Factors Associated With Psychological Distress in a Community-Dwelling Japanese Population: The Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study

Shinichi Kuriyama; Naoki Nakaya; Kaori Ohmori-Matsuda; Taichi Shimazu; Nobutaka Kikuchi; Masako Kakizaki; Toshimasa Sone; Fumi Sato; Masato Nagai; Yumi Sugawara; Munira Akhter; Mizuka Higashiguchi; Naru Fukuchi; Hideko Takahashi; Atsushi Hozawa; Ichiro Tsuji

doi:10.2188/jea.JE20080076

Original Article

Factors Associated With Psychological Distress in a Community-Dwelling Japanese Population: The Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study

Shinichi Kuriyama, Naoki Nakaya, Kaori Ohmori-Matsuda, Taichi Shimazu, Nobutaka Kikuchi, Masako Kakizaki, Toshimasa Sone, Fumi Sato, Masato Nagai, Yumi Sugawara, Munira Akhter, Mizuka Higashiguchi, Naru Fukuchi, Hideko Takahashi, Atsushi Hozawa, Ichiro Tsuji

Author information

Shinichi Kuriyama
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Naoki Nakaya
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Kaori Ohmori-Matsuda
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Taichi Shimazu
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center
Nobutaka Kikuchi
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Masako Kakizaki
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Toshimasa Sone
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Fumi Sato
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Masato Nagai
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Yumi Sugawara
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Munira Akhter
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center
Mizuka Higashiguchi
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Naru Fukuchi
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Hideko Takahashi
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Atsushi Hozawa
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Ichiro Tsuji
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

Keywords: cross-sectional, K6, population-based, psychological distress

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2009 Volume 19 Issue 6 Pages 294-302

DOI https://doi.org/10.2188/jea.JE20080076

View "Advance Publication" version (September 12, 2009).

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Abstract

Background: In Asia, there has been no population-based epidemiological study using the K6, a 6-item instrument that assesses nonspecific psychological distress.
Methods: Using cross-sectional data from 2006, we studied 43 716 (20 168 men and 23 548 women) community-dwelling people aged 40 years or older living in Japan. We examined the association between psychological distress and demographic, medical, lifestyle, and social factors by using the K6, with psychological distress defined as 13 or more points out of a total of 24 points.
Results: The following variables were significantly associated with psychological distress among the population: female sex, young and old age, a history of serious disease (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke, myocardial infarction, or cancer), current smoking, former alcohol drinking, low body mass index, shorter daily walking time, lack of social support (4 of 5 components), and lack of participation in community activities (4 of 5 components). Among men aged 40 to 64 years, only “lack of social support for consultation when in trouble” and a history of diabetes mellitus remained significant on multivariate analysis. Among men aged 65 years or older, age was not significantly associated with psychological distress, and the significant association with current smoking disappeared on multivariate analysis. Among women aged 40 to 64 years, a history of stroke was not associated with psychological distress. Among women aged 65 years or older, the significant association with current smoking disappeared on multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: A number of factors were significantly associated with psychological distress, as assessed by the K6. These factors differed between men and women, and also between middle-aged and elderly people.

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