JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

With the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the deterioration of public mental health has become a major global and social problem.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the three mental health problems associated with COVID-19—perceived stress, depression, and anxiety—and various demographic factors including occupation.

Methods:

A nationwide online questionnaire survey was conducted in Japan from August 4 to 31, 2020. In addition to social statistics, the degree of perceived stress, depression, and anxiety associated with COVID-19 were measured. After performing a descriptive statistical analysis, factors related to stress, depression, and anxiety were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

Results:

A total of 6,547 respondents submitted complete survey responses, among whom 34.9% felt intense stress associated with COVID-19, 17.1% were depressed, and 13.5% had severe anxiety. The logistic regression analysis showed that, stress was most prevalent in females (P<0.001), other genders (P=0.049), people in their 50s (P<0.001), 60s and above (P=0.003), students (P=0.033), part-time workers (P=0.018), respondents working in sales and wholesale (P=0.013), infrastructure and construction (P=0.001), other occupations (P=0.004), entertainment and arts (P<0.001), nursing care and welfare (P<0.001), education and research (P<0.001), medical and health (P<0.001), respondents who have visited psychiatrists (P=0.007), and those currently in psychiatric care (P<0.001). Depression was more prevalent in females (P<0.01), other genders (P<0.001), teenagers (P=0.014), respondents in their 20s (P<0.001), 40s (P<0.001), 50s (P<0.001), 60s and above (P<0.001), students (P=0.011), unemployed (P<0.001 0.001), part-time workers (P=0.046), those working in entertainment and arts (P=0.001), respondents who had visited psychiatrists (P<0.001), and those currently under psychiatric care (P<0.001). Additionally, depression was associated with the number of effective lifestyle coping strategies during the lockdown period (P<0.001). Anxiety was prevalent in females (P=0.009), other genders (P<0.001), respondents in their 40s (P=0.004), 50s (P=0.036), 60s and over (P=0.002), unemployed (P<0.001), part-time workers (P=0.002), people working in sales and wholesale (P=0.037), infrastructure and construction (P=0.024), other professions (P=0.027), entertainment and arts (P=0.001), respondents who had visited a psychiatrist (P<0.001), and those currently under psychiatric care (P<0.001). Anxiety was associated with the number of effective lifestyle coping strategies employed during the lockdown (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

Gender, age, occupation, history of psychiatric visits, and stress coping mechanisms were associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the associations differed with stress, depression, and anxiety. In addition, the actual state of mental health differed, depending on respondents’ occupation. It is necessary to consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, not only at the individual level but also at the occupational level.