Japanese Workers Research Articles

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

This study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological distress and poverty among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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. Workers' psychological distress is a notable public health concern in the context of poverty.

Limited social support is associated with depression, anxiety, and insomnia in a Japanese working population.

Lack of social support is associated with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. This study aimed to determine the source of support related to depression, anxiety, and insomnia among Japanese workers. As part of a cohort study, we conducted a questionnaire survey among city government employees in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, from September 2021 to March 2022. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) to assess depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and insomnia, respectively. We used the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) to assess job stressors and social support (from supervisors, colleagues, and family). A total of 1,852 Japanese employees (38.4% male, 45.9 ± 12.9 years) participated in the survey, with 15.5, 10.8, and 8.2% of the participants having depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥ 10), and insomnia (ISI ≥ 15), respectively. The logistic regression analysis suggested that job stressors were associated with depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (p < 0.001), and insomnia (p = 0.009). In contrast, support from co-workers (p = 0.016) and family members (p = 0.001) was associated with decreased depressive symptoms. Support from family members was associated with decreased insomnia (p = 0.005). Social support from co-workers and family may be associated with reduced depressive symptoms, and family support may be associated with reduced insomnia in the Japanese working population. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03276585.

How Sleep Quality Relates to Bodily and Oral Symptoms: An Analysis from Japanese National Statistics.

Sleep is one of the most important health-related factors. This cross-sectional study focused on sleep quality relates to systemic symptoms, including dental symptoms. Resource data were compiled from 7995 men and women aged 30 to 69 years, which is the core of the Japanese working population. The subjects were divided into four groups based on their answers to two questions, one on sleep time and one on sleep sufficiency, and groups were compared with other items in the questionnaire by means of a contingency table analysis (χ2 test). Relationships were found between the sleep groups and basic attributes, the presence of subjective symptoms, and the presence of hospital visits. The items with significant relationships included 14 symptoms, such as lower back pain (p &lt; 0.01) and four diseases, including high blood pressure (p &lt; 0.01). A multinomial logistic regression was conducted with the sleep groups as objective variables. In the poor sleep group, significant odds ratios were found for four items, including hours of work (odds ratio: 2.53) and feeling listless (2.01). The results allowed multiple symptoms and diseases related to sleep quality to be identified, and different trends in the response rates of the groups were found. These results suggest that the useful classification of sleep quality groups according to health problems contributes to understanding the effects of different symptoms.

Tasavvuftan Felsefeye: Toshihiko Izutsu ve Tasavvuf

In Islamic studies, Toshihiko Izutsu is well known as a scholar of the Qur’an and Sufism, thanks to his published works in English. As to his image in Japan, however, he is known as a thinker of Oriental philosophy. After his return from Iran to Japan, he published several publications on Oriental philosophy in Japanese. As such, his final achievement, which was his Oriental philosophy, was veiled from readers who do not know Japanese, while his detailed study on Islamic studies is not known by Japanese readers. In structuring his Oriental philosophy, he refers mainly to Ibn ‘Arabī’s philosophy known as waḥdat al-wujūd. Before publishing his work in English, he had already considered Ibn ‘Arabī and mysticism in his Japanese work in which he emphasizes the essential role of experience in understanding mysticism. Based on the theoretical development from mysticism to mystical philosophy, Izutsu delineates the theoretical development from Sufism to Islamic philosophy. In studying Ibn ‘Arabī’s philosophy, waḥdat al-wujūd or ‘Unity of Existence’, Izutsu uses Islamic philosophy as the framework for his Oriental philosophy.

Occupation- and industry-specific cancer mortality among Japanese women from 1980 to 2015

BackgroundThe number of women in Japan who continue working after childbirth is on the rise. Over the past few years, Japan’s cancer mortality rate has increased. About 50% of all cancer deaths among Japanese women aged 25–64 are caused by lung, gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. This study aims to examine the difference in mortality risk for key cancers among women and explore the effect of the economic crisis in the mid-1990s separately for occupational and industrial categories.MethodsData from 1980 to 2015 were gathered from the Japanese Population Census and National Vital Statistics conducted in the same year. A Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate mortality risk and mortality trends for lung, gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancer among Japanese working women aged 25–64 years.ResultsAcross most industrial and occupational groups, the trends in age-standardised cancer mortality rate for women have declined. Workers in management, security and transportation have a higher cancer mortality risk than sales workers. The risk of death from all four cancers is higher for workers in the mining and electricity industries than for wholesale and retail workers.ConclusionTo improve the health and well-being of employed Japanese women, it is crucial to monitor cancer mortality trends. Using these population-level quantitative risk estimates, industry- and occupation-specific prevention programmes can be developed to target women at higher cancer risk and enable the early detection and treatment of cancer.

