Relation between Mental Health Status and Psychosocial Stressors among Pregnant and Puerperium Women in Japan: From the Perspective of Working Status

Mental health problems during pregnancy and postpartum periods are one of the alarming health issues among women in Japan. This study analyzed data on the Japanese version of the Kessler 6 (K6), specific psychosocial stressors, and working status of pregnant and puerperium women (n=1126) from respondents in the Comprehensive Survey of People’s Living Conditions (CSPLC) conducted in 2007 by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. Multiple logistic analyses showed the significant associations between mental health and psychosocial stressors: “family relationship,” “pregnancy and birth,” and “incomes/ family budgets/ debts”, regardless of “employed” or “unemployed”. After stratified by working status, whereas “one’s job” stressor had an association with mental health only for employed females, stressors for “one’s disease/long -term care” and “housework” had associations only for unemployed ones. For employed women, the primary factor for mental health was “family relationship” stressor. Although mental health status measured by K6 was not different between employed or unemployed female population, primary stressors related mental health was revealed to differ with working status. Especially, “family relationship” stressor was the highest risk factor of mental health in employed women. More importantly, the results provided evidence on the differences in associations between mental health and specific psychosocial stressors by working status. Psychosocial risk assessments and interventions on working status among pregnant and puerperium women should be imperative to pay attention for social politics.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijphs.v1i2.80

Relation Between Mental Health Status and Psychosocial Stressors Among Pregnant and Puerperium Women in Japan - From the Perspective of Working Status-

Background Mental health problems during pregnancy and postpartum periods are one of the alarming health issues among women in Japan. Many studies have reported that psychosocial risk factors could be correlated with maternal mental health status. Although increased numbers of women who are employed during the pregnancy and postpartum periods have been observed, it is unclear about the link between mental health and psychosocial stressors in terms of working status during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Therefore, this study examined difference in mental health status and the association between mental health and psychosocial stressors by working status amongpregnant and puerperium women, using nationally representative data in Japan. Methods This study analyzed data on the Japanese version of the Kessler 6 (K6), specific psychosocial stressors, and working status of pregnant and puerperium women (n=1126) from respondents in the Comprehensive Survey of Peoples Living Conditions (CSPLC) conducted in 2007 by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan.. The univariate logistic regression analysis and a forward multiple regression analysis were used to examine K6 and related factors including specific psychosocial stressors for working status (employedand unemployed).Results Those who scored five or higher in K6 accounted for 33.2% of 1126 respondents, and mental health had no significant association with working status among pregnant and puerperium women. Multiple logistic analyses showed the significant associations between mental health and psychosocial stressors: family relationship, pregnancy and birth, andincomes/ family budgets/ debts,regardless of employed or unemployed. After stratified by working status, whereas ones job stressor had an association with mental health only for employed females, stressors forones disease/long -term care and housework had associations only for unemployed ones. For employed women, the primary factor for mental health wasfamily relationship stressor. Conclusion Although mental health status measured by K6 was not different between employed or unemployed female population, primary stressors related mental health was revealed to differ with working status. Especially, family relationship stressor was the highest risk factor of mental health in employed women. More importantly, the results provided evidence on the differences in associations between mental health and specific psychosocial stressors by working status. Psychosocial risk assessments and interventions on working status among pregnant and puerperium women should be imperative to pay attention for social politics

Exercise or sports in midlife and healthy life expectancy: an ecological study in all prefectures in Japan

BackgroundWith the increase of overall life expectancy in Japan, effective and beneficial lifestyle approaches and practices are crucial for individuals to have a long, productive and healthy life. Although previous studies suggest that exercise or sports, especially when performed with others, from midlife level have a positive impact on enhancing healthy life expectancy, there is paucity of information regarding these contexts and possible associations. The present study intends to clarify the relationship between engagement in exercise or sports among middle-aged persons and healthy life expectancy through an ecological study in all prefectures in Japan.MethodsWe tabulated (1) the ratios of middle-aged individuals engaged in exercise or sports and (2) the different methods by which they are engaged in exercise or sports for each prefecture by using data from the 2005–2010 Longitudinal Survey of Middle-aged and Elderly Persons by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. Weighted multiple linear regression analyses were performed by sex, using healthy life expectancy in 2010 of each prefecture calculated by Hashimoto (2013) as a criterion variable; indices of (1) and (2) of each year as explanatory variables; and age, living conditions, employment, and chronic diseases as adjusted variables.ResultsFor middle-aged males, the ratio of those engaged in exercise or sports in each year from 2005 to 2010 was positively correlated with healthy life expectancy; this relationship was found in the ratio of middle-aged engaging in exercise or sports “with families or friends”. For females, such a relationship could only be found in the ratio of middle-aged females engaged in exercise or sports in 2008, and those engaging in exercise or sports “with families or friends” in 2006, 2008 and 2010.ConclusionPrefectures with a higher ratio of middle-aged individuals engaging in exercise or sports, especially when done with families or friends, have longer healthy life expectancies. This was particularly evident for males. Thus, exercise or sports with families or friends in midlife seems to be more effective in promoting healthy life expectancy for males than females in Japan

高齢期のストレス対処力SOCを高めるスポーツライフの質・量に関する実証研究

科学研究費助成事業 研究成果報告書：若手研究2018-2021課題番号 : 18K1795

Psychosocial and criminological factors related to recidivism among Japanese criminals at offender rehabilitation facilities

The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between psychosocial and criminological factors and recidivism (the number of re-imprisonment) among male Japanese offenders. The sample included 96 residents of offender rehabilitation facilities who ranged in age from 26 to 88. The mean age of the participants was 50.49 years old. The participants completed the Japanese Criminal Thinking Inventory, the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, the sense of coherence (SOC) scale, socioeconomic and criminological questionnaires. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. Having committed theft or drug-related crime and one of the SOC subcategories, manageability, significantly and independently related to the tendency of repeat offenses. Providing practical interventions by level of manageability will mitigate recidivism risk and help offenders reenter society

Multiple logistic regression analyses for the relations between the way of participation and mental health status at the follow-up periods.

<p>^a Adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic status, physical health condition, health behaviour and mental health status at baseline.</p><p>AOR: Adjusted odds ratio, CI: confidence interval.</p><p>Multiple logistic regression analyses for the relations between the way of participation and mental health status at the follow-up periods.</p

Characteristics of respondents after multiple imputation of missing values.

<p>^a Independent t-test</p><p>^b Chi-square test.</p><p>Characteristics of respondents after multiple imputation of missing values.</p

Multiple logistic regression analyses for the relations between leisure and social activities and mental health status at the follow-up period.

<p>^a Adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic status, physical health condition, chronic diseases and mental health status at the baseline.</p><p>AOR: Adjusted odds ratio; CI: Confidence interval.</p><p>Multiple logistic regression analyses for the relations between leisure and social activities and mental health status at the follow-up period.</p