Background
Methods
Participants
n
| Mean age (SD) | Sex | Mean age |
SD
| Duration of stay (months) | Occupation | Family status | Children | Seasonality score (GSS) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK | 105 | 41.1 (±8.10) | Male
n = 23 | 40.83 | 9.51 | 90 | Student 4 Housewife 45 Full-time 41 Part-time 7 Other 8 | Unmarried 18 Married 80 Others 7 | Yes 64 No 41 | Low: n = 66 (62.9%) Moderate: n = 15 (14.3%) High: n = 24 (22.9%) |
Female
n = 82 | 41.18 | 7.73 | ||||||||
Nordic countries | 40 | 39.08 (±10.06) | Male
n = 6 | 30 | 5.87 | 99.67 | Student 6 Housewife 10 Full-time 15 Part-time 4 Other 5 | Unmarried 9 Married 31 | Yes 18 No 22 | Low: n = 32 (80%) Moderate: n = 1 (2.5%) High: n = 7 (17.5%) |
Female
n = 34 | 40.68 | 9.83 | ||||||||
Southeast Asia | 51 | 40.82 (±5.95) | Male
n = 17 | 40.24 | 7.27 | 56.27 | Student 1 Housewife 27 Full-time 16 Part-time 4 Other 2 | Unmarried 3 Married 47 Other 1 | Yes 42 No 8 No answer 1 | Low: n = 46 (90.2%) Moderate: n = 0 (0%) High: n = 5 (9.8%) |
Female
n = 34 | 41.06 | 5.28 | ||||||||
Japan | 96 | 43.97 (12.68) | Male
n = 24 | 47.25 | 12.07 | Student 10 Housewife 27 Full-time 37 Part-time 10 Other 12 | Unmarried 30 Married 64 Others 2 | Yes 48 No 48 | Low: n = 72 (75.0%) Moderate: n = 12 (12.5%) High: n = 12 (12.5%) | |
Female
n = 72 | 43.04 | 12.78 |
Survey | Winter (Response rate %) | Summer (Response rate %) | Both (Response rate %) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | UK | 260 | 233 | 105 (15.98%) |
2012 | Nordic countries | 68 (63.55%) | 44 (41.12%) | 40 (18.69%) |
Southeast Asia | 89 (63.57%) | 57 (51.18%) | 51 (21.25%) | |
Japan | 153 (75.74%) | 117 (57.92%) | 96 (20.55%) |
Measures
Data analyses
Results
UK (n = 105) | Nordic Countries (n = 40) | Japan (n = 96) | Southeast Asia (n = 51) | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean |
SD
|
t
|
p
| Mean |
SD
|
t
|
p
| Mean |
SD
|
t
|
p
| Mean |
SD
|
t
|
p
| ||
GHQ28 Total score | Winter | 25.47 | 12.30 | 4.08 | ** | 25.53 | 12.36 | 2.30 | * | 22.78 | 9.32 | .00 |
n.s.
| 23.18 | 9.03 | 1.34 |
n.s.
|
Summer | 20.93 | 10.62 | 20.90 | 8.35 | 22.72 | 10.49 | 21.84 | 9.42 | |||||||||
Somatic symptoms (GHQ28) | Winter | 7.45 | 4.16 | 2.57 | ** | 6.90 | 3.84 | 1.47 |
n.s.
| 6.77 | 3.85 | .22 |
n.s.
| 7.04 | 3.55 | .41 |
n.s.
|
Summer | 6.29 | 4.08 | 6.08 | 3.25 | 6.66 | 3.61 | 6.84 | 4.09 | |||||||||
Anxiety/insomnia (GHQ28) | Winter | 8.16 | 4.59 | 3.57 | ** | 8.33 | 4.47 | 2.47 | * | 7.07 | 3.78 | .41 |
n.s.
| 7.37 | 3.03 | .11 |
n.s.
|
Summer | 6.63 | 3.99 | 6.60 | 3.20 | 6.9 | 3.77 | 7.33 | 3.60 | |||||||||
Social dysfunction (GHQ28) | Winter | 7.31 | 2.79 | 2.57 | ** | 7.30 | 2.48 | 2.40 | * | 6.76 | 2.15 | .07 |
n.s.
| 6.43 | 1.80 | 1.13 |
n.s.
|
Summer | 6.48 | 2.70 | 6.03 | 2.28 | 6.73 | 2.52 | 6.12 | 1.93 | |||||||||
Severe depression (GHQ28) | Winter | 2.54 | 4.20 | 2.79 | ** | 3.00 | 4.24 | 1.25 |
n.s.
| 2.18 | 2.79 | .73 |
n.s.
| 2.33 | 3.25 | 2.10 |
n.s.