Metabolic syndrome and the immunogenicity of Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine: a cross-sectional study in Japanese healthcare workers

BackgroundThe clustering of metabolic abnormalities may weaken vaccine-induced immunity, but epidemiological data regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are scarce. The present study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and humoral immune response to Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine among the staff of a research center for medical care in Japan.MethodsParticipants were the staff (aged 21–75 years) of the National Center of Global Health and Medicine who had completed the second dose of Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine 1–3 months before the survey. MetS was defined according to the Joint Interim Statement. SARS-CoV-2 spike immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was measured using quantitative assays. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate the geometric mean titers (GMT) and geometric mean ratio (GMR) of IgG titers, relative to MetS status.ResultsOf 946 participants who received the second vaccine dose, 51 (5.4%) had MetS. Those with MetS had a significantly lower IgG titer (GMT 4125; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2885–5896) than those without MetS (GMT 5348; 95% CI, 3914–7309); the GMR was 0.77 (95% CI 0.64–0.93). Taking those having no MetS component as reference, fully adjusted GMR (95% CI) for those having 1, 2, 3 or ≥ 4 components was 1.00 (0.90, 1.11), 0.89 (0.77, 1.04), 0.86 (0.68, 1.10) and 0.61 (0.45, 0.82), respectively (P trend = 0.024).ConclusionResults suggest that having MetS and a greater number of its components are associated with a weaker humoral immune response to the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine.

Reliability and validity of the Japanese treatment self-regulation questionnaire for Japanese workers

BackgroundMotivational interventions are used as preventive measures in occupational health. However, existing studies primarily focus on motivation methods and not the stage of motivation—the process from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation. The treatment self-regulation questionnaire (TSRQ) can predict workers’ health at each motivational stage. Accordingly, this study examined the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the TSRQ (Diet and Exercise) in occupational health settings.MethodsResponses of 912 workers were analyzed. In this study, the Cronbach’s alphas were 0.85 for Diet and 0.84 for Exercise after excluding items with low Item-Total correlations. Regarding convergent validity, there was a weak correlation between behavior modification stages and the TSRQ. Regarding structural validity, confirmatory factor analysis was performed assuming a four-factor structure.ResultsThe goodness-of-fit indices were: Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.94, Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.92, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.07 for Diet and CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.91, and RMSEA = 0.08 for Exercise.ConclusionThe Japanese version of the TSRQ has a certain degree of reliability and validity. It can measure motivation for Diet and health-related behaviors in occupational health settings. The findings of this study may serve as a basis for promoting primary and secondary prevention.

The Effects of Objective Push-Type Sleep Feedback on Habitual Sleep Behavior and Momentary Symptoms in Daily Life: mHealth Intervention Trial Using a Health Care Internet of Things System.

BackgroundSleep is beneficial for physical and mental health. Several mobile and wearable sleep-tracking devices have been developed, and personalized sleep feedback is the most common functionality among these devices. To date, no study has implemented an objective push-type feedback message and investigated the characteristics of habitual sleep behavior and diurnal symptoms when receiving sleep feedback.ObjectiveWe conducted a mobile health intervention trial to examine whether sending objective push-type sleep feedback changes the self-reported mood, physical symptoms, and sleep behavior of Japanese office workers.MethodsIn total, 31 office workers (mean age 42.3, SD 7.9 years; male-to-female ratio 21:10) participated in a 2-arm intervention trial from November 30 to December 19, 2020. The participants were instructed to indicate their momentary mood and physical symptoms (depressive mood, anxiety, stress, sleepiness, fatigue, and neck and shoulder stiffness) 5 times a day using a smartphone app. In addition, daily work performance was rated once a day after work. They were randomly assigned to either a feedback or control group, wherein they did or did not receive messages about their sleep status on the app every morning, respectively. All participants wore activity monitors on their nondominant wrists, through which objective sleep data were registered on the web on a server. On the basis of the estimated sleep data on the server, personalized sleep feedback messages were generated and sent to the participants in the feedback group using the app. These processes were fully automated.ResultsUsing hierarchical statistical models, we examined the differences in the statistical properties of sleep variables (sleep duration and midpoint of sleep) and daily work performance over the trial period. Group differences in the diurnal slopes for mood and physical symptoms were examined using a linear mixed effect model. We found a significant group difference among within-individual residuals at the midpoint of sleep (expected a posteriori for the difference: −15, 95% credible interval −26 to −4 min), suggesting more stable sleep timing in the feedback group. However, there were no significant group differences in daily work performance. We also found significant group differences in the diurnal slopes for sleepiness (P<.001), fatigue (P=.002), and neck and shoulder stiffness (P<.001), which was largely due to better scores in the feedback group at wake-up time relative to those in the control group.ConclusionsThis is the first mobile health study to demonstrate that objective push-type sleep feedback improves sleep timing of and physical symptoms in healthy office workers. Future research should incorporate specific behavioral instructions intended to improve sleep habits and examine the effectiveness of these instructions.

