Mental and Physical Effects of Tanshin funin, Posting without Family, on Married Male Workers in Japan

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of tanshin funin, a posting without family, on the health of married male workers. A prospective study using the pair-matched method was performed. One hundred and twenty-nine married male tanshin funin workers in their 40s and 50s and as many matched workers living with their family (regular workers) participated. Fewer tanshin funin workers took breakfast everyday (OR=3.3, p<0.001). Tanshin funin workers more frequently suffered from stress due to daily chores (OR=3.6, p<0.001) and from stress-related health problems, namely headache (OR=4.7, p=0.013) and gastric/duodenal ulcers (OR=8.7, p<0.001). They also developed more frequently common cold/bronchitis (OR=14.5, p<0.001). The levels of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase for workers reluctant to work under tanshin funin and workers who spent less than two years in tanshin funin increased significantly from the fiscal year 1997 to year 2001 (46.7 to 67.5 IU/l, p<0.001, and 36.9 to 72.4 IU/l, p=0.005, respectively), although those of their matched regular workers did not show significant changes. The daily alcohol intake of reluctant tanshin funin workers (the equivalent of approximately 817 ml of beer) was higher than that of the matched regular workers (582 ml, p=0.026). In summary, abrupt changes in lifestyle and elevated mental stress were thus important effects of tanshin funin. Tanshin funin workers should be provided with health and lifestyle education programs and mental health care before and during tanshin funin. Doctors and nurses in the healthcare departments of companies should play a leading role.