ArticleBMC psychiatry2023
Financial debt, worry about debt and mental health in Japan.
Article in BMC psychiatry, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- ADHD symptoms and financial debt among adults.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- Factors Affecting Acceptance of Life Education in Mainland China: National Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2026Article
- Understanding the Effect of Financial Behaviour on Mental Health: Evidence From Australia.Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress · 2025Article
- Housing debt and depressive symptoms: evidence from the China family panel studies.BMC psychology · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFinancial debt has been linked to poorer mental health. However, most research has been undertaken in western countries. This study examined the association between financial debt, worry about debt, and mental health in Japan, where there has been little specific focus on debt and its effects on mental health.
methodsData were analyzed from 3717 respondents collected in an online survey in 2023. Information on financial debt and worry about debt was collected with single-item questions. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale were used to respectively collect information on depression and anxiety symptoms, while a single-item measure was used to obtain information on a recent history of suicidal ideation. Logistic regression was used to assess associations.
resultsBoth financial debt (17.7%) and worry about debt (14.8%) were prevalent in the study sample. In fully adjusted analyses, compared to those with no debt and worry about debt, individuals who were worried about debt but had no debt, or who had debts and were worried about debt had significantly higher odds for suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. In contrast, having debt but not being worried about debt was not associated with any of the mental health outcomes.
conclusionThe results of this study suggest that worrying about debt is strongly associated with poorer mental health among Japanese adults. Interventions to address debt and its associated worries may be important for improving public mental health in Japan.
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