Factors related to psychological distress in young and middle-aged Japanese residents in Thailand: a cross-sectional study

Main Article Content

Tanaka S
Inoue Y
Watanabe O
Iwata K
Kaminiwa Y
Mogi K
Tanaka R
Miura Y

Abstract

The number of Japanese residents in Thailand exceeded 70,000 in 2016, and the number of Japanese businesspeople and their families is expected to increase. Overseas Japanese residents suffer from psychological distress related to living in religiously, culturally, and historically different environments. These stresses can cause mental illness. Several sociodemographic and lifestyle factors are related to psychological distress among overseas Japanese residents. However, no studies have investigated which factors have the greatest influence on psychological distress among Japanese residents in Thailand. This cross-sectional study aimed to collectively examine the factors related to psychological distress among young and middle-aged Japanese residents in Thailand. This study included 92 young and middle-aged Japanese residents in Thailand. Young and middle-aged status was defined as being aged from 25 to 65 years, based on the criteria of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. The data were collected using a self-registered online questionnaire system. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire was used to measure psychological distress and was the dependent variable. Participants’ sex, age, body mass index, family structure, language proficiency, and length of stay were assessed as sociodemographic factors, and lifestyle factors such as job status and physical activity were assessed as independent variables. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors predicting psychological distress. The results revealed that family structure (β = 0.24, p < 0.05) and physical activity (β = 0.21, p < 0.05) were significant factors. Living alone in Thailand and physical inactivity were associated with greater psychological distress. This study was the first to clarify the factors predicting psychological distress among young and middle-aged Japanese residents in Thailand. The current results may be helpful for supporting health-services providers to develop management programs for improved treatment of psychological distress among Japanese residents in Thailand.

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1.
S T, Y I, O W, K I, Y K, K M, R T, Y M. Factors related to psychological distress in young and middle-aged Japanese residents in Thailand: a cross-sectional study. J Public Hlth Dev [Internet]. 2019 Dec. 27 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];17(3):49-57. Available from: https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/AIHD-MU/article/view/217128
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General Articles
Author Biographies

Tanaka S, Faculty of Health and Social Services, Kanagawa University of Human Services, Japan

Ph.D. Division of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Social Services, Kanagawa University of Human Services

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences

Inoue Y, Research Institute of Health and Welfare, Kibi International University, Japan

Ph.D, Research Institute of Health and Welfare, Kibi International University

Watanabe O, Department of Physical Therapy, Teikyo University of Sciences, Japan

M.S., Department of Physical Therapy, Teikyo University of Sciences

Iwata K, Department of Rehabilitation, Medical Corporation Shoutokukai Hananooka Hospital, Japan

M.S., Department of Rehabilitation, Medical Corporation Shoutokukai Hananooka Hospital

Kaminiwa Y, Japan Rehabilitation Center, Ishii Life Support Physiotherapy Clinic, Japan

RPT., Japan Rehabilitation Center, Ishii Life Support Physiotherapy Clinic

Mogi K, Japan Rehabilitation Center, Ishii Life Support Physiotherapy Clinic, Japan

RPT., Japan Rehabilitation Center, Ishii Life Support Physiotherapy Clinic

Tanaka R, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan

PH.D.,Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University

Miura Y, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Japan

Ph.D.,Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences

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