|
Summer | 1.54 | 2.73 | 2.20 | 3.20 | 2.44 | 3.26 | 1.55 | 2.75 | |||||||||
CES-D | Winter | 13.12 | 8.34 | −3.72 | ** | 13.55 | 8.84 | 2.30 | * | 12.21 | 6.99 | .80 |
n.s
| 10.90 | 5.58 | 1.45 |
n.s.
|
Summer | 10.66 | 7.17 | 10.78 | 7.55 | 11.66 | 7.76 | 9.80 | 9.42 |
UK (n = 105) | Japan (n = 96) | ||||||||
n | % | Mean |
SD
| n | % | Mean |
SD
| ||
Winter | High Group (more than 6 points) | 47 | 44.76 | 11.94 | 5.52 | 34 | 35.42 | 10.12 | 3.20 |
Low Group (less than 6 points) | 58 | 55.24 | 2.29 | 1.67 | 62 | 64.58 | 2.15 | 1.60 | |
Summer | High Group (more than 6 points) | 36 | 34.29 | 10.33 | 5.13 | 37 | 38.54 | 10.38 | 3.97 |
Low Group (less than 6 points) | 69 | 65.71 | 2.29 | 1.79 | 59 | 61.46 | 2.05 | 1.67 | |
Nordic countries (n = 40) | Southeast Asia (n = 51) | ||||||||
n | % | Mean |
SD
| n | % | Mean |
SD
| ||
Winter | High Group (more than 6 points) | 20 | 50.00 | 11.65 | 4.30 | 20 | 39.22 | 9.45 | 4.45 |
Low Group (less than 6 points) | 20 | 50.00 | 2.25 | 1.92 | 31 | 60.78 | 2.48 | 1.67 | |
Summer | High Group (more than 6 points) | 11 | 27.50 | 8.91 | 2.26 | 18 | 35.30 | 9.44 | 3.22 |
Low Group (less than 6 points) | 29 | 72.50 | 2.28 | 1.79 | 33 | 64.70 | 2.21 | 1.54 |
Median | Mean |
χ
2
|
p-value | Multiple comparisons | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK (n = 105) | 6.00 | 6.51 | 31.45 | *** | UK – Nordic countries n.s.
UK > Southeast Asia *** UK > Japan ** Nordic countries > Southeast Asia *** Nordic countries – Japan n.s.
|
Nordic countries (n = 40) | 5.00 | 5.60 | |||
Southeast Asia (n = 51) | 1.00 | 2.92 | |||
Japan (n = 96) | 4.00 | 4.76 |
Category |
n
| Mean |
SD
|
t value/F value |
p value | Multiple comparison | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gender | Male | 49 | 5.31 | 4.29 | −1.72 |
†
| |
Female | 211 | 6.52 | 4.46 | ||||
Age | 20s | 25 | 8.32 | 3.87 | 5.74 | ** | 20s > 40s * 20s > 50s ** 30s > 40s * 30s > 50s ** |
30s | 73 | 7.39 | 4.77 | ||||
40s | 130 | 5.70 | 4.01 | ||||
50 and over | 32 | 4.58 | 4.02 | ||||
Occupation | Student | 17 | 8.65 | 4.14 | 3.06 | * | Others > Part-time†
|
Housewife | 114 | 6.23 | 4.31 | ||||
Full-time | 100 | 10.00 | 4.42 | ||||
Part-time | 7 | 4.78 | 5.51 | ||||
(Other) | −18 | 6.35 | 4.35 | ||||
Family status | Unmarried | 57 | 7.33 | 4.19 | 2.15 | * | Unmarried > Married * |
Married | 196 | 5.92 | 4.41 | ||||
(Other) | (7) | 8.00 | 6.33 | ||||
Children | Yes | 163 | 6.20 | 4.69 | -.42 | n.s. | - |
No | 97 | 6.43 | 4.02 | ||||
Duration of stay | Within 2 years | 60 | 5.75 | 4.13 | 2.98 | * | 2–10 years > over 10 years † |
2–10 years | 131 | 6.95 | 4.64 | ||||
Over 10 years | 69 | 5.51 | 4.20 |
Main effect | Interaction effect | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n
| Mean |
SD
|
F
|
p-value | Mean |
SD
|
F
|
p-value
| |||||
UK (n = 105) | Gender | Male | 23 | 20.33 | 2.07 | 2.48 |
n.s.
| Male | Winter | 22.04 | 2.55 | .27 |
n.s.
|
Female | 82 | 24.01 | 1.09 | Summer | 18.61 | 2.21 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 105 | 24.24 | 1.44 | 9.40 | ** | Female | Winter | 26.43 | 1.35 | |||
Summer | 20.10 | 1.25 | Summer | 21.59 | 1.17 | ||||||||
Age | 39 years and under | 40 | 24.94 | 1.57 | 1.98 |
n.s.
