Relationship Between Psychological Distress and Poverty Among Japanese Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study

Naoya Sawamoto; Tomohiro Ishimaru; Kosuke Mafune; Keiji Muramatsu; Tomohisa Nagata; Seiichiro Tateishi; Mayumi Tsuji; Akira Ogami; Yoshihisa Fujino; CORoNaWork Project

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002760

Relationship Between Psychological Distress and Poverty Among Japanese Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study

J Occup Environ Med. 2023 Feb 1;65(2):e83-e87. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002760. Epub 2022 Nov 23.

Authors

Naoya Sawamoto¹, Tomohiro Ishimaru, Kosuke Mafune, Keiji Muramatsu, Tomohisa Nagata, Seiichiro Tateishi, Mayumi Tsuji, Akira Ogami, Yoshihisa Fujino; CORoNaWork Project

Collaborators

CORoNaWork Project:
Akira Ogami, Ayako Hino, Hajime Ando, Hisashi Eguchi, Keiji Muramatsu, Koji Mori, Kosuke Mafune, Makoto Okawara, Mami Kuwamura, Mayumi Tsuji, Ryutaro Matsugaki, Seiichiro Tateishi, Shinya Matsuda, Tomohiro Ishimaru, Tomohisa Nagata, Yoshihisa Fujino, Yu Igarashi

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Sawamoto, Dr Ishimaru, Dr Fujino); Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Mafune); Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Muramatsu); Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Nagata); Disaster Occupational Health Center, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Tateishi); Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Tsuji); and Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan (Dr Ogami).

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological distress and poverty among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: An Internet-based prospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 11,081 individuals who were not experiencing poverty at baseline in December 2020 were included. The exposure variable was psychological distress evaluated using the Kessler 6 scale at baseline. The outcome variable was whether participants were experiencing poverty at the 1-year follow-up, as defined by household financial distress.

Result: Compared with individuals without psychological distress, the adjusted odds ratios of household financial distress among those with mild and severe psychological distress were 2.88 (95% confidence interval, 2.47-3.33, P < 0.001) and 3.19 (95% confidence interval, 2.52-4.04, P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions: Workers' psychological distress is a notable public health concern in the context of poverty.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
East Asian People
Humans
Pandemics
Poverty
Prospective Studies
Psychological Distress*
Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
Stress, Psychological / psychology