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International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 6/2016

01-12-2016

Stress Underestimation and Mental Health Outcomes in Male Japanese Workers: a 1-Year Prospective Study

Authors: Shuhei Izawa, Nanako Nakamura-Taira, Kosuke Chris Yamada

Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 6/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Being appropriately aware of the extent of stress experienced in daily life is essential in motivating stress management behaviours. Excessive stress underestimation obstructs this process, which is expected to exert adverse effects on health. We prospectively examined associations between stress underestimation and mental health outcomes in Japanese workers.

Methods

Web-based surveys were conducted twice with an interval of 1 year on 2359 Japanese male workers. Participants were asked to complete survey items concerning stress underestimation, depressive symptoms, sickness absence, and antidepressant use.

Results

Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that high baseline levels of ‘overgeneralization of stress’ and ‘insensitivity to stress’ were significantly associated with new-onset depressive symptoms (OR = 2.66 [95 % CI, 1.54–4.59], p < .01) and antidepressant use (OR = 4.91 [95 % CI, 1.22–19.74], p < .05), respectively, during the 1-year follow-up period.

Conclusions

This study clearly demonstrated that stress underestimation, including stress insensitivity and the overgeneralization of stress, could exert adverse effects on mental health.
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Metadata
Title
Stress Underestimation and Mental Health Outcomes in Male Japanese Workers: a 1-Year Prospective Study
Authors
Shuhei Izawa
Nanako Nakamura-Taira
Kosuke Chris Yamada
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 6/2016
Print ISSN: 1070-5503
Electronic ISSN: 1532-7558
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-016-9557-8

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