Changes in Subjective Sleep, Physical Condition, and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Survey in Japan

Authors

  • Takako Nagata

    NHO Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Yoshinogari Mitsu, Kanzaki, Saga, 842-0192, Japan
  • Kiko Shiga

    Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Human Relations, Shigakukan University, 1-59-1 Murasakibaru, Kagoshima, 890-8504, Japan
  • Takanori Fujita

    Department of Health Policy and Management, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; School of Health Innovation, Kanagawa University of Human Services, 3-25-10 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki

    shi, Kanagawa, 210-0821, Japan
  • Momoko Kitazawa

    Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
  • Michitaka Yoshimura

    Department of Human Health, Aichi Toho University, 11-3 Heiwagaoka, Meito, Nagoya, 465-8515, Japan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v5i3.5765

Abstract

 This study aimed to investigate how people’s subjective health changed after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This survey was conducted in May 2021 as a nationwide online self-reported survey in Japan. The respondents indicated how their sleep, physical condition, and mental state altered after the pandemic. Furthermore, they answered questionnaires about their intention to get vaccinated, the means of gathering information, etc. A logistic regression analysis was performed. Of the 2,573 responses, there was a decline of approximately 13.6%, 14.0%, and 23.8% in subjective sleep, physical condition, and mental health after the pandemic, respectively. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that regarding sleep, the affected group was younger, got vaccinated against influenza annually, had lower income, experienced poor sleep quality in the past month, and had worse physical and psychiatric symptoms than before the pandemic. Concerning the physical condition, the affected group lived alone, witnessed deficient sleep quality in the past month, and had deteriorated mental health status than before the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of mental status, the affected group was younger, females, had access to more sources of information, and experienced worse sleep and physical conditions than the unchanged or improved group (p < 0.05). Each group indicated an association with the background factors, confirming that the subjective sleep, physical condition, and mental state affected each other. From a preventive perspective, the results of this study suggested that factors such as youth, gender, sleep quality, pregnancy, reduced income, and greater access to information, may be necessary for physical and mental support. The above-mentioned factors should be considered in light of community life and approached accordingly.

Keywords:

COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemics, Mental health, Sleep quality, Physical health, Public health

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How to Cite

Nagata, T., Shiga, K., Fujita, T., Kitazawa, M., & Yoshimura, M. (2023). Changes in Subjective Sleep, Physical Condition, and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Survey in Japan. Journal of Psychological Research, 5(3), 11–25. https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v5i3.5765

Issue

Vol. 5 , Iss. 3 (July 2023)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2023 Takako Nagata, Kiko Shiga, Takanori Fujita, Momoko Kitazawa, Michitaka Yoshimura

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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