Beyond longevity: the crucial role of mental

The Japanese population is known for having the longest life expectancy (LE) at birth. Extensive studies have been conducted on the physical health of the Japanese population, mainly on mortality rates. However, mental health research is limited due to the social stigma against mental illness. This is alarming because mental health issues such as anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicide rates have largely increased over the years.

Furthermore, previous studies have examined the physical and mental health of the Japanese population separately, making it more difficult to understand the relationship between them.

Against this background, Associate Professor Yuka Minagawa from the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University, assessed the trends in the relationship between physical and mental health in terms of health expectancy: the average number of years a person is likely to live in a specific state. of health – among the Japanese population between 2010 and 2022. Notably, this study is the first to use data on psychological problems to calculate health expectancy in Japan. The findings have been published in the Asian social work and policy overview on September 3, 2024.

Dr. Minagawa emphasizes the rationale behind the study, saying: “Although the concept of health expectancy is gaining attention as a comprehensive measurement of population health status, most studies in Japan have focused solely on physical health indicators and overlooked the role of mental health. This study addresses this gap by estimating the length of life without mental health problems.”

To this end, mortality data were taken from life tables published by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), and data on psychological problems were taken from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Condition (CSLC), also conducted by the MHLW. The prevalence of psychological problems was measured using the Japanese version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale 6. Sullivan’s method was then used to combine these data and calculate health expectancy among men and women aged 20 years or older.

The findings showed that both men and women experienced substantial improvements in problem-free LE, with younger individuals benefiting most. However, older adults, Men in particular were more likely to have problems for a variety of reasons, including widowhood. Dr. Minagawa says: “Widowhood negatively impacts men’s mental health, leading to psychological problems and depression as they have to adapt to lifestyle changes without support from their partner.”

Initially, distress-free LE for men and women of all ages declined between 2010 and 2013, likely due to psychosocial stressors such as the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. However, it improved over the course of 2022. This increase in emergency-free LE between 2019 and 2022, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, does not mean that the mental health of the Japanese population remained unaffected.

Differences in emergency-free LE between 2010 and 2022 were also analyzed to understand the extent to which these were driven by changes in age-specific mortality rates and the prevalence of psychological problems. Among men of all ages, changes in mortality had a more positive impact on stress-free LE than changes in psychological distress. However, in women, both changes in mortality and psychological distress contributed to improvements in distress-free LE.

These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support mental health in Japan. Dr. Minagawa says: “The study advances our understanding of public health by highlighting the critical role of mental health in the overall well-being of the population. As the prevalence of mental health problems increases, policymakers must focus on the complex relationship between physical and mental health in contemporary Japan.”

Reference

■Title of original paper: Trends in distress-free life expectancy in Japan, 2010–2022

■Journal:Asian social work and policy overview

■DOI: 10.1111/aswp.12329

■Author: Yuka Minagawa

■Connection:Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University, Japan

About Sophia University

Founded as a private Jesuit university in 1913, Sophia University is one of the most prestigious universities in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. Sophia offers education through 29 departments in 9 faculties and 25 majors in 10 graduate schools and is home to more than 13,000 students from all over the world.

Designed with the spirit of ‘For others, with others’, Sophia University truly values ​​internationality and neighborliness, and believes in education and research that transcends national, linguistic and academic boundaries. Sophia emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary and fusion research to find solutions to the most pressing global problems such as climate change, poverty, conflict and violence. Over the past century, Sophia has made dedicated efforts to cultivate future-ready graduates who can contribute their talents and learnings for the benefit of others, paving the way for a sustainable future as they ‘bring the world together ‘.

Website: https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/

About Associate Professor Yuka Minagawa from Sophia University

Dr. Yuka Minagawa is an associate professor at the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on social demography, health, aging and the health consequences of socio-economic transitions in East-Central Europe, the former Soviet Union and Japan. Dr. Minagawa has authored more than twenty publications and has been awarded the Nakayama Foundation for Human Science Award in 2023 and the Catholic Academic Research Encouragement Award in 2024. She is a member of the Population Association of Japan and the Population Association of America.