Meaning and Use of Haiku in the Game “Bungou to Alchemist”

Haiku is a Japanese poem that is unique and uses a minimum of words, but it is still beautiful and has deep meaning. In this modern era, there are educational games that use haiku. One of them is the Japanese literary-themed game 'Bungou to Alchemist'. This game is about poets who are brought to life by alchemists to protect endangered Japanese literary works and eradicate the enemy, namely shinshokusha. Alchemist plays the role of librarian (shisho), who directs the bungou (poet) to eradicate the shinshokusha. One of them is Kawahigashi Hekigotou, a famous Japanese haiku poet. The aim of this study is to find the meaning contained in Hekigotou's four haiku that appear in the game and to identify the cause of the four haiku being used, using Roland Barthes' semiotic theory. This study used qualitative research methods. The result of the analysis is to show that Hekigotou's haiku used in this game has meaning related to life and is used to strengthen the conveying of Bungou to Alchemist ideas contained in the haiku in the form of a representation of Kawahigashi Hekigotou's feelings. At the same time, this game is a place for young people to get to know and learn literature, especially haiku.

Mediation of Self-Compassion on Pathways from Stress to Psychopathologies among Japanese Workers.

As awareness of mental health increases worldwide, how to improve mental health has begun to be discussed in many countries. Stress is known to cause diverse physical and mental health problems, including psychopathologies. On the other hand, our previous studies identified that self-compassion, kindness and understanding towards oneself are key components for good mental health in many populations, including Japanese workers. The government reports that Japanese workers suffer from high rates of mental health problems. However, the mechanism of how self-compassion helps their mental health remains to be evaluated. Accordingly, this study aimed to elucidate how self-compassion intervenes in pathways from stress to psychopathologies, namely depression and anxiety. One hundred and sixty-five Japanese workers completed an online survey regarding self-compassion, depression, anxiety and stress. Correlation and path analyses were conducted. These four variables were significantly inter-related. While self-compassion mediated the pathway from stress to depression, it did not mediate the pathway from stress to anxiety. These exploratory insights assist in understanding the mechanism of how self-compassion improves mental health and inform effective methods to implement self-compassion interventions to the Japanese workforce.

Association between blood pressure and circadian timing of physical activity of Japanese workers.

High blood pressure (BP) is reported to be accounted for more than 10 million deaths, and the high prevalence of hypertension is a global issue. Exercise is known to reduce BP and the optimal exercise prescription has been discussed. Furthermore, since the circadian clock plays an important role in BP regulation and its related physiological functions, the time-of-day difference in the effect of exercise on BP is suggested. However, when people should regularly exercise for the prevention of hypertension remains unclear. In this cross-sectional research, we analyzed the association of habitual exercise and BP depending on their performed timing, time length, and frequency for three levels of intensity from an analysis of questionnaire answered by Japanese male workers (N = 2,343, mean age ± SE = 49.2 ± 0.2 years old, date: June 2021). From the subjects who responded, subjects with irregularly high or low BP, no regular physical activity or under the treatment of hypertension were excluded from the analysis. From the comparison of SBP and DBP between those who performed physical activity at each time period, vigorous or moderate physical activity in the evening (18:00–21:00) showed significantly lower average BP. On the other hand, those who walked in early morning (03:00–06:00) showed higher DBP. These time-specific differences were confirmed from multiple regression analysis, eliminating the confounding factors such as age and BMI. When participants were divided into groups according to their BP, compared to normal BP groups, higher BP groups exercised less in the evening. Our findings suggest that when to exercise is important, and that exercising in the evening (18:00–21:00) may be better to achieve the hypotensive effect of exercise.

