IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i16p8656-d615494.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Traditional Gender Differences Create Gaps in the Effect of COVID-19 on Psychological Distress of Japanese Workers

Author

Listed:
  • Tomoyuki Kobayashi

    (Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

  • Masaharu Maeda

    (Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

  • Yui Takebayashi

    (Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

  • Hideki Sato

    (Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Japanese workers psychological distress through crises of health, economics, and social relationships. To assess whether these effects are amplified by the gender bias that exists in Japan, we examined male and female worker’s psychological distress and difficulties during the pandemic. An online “COVID-19-related difficulties” questionnaire, based on item response theory, gathered responses from 3464 workers in October and November 2020. The workers’ psychological distress was found concerned to be significantly worse than before the pandemic. Basic stressors related to infection anxiety, economic anxiety, and restrictions on social interactions and outings. Men’s and women’s experiences of difficulties were consistent with traditional gender roles in Japan: men were more likely to face job-related stressors, such as economic insecurity and work-style changes; women were more likely to face non-job-related stressors, such as increased living costs and reduced social interactions. Policymakers and employers should consider the association between gender differences and industry types, and implement measures to strengthen the acceptability of mental health care.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomoyuki Kobayashi & Masaharu Maeda & Yui Takebayashi & Hideki Sato, 2021. "Traditional Gender Differences Create Gaps in the Effect of COVID-19 on Psychological Distress of Japanese Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8656-:d:615494
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8656/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8656/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Takahashi, Ana Maria & Takahashi, Shingo, 2011. "Gender salary differences in economics departments in Japan," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 1306-1319.
    2. Chen, Joe & Choi, Yun Jeong & Sawada, Yasuyuki, 2009. "How is suicide different in Japan?," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 140-150, March.
    3. Takanao Tanaka & Shohei Okamoto, 2021. "Increase in suicide following an initial decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(2), pages 229-238, February.
    4. Ai Tashiro & Rajib Shaw, 2020. "COVID-19 Pandemic Response in Japan: What Is behind the Initial Flattening of the Curve?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Cristina Mazza & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Marco Colasanti & Stefano Ferracuti & Christian Napoli & Paolo Roma, 2020. "A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Miguel Ángel Navas-Martín & José Antonio López-Bueno & Ignacio Oteiza & Teresa Cuerdo-Vilches, 2021. "Routines, Time Dedication and Habit Changes in Spanish Homes during the COVID-19 Lockdown. A Large Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Gaia Perego & Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei & Martina Mazzetti & Francesca Milano & Carola Gatti & Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita & Paola Taranto & Emanuela Rabaiotti & Raffaella Cioffi & Massimo Cand, 2023. "The Experience of COVID-19 in a Sample of Gynecological Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Focus on the Psychological Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Samantha Garcia & Suellen Hopfer & Elouise Botes & Samuel Greiff, 2022. "Associations between Coronavirus Crisis Perception, Perceived Economic Risk of Coronavirus, General Self-Efficacy, and Coronavirus Anxiety at the Start of the Pandemic: Differences by Gender and Race," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michihito Ando & Masato Furuichi, 2022. "The association of COVID-19 employment shocks with suicide and safety net use: An early-stage investigation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-26, March.
    2. Perrigo, Judith L. & Samek, Anya & Hurlburt, Michael, 2022. "Minority and low-SES families’ experiences during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: A qualitative study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    3. Quentin Batista & Daisuke Fujii & Taisuke Nakata & Takeki Sunakawa, 2022. "COVID-19 and Suicide in Japan," CARF F-Series CARF-F-542, Center for Advanced Research in Finance, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo.
