Job Change and Self-reported Symptoms: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study in Japan

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Job change is a significant life event that can impact an individual's well-being.
• Understanding the health consequences of job transitions is crucial for public health initiatives.
• Previous research has explored the effects of job loss, but the impact of voluntary job change requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between job change (first-time and repeat) and new-onset physical and psychological symptoms.
• To identify specific symptoms linked to job transitions in a general population.
• To explore potential differences in symptom prevalence between first-time and repeat job changers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of longitudinal data from 19,281 Japanese adults surveyed in 2022 and 2023.
• Self-reported job change within the past year.
• Assessment of new-onset symptoms (headache, lethargy, insomnia) in 2023 using weighted logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Job changers (6.1%) had higher odds of new-onset headache (aOR, 1.57) and lethargy (aOR, 1.63).
• First-time job changers (2.0%) exhibited stronger associations, including insomnia (aOR, 2.93).
• First-time job changers also reported more adverse workplace conditions, such as excessive workload and harassment.

Conclusions:

• Job change, particularly for individuals changing jobs for the first time, is associated with an increased risk of new physical and psychological symptoms.
• Adverse workplace conditions may mediate the relationship between first-time job change and symptom development.
• These findings underscore the importance of supporting individuals navigating job transitions to mitigate potential negative health outcomes.