Does the pandemic hamper or boost the necessity for an international language? A survey on English use frequency among Japanese workers

Abstract This study aims to reveal the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the necessity of using English as an international language. For this purpose, this study conducted a web survey of Japanese workers, and statistically examined the extent to which the use of English increased or decreased after the outbreak. The findings are as follows. First, although some types of use decreased or increased, the majority did not show substantial changes. Second, the changes in English use were largely influenced by worker factors, such as types of occupation and employment (e.g. it declined typically among sales workers but not among the self-employed and freelancers), the degree of remote working (e.g. not being allowed to work remotely reduced it), and industry (e.g. it declined among workers in accommodation and real estate sectors but increased among public servants). These findings suggest the following implications: (1) non-decline in English use would suggest its resilience as an international language, the necessity of which could endure even in such a global upheaval; and (2) the frequency of using English (and other modes of international communication) is relatively independent of reduced human mobility, but it is largely affected by the economic climate.

A Risk Comparison of Non-cancer Mortality between Lifestyle, Socioeconomic Status, and Radiation among Japanese Nuclear Workers (J-EPISODE).

Many epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate the health effects of low-dose radiation. Most of these investigations have focused on cancer, and fewer studies have examined non-cancer topics than cancer subjects. The purpose of this study is to compare the relative risks of non-cancer mortality from low-dose radiation with lifestyle factors (such as smoking habits) and socioeconomic status (such as years of education). The cohort consisted of 43,692 males who responded to a lifestyle questionnaire survey conducted from 2003 to 2004 among nuclear workers in Japan. Missing questionnaire data were imputed by multiple imputation, each variable was categorized, and the relative risks for the reference group were calculated using Poisson regression. The total number of observed person-years was 300,000, and the mean age and dose were 55.2 y and 24.5 mSv (10-y lagged dose), respectively. For many of the causes of death in this analysis, significantly high risks existed for lifestyle differences, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, frequency of medical examination, breakfast intake, sleep, and BMI, but few for socioeconomic status. Radiation showed no significantly high risks. Taken together, the risk of non-cancer mortality from low-dose radiation is likely smaller than that from lifestyle factors.

Difference in Mortality Rates by Occupation in Japanese Male Workers Aged 25 to 64 Years from 1980 to 2015.

This study examines the trends in mortality among Japanese working men, across various occupational categories, from 1980 to 2015. A Poisson model of trend, occupational category, and step variable was analysed for eight occupational categories separately, by cause, to explore the trends in mortality. This study found a sharp increase in mortality in the late 1990s, especially among professionals and managers. The overall trends in cancer, ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and suicide mortality decreased across almost all occupational categories from 1980 to 2015, although there was an increasing trend in cancer of 0.5% among managers. Clerical workers had the greatest relative decrease in mortality rates from cancer (−82.9%), IHD (−81.7%), and CVD (−89.1%). Japan continues to make gains in lowering mortality and extending life expectancy, but its workplace culture must improve to ensure that those working at the heart of the Japanese corporate world can also benefit from Japan’s progress in health. Mortality rates in working-aged Japanese men have been declining. However, similar declines are not evident among managers, for whom the mortality rate is remaining stable or slightly increasing. There is a need to address the needs of managers and improve workplace environments for these workers.

Associations of testosterone and cortisol concentrations with sleep quality in Japanese male workers

Low testosterone concentrations are associated with disrupted sleep, and high levels of cortisol, which is elevated in response to stress, lead to insomnia. This study aimed to investigate the associations of testosterone and cortisol concentrations with sleep quality and to examine potential interactions between them in Japanese working men. This study was a cross-sectional design, and testosterone and cortisol concentrations in blood were the exposure variables and sleep parameters were the outcome variables. The Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to measure sleep quality, and it included the total duration of sleep, time in bed (TIB), and sleep efficacy. We included 178 men (mean age = 49.1 years, standard deviation = 9.0) who completed all components in the questionnaire related to sleep and provided blood samples. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were negatively associated with TIB (standardized beta = −0.15 and −0.24, p < 0.05, respectively), while only testosterone concentrations were positively associated with sleep efficacy (standardized beta = 0.15, p < 0.05). An interaction effect of testosterone and cortisol was significant for TIB and sleep efficacy (standardized beta for interaction term = 0.40, p < 0.001 and −0.22, p = 0.012, respectively). When stratified by cortisol concentrations, the associations between testosterone concentrations and sleep parameters were modified. Our findings suggest that associations between testosterone concentrations and sleep parameters are stronger at low cortisol concentrations, but not at high cortisol concentrations. High cortisol concentrations may diminish associations between low testosterone concentrations and diminished sleep efficacy.

