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Coping Mechanisms: Exploring Strategies Utilized by Japanese Healthcare Workers to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Masatoshi Tahara

    (Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
    Department of Rehabilitation Therapist, Saiseikai Higashikanagawa Rehabilitation Hospital, 1-13-10, Nishikanagawa, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 221-0822, Japan)

  • Yuki Mashizume

    (Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan)

  • Kayoko Takahashi

    (Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan
    Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0373, Japan)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major problem affecting the mental health of millions of people, including healthcare workers. In this study, we analyzed risk factors and coping mechanisms that could reduce the risk of poor mental health among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted for 7 days from 30 April 2020 using a web-based questionnaire. The survey assessed various outcome measures, including the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), health status, satisfaction with daily life activities, work, leisure, and new activities, and anxiety over COVID-19. Data from 661 participants were analyzed, and 440 participants (66.6%) showed poor mental health (GHQ-12 ≥ 4). Also, our result showed that female gender, lower levels of communication with friends, and high anxiety were associated with poorer mental health. In contrast, good health status, high work satisfaction, and high satisfaction from new activities were associated with buffering mental health problem. Most participants chose an escape-avoidance coping strategy, and participants with worse mental health were more likely to adopt seeking social support as a coping strategy. These results may support healthcare workers to cope with mental health problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Masatoshi Tahara & Yuki Mashizume & Kayoko Takahashi, 2020. "Coping Mechanisms: Exploring Strategies Utilized by Japanese Healthcare Workers to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2020:i:1:p:131-:d:468960
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Masatoshi Tahara & Yuki Mashizume & Kayoko Takahashi, 2021. "Mental Health Crisis and Stress Coping among Healthcare College Students Momentarily Displaced from Their Campus Community Because of COVID-19 Restrictions in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Kento Tanaka & Masatoshi Tahara & Yuki Mashizume & Kayoko Takahashi, 2021. "Effects of Lifestyle Changes on the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers with Different Sense of Coherence Levels in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Shu-Yen Lee & Kai-Jo Chiang & Yi-Jiun Tsai & Chi-Kang Lin & Yun-Ju Wang & Chou-Ping Chiou & Hsueh-Hsing Pan, 2022. "Perceived Stress and Coping Behavior of Nurses Caring for Critical Patients with COVID-19 Outbreak in Taiwan: A Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, April.
    5. Chiara Costa & Michele Teodoro & Annalisa De Vita & Federica Giambò & Carmela Mento & Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello & Angela Alibrandi & Sebastiano Italia & Concettina Fenga, 2022. "Factors Affecting Perceived Work Environment, Wellbeing, and Coping Styles: A Comparison between Physicians and Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-14, September.
    6. Georgia Libera Finstad & Gabriele Giorgi & Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Caterina Pandolfi & Giulia Foti & José M. León-Perez & Francisco J. Cantero-Sánchez & Nicola Mucci, 2021. "Resilience, Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in the Workplace Following COVID-19: A Narrative Review on the Positive Aspects of Trauma," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-25, September.
    7. 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.
    8. Huajun Wu & Zhiyong Cai & Qing Yan & Yi Yu & Ning Neil Yu, 2021. "The Impact of Childhood Left-Behind Experience on the Mental Health of Late Adolescents: Evidence from Chinese College Freshmen," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, March.

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