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Long-term influence of working abroad on returneesí mental health

Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan Tel: +81 3 5841 3322 Fax: +81 3 5802 1723 atsutsumi-tky{at}umin.ac.jp

Takashi Izutsu, PhD

Department of Forensic Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187, Japan

Shotaro Sakami, MD

Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187, Japan

Takao Miyazaki, MA

Division of Psychosomatic Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187, Japan

Susumu Wakai, MD, PhD

Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, as above Noriyuki Kawamura, MD, PhD, Division of Psychosomatic Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1, Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187, Japan

Although international business travel is increasing, there is a lack of research on its repercussions for mental health. This study analysed the long-term influence of international business travel on the mental health status by comparing depression, anxiety and job stress between workers with and without international assignment experience.

The subjects were divided into an ëexperienced groupí composed of 70 male workers who had experienced an overseas assignment of at least six months, and a ënon-experienced groupí consisting of 2,163 male workers who had not. To assess the mental health status, Zungís Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Sheehanís Patient Rated Anxiety Scale (Sheehan) were employed. The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) was used to examine job stress. In addition, information about the characteristics of the overseas assignments was collected.

The experienced group had significantly higher scores for job control, supervisor support and coworker support in the JCQ, while no differences were observed for the SDS and Sheehan. Whether or not the subjects travelled abroad with their families, whether or not they went against their will, and whether or not they enjoyed their stay had no effects on their mental health. Job demand had a significantly positive correlation with the duration of the assignment.

Key Words: Anxiety • depression • international business travel • job stress • long-term health effects

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 125, No. 6, 281-286 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/146642400512500610


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