A new study by Yuka Minagawa from Sophia University underscores the importance of mental health in improving life expectancy in Japan, urging policymakers to integrate mental health initiatives into public health strategies.
A new study from Sophia University highlights the underestimated role of mental health in improving life expectancy in Japan, a nation renowned for its long-lived population.
While physical health has been extensively studied in Japan, mental health has often been overlooked due to stigma, even as issues like anxiety, substance use disorders and high suicide rates have increased. This comprehensive study, the first of its kind, analyzed the relationship between physical and mental health among Japanese adults between 2010 and 2022 using health expectancy data.
“While the concept of health expectancy has been gaining attention as a comprehensive measurement of population health status, most studies in Japan have focused only on physical health indicators and overlooked the role of mental health. This study addresses this gap by estimating the length of life free of psychological distress,” Yuka Minagawa, an associate professor of sociology at Sophia University, said in a news release.
The research, recently published in the Asian Social Work and Policy Review, utilized mortality data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and psychological distress data from the MHLW’s Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions (CSLC). The study measured psychological distress using the Japanese version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale 6.
The findings revealed a notable improvement in distress-free life expectancy (LE) among both men and women, particularly benefiting younger individuals.
“Widowhood adversely affects men’s mental health, which leads to psychological distress and depression since they must adapt to lifestyle changes without spousal support,” added Minagawa.
Interestingly, the data showed that psychological distress-free LE decreased between 2010 and 2013, likely due to the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, but subsequently improved through 2022. The positive trend surprisingly continued despite the COVID-19 pandemic, although this does not suggest Japan’s mental health was unaffected during this period.
The study also analyzed changes in distress-free LE by age and gender. For men, reductions in mortality had a more substantial impact than changes in psychological distress. In contrast, for women, both factors contributed equally to improvements in distress-free LE.
“The study improves our understanding of population health by highlighting the crucial role of mental health in the overall well-being of the population. As the prevalence of mental health issues increases, policymakers must focus on the complex relationship between physical and mental health in contemporary Japan,” Minagawa added.
This study carries profound implications for Japan’s health policies. As mental health issues rise, integrating mental health into public health strategies becomes crucial. The findings call for targeted interventions to support mental well-being, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly and widowed individuals.