# Anxiety and its risk factors among non-Japanese residents living in Japan undergoing COVID-19 situation: A cross-sectional survey **Authors:** Mai Ngoc Luu, Atsuko Imoto, Yoshimi Matsuo, Nguyen Tien Huy, Ahmad Qarawi, Shamael Thabit Mohammed Alhady, Le Van Truong, Ryuji Yoshino, Nguyen Tran Minh Duc, Kozue Tabei, Yixiao Lu, Manmeet Kaur Singh, Mai Phuong Truong, Shyam Prakash Dumre, Ian Christopher Naungayan Rocha, I-Chun Hung, Akane Fudo, Miho Sato, Sajog Kansakar, Akiko Tsukamoto, Aiko Komatsu, Guoxi Cai, Kazuhiko Moji, Thanawat Khongyot, Saruveish Mogan, Souksavath Soukdavone, Endah Dwi Hartuti, Kounnavong Thidatheb, Shiho Honda, Hyunjae Woo, Nitu Lama, Vy Thi Nhat Huynh, Huynh Le Anh Khoa, Kirellos Said Abbas, Fatma A. Monib, Hoda Aly Mohamed Omran, Chiristine Samuel Rezq, Mostafa Shehata Qatora, Sze Jia Ng, Graca Jaqueline Vanessa Morena, Adriana Viola Miranda, Minh-Trang Ngo Huynh, Junko Ota, Kim Minjung, Jaemin An, Latdavanh Vorlasane, Kesshinee Gunasegaran, Fazureen Zulkefli, Belen de Jesús Lima Girón, Punita Gauchan Bhattachan, Renu Bhandari Dumre, Kishor Pandey, Sarina Yamashita, Aden Kay Celis Seposo, Jayson Zabala, Adrián Riva-Moscoso, Joyce Nicole Pineda Ordóñez, Suriyon Uitrakul, Fortunato S. Principe-Meneses, Kadek Agus Surya Dila PMC · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280144 · 2024-03-15 ## TL;DR This study explores anxiety levels and risk factors among non-Japanese residents in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. ## Contribution The study identifies specific risk factors for anxiety in non-Japanese residents during the pandemic using a multilingual survey. ## Key findings - 54.6% of participants experienced clinically significant anxiety. - Anxiety was associated with difficulties in learning/working, reduced sleep, and poorer physical health. - Findings highlight mental health challenges faced by non-Japanese residents during the pandemic. ## Abstract In the context of collective efforts taken in Japan to control the spread of COVID-19, the state of emergency and social distancing have caused a negative impact on the mental health of all residents, including foreign communities in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the level of anxiety and its associated factors among non-Japanese residents residing in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A web-based survey in 13 languages was conducted among non-Japanese residents living in Japan during the COVID-19 situation. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory assessed the level of anxiety–State (STAI-S) scores prorated from its six-item version. The multivariable logistic regression using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) method was performed to identify the associated factors of anxiety among participants. From January to March 2021, we collected 392 responses. A total of 357 valid responses were analyzed. 54.6% of participants suffered from clinically significant anxiety (CSA). In multivariable logistic model analysis, the CSA status or the high level of anxiety was associated with three factors, including having troubles/difficulties in learning or working, decreased sleep duration, and decreased overall physical health (p<0.05). Our study suggests several possible risk factors of anxiety among non-Japanese residents living in Japan undergoing the COVID-19 pandemic, including the troubles or difficulties in learning or working, the decrease in sleep duration, and the decrease in overall physical health. ## Linked entities - **Diseases:** COVID-19 (MONDO:0100096) ## Full-text entities - **Diseases:** COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), Anxiety (MESH:D001007) ## Figures 4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC10942066/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC10942066