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Published on: November 19, 2015
Psychological Distress, Japanese Teleworkers, and Supervisor Support During COVID-19
Kazuki Kikunaga1, Akinori Nakata, Mami Kuwamura
1From the Graduate School of Public Health, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan (Mr Kikunaga, Dr Nakata); Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (Dr Kikunaga, Dr Nakata, Dr Fujino); Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (Dr Kuwamura); Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (Dr Odagami); Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (Dr Mafune); Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (Dr Ando); Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (Dr Muramatsu); and Disaster Occupational Health Center, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan (Dr Tateishi).
Objective:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, teleworking became the new workplace norm, creating a new challenge for workplace communication. This study investigated the association between source-specific workplace social support and psychological distress among Japanese teleworkers and nonteleworkers.
Methods:
A total of 15,045 workers were extracted from a cross-sectional web-based survey that assessed psychological distress, workplace social support from supervisors and coworkers. After grouping participants into four groups based on their positions (managers, staff members) and teleworking arrangements (teleworking, nonteleworking), multiple logistic regression analyses were performed separately.
Results:
Teleworkers with less supervisor support demonstrated the highest risk of psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio = 2.55, P = 0.024).
Conclusions:
Insufficient supervisor support for teleworking staff members may be a key occupational risk factor for psychological distress in the postpandemic future.
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