Loneliness as a Key Factor in Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Vietnamese Migrants in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Loneliness is a major factor hindering the health of migrants. There is concern that social changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the acculturation gap with their host country, exacerbated loneliness among Vietnamese migrants in Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the prevalence of loneliness and to evaluate the relationship with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Vietnamese migrants in Japan.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design with a self-administered questionnaire. The data were collected from May 2 to June 6, 2022. The target population for this study was Vietnamese migrants living in Japan, 213 of whom were included in the analysis. The questionnaire consisted of items regarding participants' characteristics, socioeconomic status, social support, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scores, and University of California Los Angeles 3-Item Loneliness Scale scores. Logistic regression analysis was performed with depressive and anxiety symptoms as dependent variables and loneliness and other socioeconomic factors as independent variables.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 26.8 ± 4.4 years. The study included 112 men (52.6%) and 101 women (47.4%). Their mean years of residence in Japan was 4.4 ± 2.5 years. The mean score on the University of California Los Angeles 3-Item Loneliness Scale was 7.2 ± 2.4. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that depressive symptoms were associated with loneliness (odds ratio [OR]: 1.797; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.434-2.251). Similarly, factors associated with anxiety disorders included loneliness (OR: 2.051; 95% CI: 0.204-1.750).

Conclusions: Loneliness is a significant factor contributing to depressive and anxiety symptoms among Vietnamese migrants in Japan. Therefore, reducing loneliness is essential to improving the mental health and overall well-being of the rapidly growing Vietnamese migrant population.