Psychological distress and the experience of self-restrained lifestyle through COVID-19 in Japan &ndash; public insights from #Coronavirus-depression on Twitter

Yan Huo; Carmen Lim; Vivian Chiu; Hisateru Tachimori; Janni Leung

doi:10.3390/ECERPH-3-09018

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Psychological distress and the experience of self-restrained lifestyle through COVID-19 in Japan – public insights from #Coronavirus-depression on Twitter

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¹ Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
² National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
³ Department of Mental Health Policy and Evaluation, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
⁴ School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Published: 11 January 2021 by MDPI in The 3rd International Electronic Conference on Environmental Research and Public Health —Public Health Issues in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic session Mental Health

https://doi.org/10.3390/ECERPH-3-09018

Abstract:

Introduction

In Japan, lockdowns were imposed in April 2020 to combat the spread of COVID-19. Many Japanese citizens have taken their mental health concerns to Twitter, a social media platform with 45 million monthly Japanese users. This study investigates the themes of tweets related to mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Methods

We analysed the themes of tweets (n = 1734) collected in May 2020 using the #corona-depression [#コロナうつ] trending hashtag in Japan.

Results & Discussion

Tweets were classified into four main themes: i) feeling depressed, as expected (41%), ii) anxiety/fears (17%), iii) lifestyle issues (46%), and iv) positivity (15%). In theme I, over 2/3 were about the loss of sleep/not getting out of bed. Others tweeted about crying (5%) loss of interest in activities or energy (18%), and suicidality (10%), all of which corresponded with symptoms in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Among the tweets about frustration in lifestyle consequences, many (64%) expressed distress due to social isolation and the restrained lifestyle. Essential workers were fearful of being exposed to infection (13%), while others expressed distress from the loss of employment (11%). Housewives expressed the increased burden (e.g. homeschooling) with comments of being burn-out (11%). Despite the situation, some users used the platform to provide/gain support by sharing advice for staying positive (15%).

Conclusions

Pandemics and lockdowns have significant mental health impacts on the community. Continue monitoring is needed to determine whether these effects are temporary or long-term.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Psychological distress; Depression; Anxiety; Twitter

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