Associations between Coping Profile and Work Performance in a Cohort of Japanese Employees

This study aimed to investigate the effects of coping profiles on work performance. Data were collected during a 2-year prospective cohort study of 1359 employees in Japan. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire in 2018 (T1; baseline) and again in 2020 (T2; followup; followup rate: 69.8%) to enable the assessment of work performance, perceived stress, and stress coping profiles at T1 and T2. Multivariate logistic regression models and causal mediation analysis were performed to identify the effects of coping profiles on work performance. Covariates included age, sex, company, job type, employment status, working hours, holidays, and lifestyle behaviors (e.g., smoking, sleep duration). A dysfunctional coping profile (β = −1.17 [95% CI, −2.28 to −0.06], p = 0.039) was negatively associated with work performance. Coping profiles of planning (β = 0.86 [95% CI, 0.07–1.66]) and self-blame (β = −1.33 [95% CI, −1.96 to −0.70], p < 0.001) were significantly associated with work performance. Dysfunctional coping, specifically, self-blame (β = −1.22 [95% CI, −1.83 to −0.61]), mediated the association between stress and work performance. Thus, some coping profiles may lead to an increase or decrease in work performance. The possible impact of coping strategies on workers’ productivity requires further exploration. Furthermore, information on effective coping profiles should be incorporated into occupational health examinations

A School-Based Program for Problematic Internet Use for Adolescents in Japan

Despite the serious influence of problematic Internet use on mental health among Japanese adolescents, no randomized clinical trials have investigated universal school-based interventions for this potential health challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of a school-based educational program. This two-armed, parallel, cluster-based randomized clinical trial included 5312 students from 13 high schools situated in a mid-sized Japanese city. The students in the intervention arm received 10 weekly standardized sessions, including a combination of information provision and interactive sessions by schoolteachers. The students in the control group followed a standard school curriculum. A generalized estimating equation model was applied to assess the primary (Korean Scale for Internet Addiction [K-scale] score) and secondary (behavioral change status according to changes in the transtheoretical model smartphone addiction score and Internet usage time) outcomes two months after intervention completion. The intention-to-treat analysis included 2597 (97.2%) and 2504 (94.9%) students in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Nevertheless, a significant discrepancy emerged regarding the behavioral change status. Therefore, this school-based program did not improve the Internet or smartphone addiction scores among Japanese adolescents. Further studies are needed to develop appropriate interventions for adolescents

Associations among Alcohol Drinking, Smoking, and Nonrestorative Sleep: A Population-Based Study in Japan

Nonrestorative sleep (NRS) is a common sleep disorder. It is associated with several unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as skipping breakfast and lack of exercise. However, the associations between alcohol drinking, smoking, and NRS are unclear. This study examined the prevalence of NRS within the Japanese general population and the relationships among alcohol drinking, smoking, and NRS. We analyzed an anonymized dataset from a 2013 nationwide population survey (35,717 men and 39,911 women). NRS was assessed through a single-item question, and socio-demographic and lifestyle factors were assessed through self-reports. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between alcohol drinking, smoking, and NRS. The total prevalence of NRS was 22.2% (95% CI 21.8–22.7) in men and 23.4% (95% CI 23.0–23.8) in women. Further, we found that sleep duration and prevalence of NRS shared an inverse J-shaped relationship. Heavy alcohol drinking was significantly associated with NRS in both sexes. Short sleep duration and certain socioeconomic factors modified the effect of smoking on NRS in men. These results could be useful in the development of more effective sleep health policies to establish better sleep hygiene

Optimal telework frequency in terms of sleep and labor productivity depends on the workers' psychological distress: A cross-sectional study in Tokyo, Japan.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine that workers' sleep and labor productivity differ with the telework frequency and that the optimal telework frequency depends on workers' psychological distress.MethodsA cross-sectional study using an online-based questionnaire was conducted with 2,971 workers employed by Japanese companies from October to December 2021. We used the 6-item Kessler Scale, K6, as a nonspecific psychological distress scale to screen mental health conditions. A score of ≤ 4 was defined as low psychological distress (LPD), and a score of ≥ 5 was defined as high psychological distress (HPD). We used the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) as a measure of sleep quality. The Utrecht Work Engagement (UWES) and Work Functioning Impairment (WFun) scales were used as measures of labor productivity. Series of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for the data analysis.ResultsThe analysis included 2,013 participants (1,390 men and 623 women; mean age 43.2 years, standard deviation 11.3). Multiple comparison tests showed that among the participants categorized HPD (HPD type), the AIS estimates were lowest in the 1-2 d/wk group, with significant differences between the 0-3 d/m and ≥ 5 d/wk groups. UWES estimates were lowest in the 3-4 d/wk group with significant differences between the participants categorized LPD (LPD type) and HPD type, while no significant differences were observed among the LPD type. The WFun estimates among the LPD type decreased significantly with increasing telework frequency, while no significant differences were observed among the HPD type.ConclusionsThe optimal telework frequency for sleep and labor productivity may depend on the workers' psychological distress. The finding of this study could make a great contribution to occupational health activities and health promotion for teleworkers, which is necessary to make teleworking a sustainable work style