RESUMO
Background: Loneliness is a major factor hindering the health of migrants. There is concern that social changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the acculturation gap with their host country, exacerbated loneliness among Vietnamese migrants in Japan.Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the prevalence of loneliness and examine the relationship between mental health and loneliness among Vietnamese migrants in Japan. Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were collected from May 2 to June 6, 2022. The target population for this study was Vietnamese migrants living in Japan, 213 of whom were included in the analysis. The questionnaire consisted of items regarding participants' characteristics, socioeconomic status, social support, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and University of California Los Angeles 3-Item Loneliness Scale. Logistic regression analysis was performed with depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 10 points) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 ≥ 10 points) symptoms as dependent variables and loneliness (University of California Los Angeles 3-Item Loneliness Scale ≥ 6) and other socioeconomic factors as independent variables. Results: The mean age of the participants was 26.8 ± 4.4 years. The study included 112 men (52.6%) and 101 women (47.4%). Their mean years of residence in Japan was 4.4 ± 2.5 years. 53 (24.9%) had a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥ 10. 30 (14.1%) had a Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score ≥ 10. 81 (38%) had a University of California Los Angeles 3-Item Loneliness Scale ≥ 6. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that depressive symptoms were associated with loneliness (OR: 6.06; 95% CI: 2.84–12.90). Factors associated with anxiety disorders included loneliness (OR: 12.46; 95% CI: 3.93–39.51). Conclusions: Loneliness can cause various mental disorders, and social changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic have increased loneliness over time. In this study, approximately 40% of Vietnamese migrants living in Japan were lonely, and loneliness was one of the factors contributing to their depressive and anxiety disorder symptoms. Currently, the number of Vietnamese migrants living in Japan is rapidly increasing, and reducing their loneliness may contribute to improving their mental health and wellbeing.