The psychological impact of ‘mild lockdown’ in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide survey under a declared state of emergency

Abstract

This study examined the psychological distress caused by non-coercive lockdown (mild lockdown) in Japan. An online survey was conducted with 11,333 people (52.4% women; mean age = 46.3 ± 14.6 years, range = 18-89 years) during the mild lockdown in the seven prefectures most affected by COVID-19 infection. Over one-third (36.6%) of participants experienced mild-to-moderate psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K6] score 5-12), while 11.5% reported serious psychological distress (K6 score ≥ 13). The estimated prevalence of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥ 10) was 17.9%. Regarding the distribution of K6 scores, the proportion of those with psychological distress in this study was significantly higher when compared with the previous national survey data from 2010, 2013, and 2016. Healthcare workers, those with a history of treatment for mental illness, and younger participants (aged 18-19 or 20-39 years) were particularly vulnerable. Psychological distress severity was influenced by specific interactional structures of risk factors: high loneliness, poor interpersonal relationships, COVID-19-related sleeplessness and anxiety, deterioration of household economy, and work and academic difficulties. Flexible approaches that are optimised for the difficulties specific to each individual through cross-disciplinary public-private initiatives are important to combat lockdown-induced mental health problems.

Coping Mechanisms: Exploring Strategies Utilized by Japanese Healthcare Workers to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Deterioration of people’s mental health has been a problem in past pandemics of widespread infectious diseases [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], but COVID-19 is a worldwide epidemic, and lockdowns and other movement restrictions have been taken in many countries. Even in Japan, such restrictions and tight medical care are unprecedented, and there is concern that mental health may deteriorate [ 11 , 12 ]. These conditions produced anxiety among healthcare workers because of fears of becoming infected themselves [ 13 ].…”

COVID-19 with Stigma: Theory and Evidence from Mobility Data

“…They confirm that the issuance and extension of the state of emergency declaration has, to some extent, been successful in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a survey of areas where the spread of COVID-19 infection was significant, Yamamoto et al (2020) show that actions of self-restraint based on the declaration of a state of emergency cause psychological distress. Kawaguchi et al (2020) use data from small and medium-sized Japanese enterprises to find that, in the short term, the state of emergency reduces both feasible and expected sales.…”

The COVID‐19 Pandemic and Families in Japan

“…The COVID‐19 pandemic has increased anxiety among people who already struggle with anxiety disorders such as germaphobia and obsessive‐compulsive disorders (Asmundson et al, 2020). History of treatment for psychological treatments is the most significant risk factor for exacerbations of psychological distress (Yamamoto et al, 2020; Zhao et al, 2020). Studies indicate that loneliness, long periods spent at home, poor health status, deterioration of relationships with family, high‐level concerns about COVID‐19 – including sleeplessness, deterioration of household and work conditions, and academic difficulties ‐‐ are associated with psychological distress (Yamamoto et al, 2020; Zhao et al, 2020).…”