Sexual orientation, work engagement, and psychological distress among Japanese workers: a cross-sectional study from...

This study examined differences in work engagement and psychological distress by sexual orientation among Japanese workers using data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) 2023 (N=21,200). Sexual orientation was categorized into three groups based on the original response options: heterosexual (1), sexual minority (2-4: gay/lesbian, bisexual, other), and not decided/do not know (5-6). Outcomes were work engagement (Brief Job Stress Questionnaire; range 1-4) and psychological distress (Kessler 6; range 0-24). Using analysis of covariance, we estimated adjusted means and conducted Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons in a fully adjusted model. For work engagement, the overall group effect was significant (F (2,21177)=4.338, p=0.013, partial η²=0.00041); heterosexual workers had slightly higher engagement than the not decided/do not know group (difference=0.015, p=0.014). For K6, the overall group effect was significant (F (2,21177)=17.177, p<0.001, partial η²=0.00162); the sexual minority group had higher distress than heterosexual workers (difference=0.863, p<0.001) and the not decided/do not know group (difference=0.704, p<0.001). Because Levene's test suggested heteroscedasticity, sensitivity analyses using HC3 robust standard errors were performed; conclusions were unchanged.