Factors and hierarchical structures related to the reduced stress responses in Japanese Female spouses accompanying their husbands on overseas assignments

Abstract

The present study determined the factors associated with reduced stress reaction scores and their hierarchical structure among Japanese female spouses accompanying their husbands on overseas assignments. About 264 participants were surveyed using the Occupational Brief Stress Questionnaire to assess their stress reactions. This web- and questionnaire-based survey was conducted between 2016 and 2018. Data was analyzed using multiple regression analysis, logistic regression analysis, and Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector analysis. In the logistic regression analysis, the stress response score was dichotomized using a cut-off value of 77 points to categorize participants into low and high stress groups. The findings revealed that the presence of “someone to confide in” was the most relevant factor for the low stress group. Additionally, having “someone who casually talks to me” and the “ease of access to shopping/going out” were associated with a relative reduction in participants’ stress reaction scores. The CHAID analysis demonstrated that participants possessing all three factors reported the lowest mean stress score (M = 50.2), compared to other subgroups (M ≥ 57.1). Considering the significance of peer support initiatives among spouses, occupational health staff should emphasize the effectiveness of peer support and facilitate their communication skills.