Depression and anxiety symptoms among Vietnamese migrants in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic

  1. Tadashi Yamashita
  2. Pham Nguyen Quy
  3. Emi Nogami
  4. Erina Seto-Suh
  5. Chika Yamada
  6. Saori Iwamoto
  7. Kyoko Shimazawa
  8. Kenji Kato

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Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mental health status and related factors among Vietnamese migrants in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey between September 21 and October 21, 2021. Along with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scores, we collected data on demographics, changes in socioeconomic status due to the pandemic, language proficiency, social support, and health conditions. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors related to symptoms of depression and anxiety. Among 621 participants who completed the questionnaire, moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10 points) and mild-to-severe symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7 score ≥ 5 points) were observed in 203 (32.7%) and 285 (45.9%) individuals, respectively. Factors related to depressive symptoms were age (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.89-0.99), pre-existing health conditions (95% [CI]=1.61–3.76), and a low subjective socioeconomic status (95% [CI]=1.64–3.71). Factors related to anxiety symptoms were being single (95% [CI]=1.01–2.93), having pre-existing health conditions (95% [CI]=1.63–3.88), subjective socioeconomic status (95% [CI]=1.87–3.97), and absence of a partner to discuss one’s health with (95% [CI]=1.11–2.47). Vietnamese migrants in Japan experienced a decrease in income, worsening working conditions, and poor mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further investigations are necessary to find an effective way to increase their social support and mitigate socioeconomic adversities.

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  1. Version published to 10.1186/s41182-023-00542-8
  2. Version published to 10.1101/2022.03.09.22271973v3 on medRxiv
  3. Version published to 10.1101/2022.03.09.22271973v2 on medRxiv
  4. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2022.03.09.22271973: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    EthicsIRB: This study was approved by the Kobe City College of Nursing Ethics Research Committee (approval number: 20124-05).
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Cell Line AuthenticationAuthentication: Levels of depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), respectively, which have been validated for assessing mental health status in Vietnam (Do et al., 2020; Doan et al., 2021; Nguyen et al., 2020; Pham et al., 2019; Pham et al., 2020; Quang et al., 2021).

    Table 2: Resources

    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 19.0.
    Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
    suggested: (SPSS, RRID:SCR_002865)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    The present study had some limitations, including its self-reported and retrospective nature, which may have introduced recall bias. In addition, the survey may not be fully representative of the Vietnamese population living in Japan since some older adults, refugees, and subsequent generations of Vietnamese people may not have been able to participate using the online format. Therefore, further studies involving in-person surveys and Japanese forms of the questionnaire are warranted. Nonetheless, we attempted to reduce the risk of bias by controlling for potential confounders using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    Results from scite Reference Check: We found no unreliable references.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  5. Version published to 10.1101/2022.03.09.22271973v1 on medRxiv