A cross-sectional survey of material deprivation and suicide-related ideation among Vietnamese technical interns in Japan in 2021 (preprint)

Background: Many technical intern trainees in Japan are economically impoverished because of the need to send money back to their home country, debts from the intermediaries that arranged their arrival in Japan, and reduced working hours because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition, there is concern that COVID-19 may cause mental instability in response to the life changes experienced by interns. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the experience of material deprivation and the relationship between the state of material deprivation and suicidal ideation among Vietnamese intern trainees in Japan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2021. Of 310 Vietnamese technical intern trainees who responded, we analyzed data from 200 individuals with no missing or abnormal values. The questionnaire obtained information about gender, age, length of residence in Japan, Japanese language proficiency, changes in income related to the COVID-19 pandemic, material deprivation status, and suicidal ideation. The ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to examine suicidal ideation. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between material deprivation items and suicidal ideation. Results: Respondents mean age was 26.0 ± 5.1 years, and 62.0% (n = 124) were male. Regarding material deprivation items, food was reported in 82 (41.0%) cases, cellphone bills were reported in 49 (24.5%) cases, and medical expenses were reported in 34 (22.0%) cases. Forty-six (23.0%) respondents reported experiencing suicidal ideation, and the prevalence was associated with age (p = 0.031, odds ratio [OR] = 0.889, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.799-0.990), deprivation regarding food expenses (p = 0.003, OR = 3.897, 95% CI = 1.597-9.511), and deprivation regarding cellphone usage (p = 0.021, OR = 3.671, 95% CI = 1.217-11.075). Conclusions: Vietnamese technical intern trainees in Japan experienced material deprivation in multiple ways, and exhibited a high prevalence of serious psychological problems. Factors contributing to suicidal ideation included age, experience of deprivation in relation to food expenses, and deprivation in relation to cellphone bills. Inability to pay cellphone bills may have increased isolation among Vietnamese trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety among Vietnamese immigrants in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic (preprint)

We aimed to examine mental health status and related factors among Vietnamese immigrants in Japan during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using data from an online cross-sectional survey administered from September 21 to October 21, 2021. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scores were considered the main outcome measures. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors related to symptoms of depression and anxiety, and the chosen variables were entered simultaneously in the survey. Among 621 participants (age: 26.0{+/-}4.8 years; male: 347 [55.9%]) who completed the questionnaire, 73.7% reported a decrease in income when compared with the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, and 60.4% reported being recently affected by poor socioeconomic status. Moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression (PHQ-9 score [≥]10 points) and mild-to-severe symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7 [≥]5 points) were observed in 247 (39.8%) and 285 (45.9%) individuals, respectively. Factors related to depressive symptoms were being single (odds ratio [OR]=1.76, p=0.042), medical or psychiatric co-morbidity (OR=2.15, p<0.001), and low socioeconomic status (OR=2.06, p<0.001). Factors related to anxiety symptoms were being single (OR=1.72, p=0.044), medical or psychiatric co-morbidity (OR=2.52, p<0.001), low socioeconomic status (OR=2.72, p<0.001), and absence of a partner with whom to discuss one's health (OR=1.66, p=0.013). The current findings demonstrate that, when compared with Japanese citizens, Vietnamese immigrants experienced a decrease in income, worsening working conditions, and poor mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings highlight the potential contribution of low socioeconomic status and social isolation to poor mental health status.