. To analyse this variation, phase equilibria modelling was applied to the three main high-P metabasic rock types documented in the regionglaucophane eclogite, barroisite eclogite and garnet blueschistwith modelling performed over a range of P, T, bulk rock H 2 O and bulk rock ferric iron conditions using THERMOCALC. All samples are calculated to share a common steep prograde P-T path to similar peak conditions of $ 16-20 kbar and 560-610°C. The results establish that regional assemblage variation is systematic, with the alternation in peak amphibole phase due to peak conditions overlapping the glaucophane-barroisite solvus, and bulk composition effects stabilizing blueschist v. eclogite facies assemblages at similar P-T conditions. Furthermore, the results reveal that a steep prograde P-T path is common to all eclogite units in the Sanbagawa belt, indicating that metamorphic conditions were consistent along strike. All localities are compatible with predictions made by a ridge approach model, which attributes eclogite facies metamorphism and exhumation of the Sanbagawa belt to the approach of a spreading ridge.

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It is widely accepted that water-rich serpentinite domains are commonly present in the mantle above shallow subducting slabs and play key roles in controlling the geochemical cycling and physical properties of subduction zones. Thermal and petrological models show the dominant serpentine mineral is antigorite. However, there is no good consensus on the amount, distribution and alignment of this mineral. Seismic velocities are commonly used to identify antigorite-rich domains, but antigorite is highly-anisotropic and depending on the seismic ray path, its properties can be very difficult to distinguish from non-hydrated olivine-rich mantle. Here, we utilize this anisotropy and show how an analysis of seismic anisotropy that incorporates measured ray path geometries in the Ryukyu arc can constrain the distribution, orientation and amount of antigorite. We find more than 54% of the wedge must consist of antigorite and the alignment must change from vertically aligned to parallel to the slab. This orientation change suggests convective flow in the hydrated forearc mantle. Shear wave splitting analysis in other subduction zones indicates large-scale serpentinization and forearc mantle convection are likely to be more widespread than generally recognized. The view that the forearc mantle of cold subduction zones is dry needs to be reassessed.