Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Single Fathers in Japan
Background: In Japan, ten percent of single-parent households are led by fathers. Taking care of children as a single father is very stressful and could put a strain on their health. It is very important to prevent and identify psychological distress among fathers for both their own health and to av...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Japan Epidemiological Association
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Epidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jea/33/6/33_JE20210273/_pdf |
| _version_ | 1797809163164712960 |
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| author | Bibha Dhungel Tsuguhiko Kato Yuko Kachi Manami Ochi Stuart Gilmour Kenji Takehara |
| author_facet | Bibha Dhungel Tsuguhiko Kato Yuko Kachi Manami Ochi Stuart Gilmour Kenji Takehara |
| author_sort | Bibha Dhungel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In Japan, ten percent of single-parent households are led by fathers. Taking care of children as a single father is very stressful and could put a strain on their health. It is very important to prevent and identify psychological distress among fathers for both their own health and to avoid negative impacts on children. This study aims to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with psychological distress among single fathers and understand how it is different from partnered fathers. Methods: We used data from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2016. Psychological distress, assessed using the K6 scale, was analyzed among 868 single and 43,880 partnered fathers. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for psychological distress, such as employment type, sleep hours, and smoking and drinking habits. Results: Single fathers had a higher proportion (8.5%) of psychological distress compared to partnered fathers (5.0%). A larger percentage of single fathers had a lower educational level and were more likely to be non-regular workers, self-employed, or unemployed than partnered fathers. Among single fathers, the crude and adjusted odds ratio for employment type and sleep hours were significantly associated with psychological distress. Conclusion: As single parents who are self-employed or directors are likely to have significantly reduced psychological distress than those with regular jobs, measures are needed to improve the work-family balance for non-self-employed fathers. There is a need to provide greater financial assistance and other social welfare support to single parents to ensure their and their children’s good health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:48:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d6a06ad4eec420c969ae475ceed7c63 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0917-5040 1349-9092 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:48:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Japan Epidemiological Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d6a06ad4eec420c969ae475ceed7c632023-06-08T02:04:58ZengJapan Epidemiological AssociationJournal of Epidemiology0917-50401349-90922023-06-0133629430210.2188/jea.JE20210273Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Single Fathers in JapanBibha Dhungel0Tsuguhiko Kato1Yuko Kachi2Manami Ochi3Stuart Gilmour4Kenji Takehara5Department of Health Policy, National Centre for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, JapanGraduate School of Public Health, St. Luke’s International University, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, JapanDepartment of Social Medicine, National Centre for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, JapanGraduate School of Public Health, St. Luke’s International University, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Health Policy, National Centre for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, JapanBackground: In Japan, ten percent of single-parent households are led by fathers. Taking care of children as a single father is very stressful and could put a strain on their health. It is very important to prevent and identify psychological distress among fathers for both their own health and to avoid negative impacts on children. This study aims to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with psychological distress among single fathers and understand how it is different from partnered fathers. Methods: We used data from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions 2016. Psychological distress, assessed using the K6 scale, was analyzed among 868 single and 43,880 partnered fathers. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for psychological distress, such as employment type, sleep hours, and smoking and drinking habits. Results: Single fathers had a higher proportion (8.5%) of psychological distress compared to partnered fathers (5.0%). A larger percentage of single fathers had a lower educational level and were more likely to be non-regular workers, self-employed, or unemployed than partnered fathers. Among single fathers, the crude and adjusted odds ratio for employment type and sleep hours were significantly associated with psychological distress. Conclusion: As single parents who are self-employed or directors are likely to have significantly reduced psychological distress than those with regular jobs, measures are needed to improve the work-family balance for non-self-employed fathers. There is a need to provide greater financial assistance and other social welfare support to single parents to ensure their and their children’s good health.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jea/33/6/33_JE20210273/_pdfpsychological distresssingle fathersnon-single fatherspartnered fatherscslc survey |
| spellingShingle | Bibha Dhungel Tsuguhiko Kato Yuko Kachi Manami Ochi Stuart Gilmour Kenji Takehara Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Single Fathers in Japan Journal of Epidemiology psychological distress single fathers non-single fathers partnered fathers cslc survey |
| title | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Single Fathers in Japan |
| title_full | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Single Fathers in Japan |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Single Fathers in Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Single Fathers in Japan |
| title_short | Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Single Fathers in Japan |
| title_sort | prevalence and associated factors of psychological distress among single fathers in japan |
| topic | psychological distress single fathers non-single fathers partnered fathers cslc survey |
| url | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jea/33/6/33_JE20210273/_pdf |
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