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Impacts of anxiety and socioeconomic factors on mental health in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population in Japan: A web-based survey

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  • Miwako Nagasu
  • Kaori Muto
  • Isamu Yamamoto

Abstract

Owing to the rapid spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic worldwide, individuals experience considerable psychological distress daily. The present study aimed to clarify the prevalence of psychological distress and determine the population most affected by risk factors such as the pandemic, socioeconomic status (SES), and lifestyle-related factors causing psychological distress in the early phases of the pandemic in Japan. This study was conducted via a web-based survey using quota sampling to ensure representativeness of the Japanese population aged 20–64 years. A cross-sectional study of 11,342 participants (5,734 males and 5,608 females) was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire that included the Japanese version of the Kessler 6 Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and questions related to the pandemic, SES, and lifestyle. The prevalence of psychological distress, represented by a K6 score of 5 or more, was 50.3% among males and 52.6% among females. Both males and females with annual household incomes less than 2 million yen and males aged in their twenties had significantly higher K6 scores than those with annual household incomes above 2 million yen and males aged over 30 years. Binary logistic regression analyses found pandemic-related factors such as medical history, inability to undergo clinical tests immediately, having trouble in daily life, unavailability of groceries, new work style, and vague anxiety; SES-related factors such as lesser income; and lifestyle-related factors such as insufficient rest, sleep, and nutritious meals to be significantly related to psychological distress. Psychological distress was more prevalent among people with low income and in younger generations than among other groups. There is an urgent need to provide financial, medical, and social support to those affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Miwako Nagasu & Kaori Muto & Isamu Yamamoto, 2021. "Impacts of anxiety and socioeconomic factors on mental health in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population in Japan: A web-based survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0247705
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247705
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    Cited by:

    1. Michihito Ando & Masato Furuichi, 2022. "The association of COVID-19 employment shocks with suicide and safety net use: An early-stage investigation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-26, March.
    2. Izumi Matsudaira & Yuji Takano & Ryo Yamaguchi & Yasuyuki Taki, 2021. "Core belief disruption amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Japanese adults," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Hilal Altundal Duru & Serpil Yılmaz & Zeliha Yaman & Münevver Boğahan & Mualla Yılmaz, 2023. "Individuals’ Coping Styles and Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440221, January.
    4. Takashi Oshio & Hiromi Kimura & Toshimi Nishizaki & Susumu Kuwahara, 2022. "At Which Area Level Does COVID-19 Infection Matter Most for an Individual’s Self-Rated Health? A Multilevel Fixed-Effects Model Analysis in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-11, July.
    5. Hafsah Saeed & Ardalan Eslami & Najah T. Nassif & Ann M. Simpson & Sara Lal, 2022. "Anxiety Linked to COVID-19: A Systematic Review Comparing Anxiety Rates in Different Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-26, February.
    6. Mitsuru Mori & Toshiaki Seko & Shunichi Ogawa, 2022. "Association of Social Capital and Locus of Control with Perceived Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-9, August.

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