title: [Correlates of mental health in Japanese caseworkers employed at social welfare offices].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the mental health status of caseworkers at welfare offices and factors affecting mental health (i.e., working conditions, participation in training courses and workshops, lifestyle habits, presence of illness, social support, and self-efficacy).
  
  
  METHODS
  The welfare offices in Japan (1,230 locations) were arranged in descending order according to their establishment and region. Systematic sampling was then conducted to select 20% (n =246) of the welfare institutions for this study. A total of 1,230 caseworkers on welfare (five from each institution) were administered anonymous self-completed questionnaires. The questionnaires involved the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-28 Japanese version and questions regarding basic attributes, working conditions, social support (i.e., family, friends, superiors, and colleagues), participation in training courses and workshops, presence of illness, lifestyle habits, mental health, and self-efficacy. Subjects were divided into the following 2 groups: low-score group (GHQ-28 score ≤5) and high-score group (GHQ-28 score ≥6). Data were analyzed using a t-test, χ(2) test, and Fisher's exact test. The GHQ-28 high- and low-score groups were considered gender-specific dependent variables due to the sex differences observed in the univariate analysis. Significant variables in the univariate analysis were considered independent variables in the multiple logistic regression analysis (forward stepwise selection).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred and six people (410 male and 96 female) provided valid responses. Most respondents had poor mental health (66%, high-score group; 34%, low-score group). Both men and women who worked ≥10 hours/day had significantly poorer mental health than individuals who worked ≤9 hours/day. Individuals with low self-efficacy had significantly poorer mental health compared to people with high self-efficacy. Men who were able to maintain moderate hours of sleep and received support from colleagues, friends, and family had good mental health. Among women, mental health deteriorated with age. Furthermore, women who devoted most work time to home visit had good mental health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mental health of caseworkers at welfare offices can be improved by reducing overtime work hours, ensuring sufficient hours of sleep for each worker, and fostering supportive communication and self-efficacy in the workplace. Furthermore, sex differences should be considered when assessing the mental health of workers at welfare offices in Japan.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Miyagi University.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akama
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morikagi
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohtake
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanoya
authors.forename: Takiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hosoya
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012946:Social Welfare; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult