A prospective cohort study in depression and anxiety among Vietnamese migrants in Japan during the early to mid-COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Tadashi Yamashita, Pham Nguyen Quy, Chika Yamada, Emi Nogami, Kenji Kato
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2024
• Subjects: COVID-19; Vietnam in Japan; Migrants; Depression; Anxiety disorder; Changes in socioeconomic status; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-024-00605-4; https://doaj.org/article/5fbf8d4b81e343e0a24a932430d9b841

Abstract Introduction The enduring COVID-19 pandemic has had persistent, intermittent socioeconomic impacts on migrants. This raises the concern that many Vietnamese migrants in Japan may have developed mental health issues due to the socioeconomic impact. The study aimed to examine changes in the socio-economic and mental health status of Vietnamese migrants in Japan and factors affecting mental health status during the early to mid-COVID-19 period. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study among Vietnamese migrants in Japan from September to October 2021 (baseline) and from May to June 2022 (follow-up) using an online questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between changes in socioeconomic status and alterations in symptoms of depression and anxiety within this demographic. Results The mean age of the 159 participants was 26.1 ± 4.9 years, with a mean length of residency in Japan of 4.0 ± 4.1 years. The mean PHQ-9 score exhibited a significant decrease from 7.89 (SD = 6.34) to 6.62 (SD = 5.87) (p = 0.01). Variables associated with changes in depression and anxiety included subjective socioeconomic status (unstandardized partial regression coefficient (UPRC): 1.901, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 3.50, p = 0.02) and (UPRC: 2.060, 95% CI 0.80 to 3.32, p = 0.002), as well as changes in having someone with whom to discuss one’s health (UPRC: 2.689, 95% CI 0.89 to 4.49, p = 0.004) and (UPRC: 1.955, 95% CI 0.54 to 3.38, p = 0.007). Conclusions In this prospective cohort study of depression and anxiety, depressive symptoms among Vietnamese migrants decreased from 2021 to 2022. Key findings underscore the importance of socioeconomic status improvement and having someone to discuss to about their health as protective factors against mental health challenges. Employment and social support have emerged as crucial determinants of mental health among Vietnamese migrants in Japan, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive support strategies addressing both ...