The health problems for Japanese overseas workers

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the health problems of Japanese overseas workers and their families. Methods: A semi-structured interview was conducted with 14 Japanese employees who had worked overseas for at least 1 year at A company. Transcripts of the interviews were then analyzed qualitatively. Results: The health problems of overseas workers were extracted from 46 lower, 25 middle, and 7 upper categories. The upper categories were: [Changes in the physical condition of the worker themselves], [Anxiety of the worker themselves], [Changes in the physical condition of the family], [Family stress], [Response to health problems], [Current situation of medical care as perceived by overseas workers], and [Support desired for overseas work]. Discussion: In terms of health problems, changes in the climate and environment in the area where overseas workers and their families lived were related to physical health problems, while language issues and changes to the living environment were related to mental health problems. The results also revealed that the degree to which families adapt to living overseas not only affects the overseas workers’ mental health problems, but also is related to their physical health problems.