Faculty of Economics, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 17;16(3):e0247705. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247705. eCollection 2021.
Owing to the rapid spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic worldwide, individuals experience considerable psychological distress daily. The present study aimed to clarify the prevalence of psychological distress and determine the population most affected by risk factors such as the pandemic, socioeconomic status (SES), and lifestyle-related factors causing psychological distress in the early phases of the pandemic in Japan. This study was conducted via a web-based survey using quota sampling to ensure representativeness of the Japanese population aged 20-64 years. A cross-sectional study of 11,342 participants (5,734 males and 5,608 females) was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire that included the Japanese version of the Kessler 6 Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and questions related to the pandemic, SES, and lifestyle. The prevalence of psychological distress, represented by a K6 score of 5 or more, was 50.3% among males and 52.6% among females. Both males and females with annual household incomes less than 2 million yen and males aged in their twenties had significantly higher K6 scores than those with annual household incomes above 2 million yen and males aged over 30 years. Binary logistic regression analyses found pandemic-related factors such as medical history, inability to undergo clinical tests immediately, having trouble in daily life, unavailability of groceries, new work style, and vague anxiety; SES-related factors such as lesser income; and lifestyle-related factors such as insufficient rest, sleep, and nutritious meals to be significantly related to psychological distress. Psychological distress was more prevalent among people with low income and in younger generations than among other groups. There is an urgent need to provide financial, medical, and social support to those affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
由于严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）在全球范围内的迅速传播，人们每天都经历着相当大的心理困扰。本研究旨在阐明心理困扰的流行程度，并确定在日本大流行早期，受大流行、社会经济地位（SES）和与生活方式相关的因素等风险因素影响的人群。本研究通过使用配额抽样的基于网络的调查进行，以确保 20-64 岁日本人口的代表性。使用自我管理问卷对 11342 名参与者（5734 名男性和 5608 名女性）进行了横断面研究，该问卷包括日本版 Kessler 6 心理困扰量表（K6）和与大流行、SES 和生活方式相关的问题。以 K6 得分为 5 或更高表示存在心理困扰，男性的心理困扰发生率为 50.3%，女性为 52.6%。年收入低于 200 万日元的男性和 20 多岁的男性的 K6 评分明显高于年收入超过 200 万日元的男性和 30 多岁的男性。二元逻辑回归分析发现，与大流行相关的因素，如病史、无法立即进行临床检查、日常生活困难、杂货短缺、新工作方式和模糊焦虑；与 SES 相关的因素，如收入较低；以及与生活方式相关的因素，如休息、睡眠和营养膳食不足，与心理困扰显著相关。收入较低和年轻一代的心理困扰比其他群体更为普遍。迫切需要为受 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行影响的人提供经济、医疗和社会支持。
