Effects of the Maternal Work Environment on Psychological Distress During Pregnancy: A Cross-sectional Research—The Japan Environment and Children's Study (February 2025)-Effects of the Maternal Work Environment on Psychological Distress During Pregnancy: A Cross-sectional Research—The Japan Environment and Children's Study

Effects of the Maternal Work Environment on Psychological Distress During Pregnancy: A Cross-sectional Research—The Japan Environment and Children's Study

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The study titled "Effects of the Maternal Work Environment on Psychological Distress During Pregnancy" is part of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a national prospective birth cohort project. It examines how the work environment affects psychological distress in pregnant women in Japan. Conducted between 2011 and 2014, the study involved 42,797 participants and focused on factors like work hours and shift work schedules as potential contributors to maternal stress during pregnancy. <br /><br />Key findings indicate that pregnant women working over 51 hours a week are 1.19 times more likely to experience psychological distress compared to those working 36-40 hours weekly. Those involved in shift work for five days a month also show a heightened risk (1.11-fold increase) of such distress. In stratified analyses, these associations are particularly noted among white-collar workers. Blue-collar workers on nonregular employment contracts exhibited a 1.36-fold increased risk of psychological distress compared to regular workers.<br /><br />The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) was employed twice during pregnancy to assess psychological stress. The study identifies long working hours and shift work as significant contributors to psychological distress in pregnant women, with implications for both maternal and fetal health due to the possibility of distress signals affecting the fetus. <br /><br />This research underscores the importance of supportive work environments for pregnant employees, emphasizing the necessity of workplace modifications to mitigate stress and improve mental health outcomes during pregnancy. It urges employers and healthcare providers to be vigilant about the work-related stress factors pregnant women face, promoting healthier pregnancy experiences. The study also highlights the necessity for future research to explore the complex interactions of work environments and maternal mental health more extensively.

Keywords

maternal work environment

psychological distress

pregnancy

Japan Environment and Children's Study

work hours

shift work

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale

white-collar workers

blue-collar workers

workplace modifications