    4. Jacek Stańdo & Adam Czabański & Żywilla Fechner & Ewa Baum & Karl Andriessen & Karolina Krysińska, 2022. "Suicide and Attempted Suicide in Poland before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic between 2019 and 2021," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-11, July.
    5. J. Pierre Zila-Velasque & Pamela Grados-Espinoza & Naomi Coba-Villan & Jocelyn Quispe-Chamorro & Yesenia F. Taipe-Guillén & Estefany Pacheco & Laura Ccasa-Valero & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Cristian , 2022. "Mental Disorders and Level of Resilience in Eight High-Altitude Cities of Peru during the Second Pandemic Wave: A Multicenter Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-19, December.
    6. Fumiya Tanji & Yuki Kodama, 2021. "Prevalence of Psychological Distress and Associated Factors in Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-10, October.
    7. Ling, Gabriel Hoh Teck & Suhud, Nur Amiera binti Md & Leng, Pau Chung & Yeo, Lee Bak & Cheng, Chin Tiong & Ahmad, Mohd Hamdan Haji & Matusin, AK Mohd Rafiq AK, 2021. "Factors Influencing Asia-Pacific Countries’ Success Level in Curbing COVID-19: A Review Using a Social–Ecological System (SES) Framework," SocArXiv b9f2w, Center for Open Science.
    8. Yamamura, Eiji & Andrés, Antonio R., 2011. "Does corruption affect suicide? Empirical evidence from OECD countries," MPRA Paper 31622, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Svaleryd, Helena & Vlachos, Jonas, 2022. "COVID-19 and School Closures," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1008, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    10. Tiberiu Constantin Ionescu & Bogdana Ioana Fetecau & Stefan Zaharia & Elma-Maria Mînecan & Catalina Tudose, 2023. "Sleepless Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Insomnia Symptoms among Professionally Active Romanians during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    11. Vimefall Elin & Persson Mattias & Olofsson Sara & Hultkrantz Lars, 2022. "Is prevention of suicide worth less? A comparison of the value per statistical life," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(2), pages 261-275, March.
    12. Yi Ding & Jie Yang & Tingting Ji & Yongyu Guo, 2021. "Women Suffered More Emotional and Life Distress than Men during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Pathogen Disgust Sensitivity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-9, August.
    13. Mariusz Kaszubowski & Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz, 2014. "Salary and reservation wage gender gaps in Polish academia," GUT FME Working Paper Series A 19, Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology.
    14. Sugiyama, Yuri, 2022. "Can Soft Law Improve the Welfare of Sexual Minorities? The Case of Same-sex Partnership Policy in Japan," CEI Working Paper Series 2022-06, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    15. Ankica Kosic & Tamara Džamonja Ignjatović & Nebojša Petrović, 2021. "A Cross-Cultural Study of Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic: Some Protective and Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-15, July.
    16. Yubin Ding & Junling Xu & Sisi Huang & Peipei Li & Cuizhen Lu & Shenghua Xie, 2020. "Risk Perception and Depression in Public Health Crises: Evidence from the COVID-19 Crisis in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
    17. Ruri Okubo & Ryusuke Matsumoto & Eishi Motomura & Motohiro Okada, 2024. "Uncertainties of Economic Policy and Government Management Stability Played Important Roles in Increasing Suicides in Japan from 2009 to 2023," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(10), pages 1-18, October.
    18. María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes & María del Mar Molero Jurado & África Martos Martínez & Elena Fernández-Martínez & Raquel Franco Valenzuela & Iván Herrera-Peco & Diana Jiménez-Rodríguez & Inmaculada M, 2020. "Design and Validation of the Adaptation to Change Questionnaire: New Realities in Times of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-15, August.
    19. Stefania Scuri & Marina Tesauro & Fabio Petrelli & Ninfa Argento & Genny Damasco & Giovanni Cangelosi & Cuc Thi Thu Nguyen & Demetris Savva & Iolanda Grappasonni, 2022. "Use of an Online Platform to Evaluate the Impact of Social Distancing Measures on Psycho-Physical Well-Being in the COVID-19 Era," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, June.
    20. Pedro Miguel Alves Ribeiro Correia & Ireneu de Oliveira Mendes & Sandra Patrícia Marques Pereira & Inês Subtil, 2020. "The Combat against COVID-19 in Portugal: How State Measures and Data Availability Reinforce Some Organizational Values and Contribute to the Sustainability of the National Health System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-13, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8656-:d:615494. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.