title: Associations between psychological distress and the most concerning present personal problems among working-age men in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Personal problems are known to influence mental health among workers. The current study investigated the most concerning present personal problems which have the greatest impact on psychological distress among working-age Japanese men, rather than issues relating to work tasks or duties.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained data from the 2010 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The original survey interviewed 289,363 households in 5,150 randomly selected municipalities of Japan, from which 228,664 households agreed to participate. We analyzed the data pertaining to men who were 20 to 59 years of age and the head of a family. The questionnaire included occupation, employment status, the most concerning present personal problems, and a measure of psychological distress (the Kessler 6 scale). Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to delineate the association between present personal problems and psychological distress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 76,950 males were included in the analysis, 27.7% of whom reported some type of psychological distress. Statistical analysis revealed that psychological distress was associated with bullying and harassment (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.05, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 1.50-2.56), divorce (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.53-2.26), concerns about one's purpose in life (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.59-1.88), personal relationships with family members (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.37-1.60), personal relationships with others (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.29-1.48), own diseases (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.15-1.33), and financial difficulties (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.12-1.20); when compared with problems related to work tasks or duties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several personal factors appear to have a greater impact on the mental health of Japanese men of working age, when compared to the influence of work tasks or duties. Asking workers directly about the problems that most concern them in life might help better identify those in need psychological support. Multidisciplinary interventions to address their life concerns will likely be necessary for solving these problems and reducing psychological distress.
authors.affiliation: International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan. kwada-sgy@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan. eguchi@med.kitasato-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistical Science, School of Advanced Sciences, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Kamiyamaguchi Midori-Cho 10-3, Tachikawa-Shi, Tokyo, 190-8562, Japan. blue.sky.sea.dy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yoneoka
authors.affiliation: Employee Health Office, Oriental Consultants Co. Ltd, 3-12-1 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0071, Japan. jun.okahisa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okahisa
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Brush Road, Ourimbah, New South Wales, 2258, Australia. derek.smith@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult