Abstract
In order to elucidate the effcts of newcomers' support network structure at workplace on the mental health in a corporate setting, we performed a longitudinal study of 890 men and women scheduled to graduate from four universities in the greater Tokyo area who had been provisionally accepted to begin work in 2003. Surveys were distributed and collected at three time points: just Prior to entering the workplace (T1), three months after entering the workplace (T2), and six months after entering the workplace (T3) . We performed longitudinal data analysis to investigate how patterns of network relationships affected mental health (psychosomatic symptoms, depression, self-esteem, work motivation) comparing good mental health group with poor mental health group at T3. Both information network and friendship network were assessed on the survey and consisted of the network parameters of Size, Status, Frequency, and Intimacy. Size and Frequency of the informational networks related positively to self-esteem and work motivation. Also, Intimacy related positively to all mental health indicators. All parameters of friendship networks related positively to self-esteem and wotk motivation. Our results indicated that it was important to commumicate with superiors frequently, and have intimate co-workers, for newcomer's mental health.
