title: Deprivation and Social Support in Mental Health of Welfare Recipients in Japan.
abstract: Although many Western studies examining the mental health of welfare recipients exist, Japanese welfare recipients have been overlooked. This study investigated mental health among welfare recipients in Japan and relations with a sense of deprivation of life's necessities and social support. Participants (n = 305) completed the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), Proportional Deprivation Index, and a social support scale. Participants' GHQ-12 scores exceeded those of the general public, as 54.9% scored above the cut-off, suggesting poorer mental health among welfare recipients than the general population. Proportional Deprivation Index and emotional support from relatives and friends were associated with GHQ-12 scores. These results suggest that while chronic deprivation is associated with poorer mental health among welfare recipients, receiving emotional support may help cope with distress and maintain mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Chubu University, Japan cqx03501@nifty.com.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
authors.affiliation: Nursing Sciences, Nihon Fukushi University, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Welfare, Nihon Fukushi University, Japan.
authors.forename: Soshiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012944:Social Support; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: deprivation; mental health; social support; welfare recipients