Sasaki Natsu, Tsuno Kanami, Hidaka Yui, Ando Emiko, Asai Yumi, Sakuraya Asuka, Hino Ayako, Inoue Reiko, Imamura Kotaro, Watanabe Kazuhiro, Tsutsumi Akizumi, Kawakami Norito
Department of Mental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo.
School of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Services.
Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2021 Nov 25;63(6):275-290. doi: 10.1539/sangyoeisei.2020-002-B. Epub 2021 Feb 26.
This study aimed to investigate the work-related health and social problems among Japanese female workers and the expected research in the workplace.
A cross-sectional study using an Internet survey was conducted on female workers in Japan. Using an original questionnaire, we obtained data on "a system that can be used by female workers," "female workers' problems (physical symptoms, mental symptoms, menstrual problems, pregnancy/childbirth problems, work-life balance, etc.)," and "expected research in the workplace." The last two were compared using the chi-square test and considering demographic characteristics (age, marital status, having children, having preschool children, employment status, occupation). We conducted the chi-square test to examine the relationship between the presence of symptoms and four expected studies. The survey was carried out in July 2019 by using a patient and public involvement (PPI) framework in medical research.
We obtained 416 responses that highlighted that those who have work-related problems also have physical symptoms (89%), menstrual problems (65%), psychiatric symptoms (49%), and work-life balance problems (39%), followed by career as well as pregnancy and childbirth concerns (38%). Regarding the system, the respondents' usage rate was an infertility treatment communication card (0%), flextime and telework (1 to 3%), menstrual leave (4%), and short-time work system (8%). Expected workplace studies included "Research to ease stiff shoulders and back pain" (45%), "Research to improve women's mental health" (41%), "Research on menstruation and work performance" (35%), and "Research to improve work-life balance" (34%). Expectations for research on "mental health" and "menstruation" were high among subjects in their 20s and 30s, with no spouse or children, and working full-time. Among those who lived with preschoolers, expectations for research on "mental support after childbirth," "physical support after childbirth," and "prevention of postpartum depression" were significantly higher, but research related to work-life balance was not remarkably different. There was a significant association between having menstrual problems, work-life balance challenges, and study expectations. However, the percentage of those experiencing certain symptoms who expected workplace studies was about 48%.
Menstruation-related symptoms are frequently observed to make work difficult and it is expected that health issues, such as mental and physical conditions related to gynecology, will be the subject of future research regarding female workers. However, discrepancies between having difficulties and whether or not they wish to accept research in the workplace should be carefully considered in each context.
本研究旨在调查日本职业女性的工作相关健康和社会问题以及职场中的预期研究。
对日本职业女性开展了一项采用网络调查的横断面研究。我们使用一份原创问卷，获取了关于“可供职业女性使用的系统”“职业女性的问题（身体症状、精神症状、月经问题、妊娠/分娩问题、工作与生活平衡等）”以及“职场中的预期研究”的数据。使用卡方检验并考虑人口统计学特征（年龄、婚姻状况、育有子女、育有学龄前儿童、就业状况、职业）对后两项进行比较。我们进行卡方检验以考察症状的存在与四项预期研究之间的关系。该调查于2019年7月采用医学研究中的患者及公众参与（PPI）框架开展。
我们获得了416份回复，这些回复突出表明，有工作相关问题的人也有身体症状（89%）、月经问题（65%）、精神症状（49%）以及工作与生活平衡问题（39%），其次是职业以及妊娠和分娩方面的担忧（38%）。关于系统，受访者的使用率为不孕治疗沟通卡（0%）、弹性工作时间和远程办公（1%至3%）、月经假（4%）以及短时工作系统（8%）。职场中的预期研究包括“缓解肩部和背部疼痛的研究”（45%）、“改善女性心理健康的研究”（41%）、“月经与工作表现的研究”（35%）以及“改善工作与生活平衡的研究”（34%）。20多岁和30多岁、未婚且无子女、全职工作的受试者对“心理健康”和“月经”研究的期望较高。在与学龄前儿童一起生活的人群中，对“产后心理支持”“产后身体支持”以及“预防产后抑郁”研究的期望显著更高，但与工作与生活平衡相关的研究没有明显差异。月经问题、工作与生活平衡挑战与研究期望之间存在显著关联。然而，出现某些症状且期望职场研究的人群比例约为48%。
经常观察到与月经相关的症状会使工作变得困难，预计诸如与妇科相关的精神和身体状况等健康问题将成为未来关于职业女性研究的主题。然而，在每种情况下都应仔细考虑困难的存在与否与她们是否希望接受职场研究之间的差异。