The Joint Association of Daily Rest Periods and Sleep Duration with Worker Health and Productivity: A Cross-Sectional Web Survey of Japanese Daytime Workers.

A daily rest period (DRP) is a daily inter-work interval that contains sleep opportunity. This study investigates the joint association of DRP and sleep duration with worker health and productivity. A total of 13,306 Japanese daytime workers participated in this web-based cross-sectional survey. Participants reported on their DRPs and sleep duration; moreover, sleep difficulties, mental health, and presenteeism were assessed by the standardized questionnaires. The participants were divided into 10 groups based on their DRPs and sleep duration. Logistic regression analyses showed that the combination of quick return (QR: DRP of <11 h) and short sleep duration (<6 h) was found to be significantly associated with sleep difficulties (odds ratio [OR] = 4.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.83–7.01), poor mental health (OR = 3.04, 95% CI = 1.79–5.15), and presenteeism (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.47–3.77) compared with the reference group (the combination of adequate DRP [15 h] and a normal sleep duration [≥6 h]). The combination of QR and normal sleep duration or adequate DRP and short sleep duration was significantly associated with high ORs for the outcomes. QR, short sleep duration, or both negatively affect worker health and productivity.

Leisure-time Physical Activity With The Prevalence Of Perceived Occupational Stress: Multi-level Analysis Of Japanese Workers

Leisure-time Physical Activity With The Prevalence Of Perceived Occupational Stress: Multi-level Analysis Of Japanese Workers

Changes in prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Japan from 2008 to 2018: a repeated cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo understand the recent prevalence and time trends of Helicobacter pylori infection rates in the Japanese population.DesignRepeated cross-sectional study.ParticipantsA total of 22 120 workers (age: 35–65 years) from one Japanese...

Acceptance and commitment improve the work-caregiving interface among dementia family caregivers.

Although working dementia family caregivers experience negative (i.e., work-family conflict; WFC) and positive (i.e., work-family enrichment; WFE) aspects of balancing work and caregiving, little is known about factors that alleviate negative aspects and enhance positive aspects of the work-caregiving interface. The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effect of acceptance and commitment to personal values, which are transdiagnostic in nature and key concepts of acceptance and commitment therapy, on the relationships between work/caregiving demands and WFC and between work/caregiving resources and WFE among working dementia family caregivers. Data were drawn from a three-wave 6-month interval longitudinal survey of Japanese working dementia family caregivers (N = 747). Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the main effect of acceptance and commitment to personal values on WFC/WFE, and their moderating effect on relationships between work/caregiving demands and WFC, and work/caregiving resources (job control, supervisor/coworker support, organizational support, caregiving support) and WFE. Acceptance was negatively associated with WFC and weakened the positive relationship between work/caregiving demands and WFC. Commitment to personal values was negatively associated with WFC and positively associated with WFE. Commitment to personal values weakened the positive relationships between work/caregiving demands and WFC and moderated the relationship between caregiving support and WFE. The findings suggest that acceptance may be effective in alleviating WFC and commitment to personal values contributes to alleviating WFC and increasing WFE. Acceptance and commitment therapy may help to improve the work-caregiving interface among dementia family caregivers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Association between Breakfast Meal Categories and Timing of Physical Activity of Japanese Workers.

Background: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and has been associated with longevity. Regular breakfast consumers often have a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Methods: We examined the association between breakfast type, chronotype (morningness-eveningness), and physical activity in 3395 Japanese workers using a cross-sectional web survey. Results: Participants who ate Japanese breakfasts showed an early chronotype, while those who ate breakfast cereal exhibited a later chronotype. Physical activity was positively associated with adopting a Japanese breakfast style. Japanese breakfast eaters performed physical activities from 6:00–9:00 compared with other breakfast eaters. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that eating a Japanese breakfast is associated with an earlier chronotype (morningness) and higher physical activity.