| 39 years and under | Winter | 28.15 | 1.93 | 1.79 |
n.s.
| |
40 years and above | 65 | 22.13 | 1.23 | Summer | 21.73 | 1.68 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 105 | 25.98 | 1.22 | 18.42 | ** | 40 years and above | Winter | 23.82 | 1.51 | |||
Summer | 21.09 | 1.07 | Summer | 20.45 | 1.32 | ||||||||
Occupation | Full time | 41 | 22.24 | 1.56 | .62 |
n.s.
| Full time | Winter | 25.72 | 1.55 | .65 |
n.s.
| |
Other | 64 | 23.81 | 1.25 | Summer | 21.91 | 1.33 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 105 | 25.4 | 1.24 | 17.2 | ** | Other | Winter | 25.07 | 1.93 | |||
Summer | 20.66 | 1.06 | Summer | 19.42 | 1.66 | ||||||||
Family status | Unmarried | 25 | 25.02 | 2.00 | 1.09 |
n.s.
| Unmarried | Winter | 27.92 | 2.46 | .40 |
n.s.
| |
Married | 80 | 22.63 | 1.12 | Summer | 22.12 | 2.13 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 105 | 26.31 | 1.41 | 14.40 | ** | Married | Winter | 24.7 | 1.37 | |||
Summer | 21.34 | 1.22 | Summer | 20.56 | 1.19 | ||||||||
Children | Yes | 64 | 22.9 | 1.25 | .15 |
n.s.
| Yes | Winter | 24.86 | 1.54 | .47 |
n.s.
| |
No | 41 | 23.67 | 1.57 | Summer | 20.94 | 1.33 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 105 | 25.64 | 1.23 | 16.94 | ** | No | Winter | 26.42 | 1.93 | |||
Summer | 20.93 | 1.07 | Summer | 20.93 | 1.67 | ||||||||
Duration of stay | 90 months and under | 68 | 24.46 | 1.20 | 3.16 |
†
| 90 months and under | Winter | 27.56 | 1.46 | 4.21 |
*
| |
91 months and above | 37 | 20.88 | 1.62 | Summer | 21.37 | 1.29 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 105 | 24.59 | 1.23 | 11.21 | ** | 91 months and above | Winter | 21.62 | 1.98 | |||
Summer | 20.75 | 1.09 | Summer | 20.14 | 1.75 | ||||||||
Nordic countries (n = 40) | Gender | Male | 6 | 23.33 | 2.77 | .00 |
n.s.
| Male | Winter | 24.33 | 5.11 | .30 |
n.s.
|
Female | 34 | 23.19 | 1.87 | Summer | 22.33 | 3.44 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 40 | 25.03 | 2.77 | 1.56 |
n.s.
| Female | Winter | 25.74 | 2.15 | |||
Summer | 21.49 | 1.87 | Summer | 20.65 | 1.45 | ||||||||
Age | 39 years and under | 24 | 22.63 | 1.73 | .29 |
n.s.
| 39 years and under | Winter | 24.83 | 2.55 | .02 |
n.s.
| |
40 years and above | 16 | 24.09 | 2.12 | Summer | 20.42 | 1.72 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 40 | 25.7 | 2.02 | 5.06 | * | 40 years and above | Winter | 26.56 | 3.12 | |||
Summer | 21.02 | 1.36 | Summer | 21.63 | 2.11 | ||||||||
Occupation | Full time | 15 | 21.9 | 2.18 | .58 |
n.s.
| Full time | Winter | 28.28 | 2.4 | 2.97 |
†
| |
Other | 25 | 24.00 | 1.69 | Summer | 19.72 | 1.66 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 40 | 24.61 | 1.95 | 2.97 |
†
| Other | Winter | 20.93 | 3.09 | |||
Summer | 21.29 | 1.36 | Summer | 22.87 | 2.15 | ||||||||
Family status | Unmarried | 10 | 21.50 | 2.68 | .55 |
n.s.
| Unmarried | Winter | 21.8 | 3.9 | 1.35 |
n.s.
| |
Married | 30 | 23.78 | 1.54 | Summer | 21.2 | 2.67 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 40 | 24.28 | 2.25 | 2.02 |
n.s.
| Married | Winter | 26.77 | 2.25 | |||
Summer | 21 | 1.54 | Summer | 20.8 | 1.54 | ||||||||
Children | Yes | 17 | 23.17 | 2.07 | .00 |
n.s.
| Yes | Winter | 24.41 | 3.01 | 2.83 |
n.s.
| |
No | 23 | 23.24 | 1.78 | Summer | 18.94 | 2.01 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 40 | 25.77 | 1.98 | 6.66 | * | No | Winter | 24.13 | 2.59 | |||
Summer | 20.65 | 1.32 | Summer | 22.35 | 1.73 | ||||||||
Duration of stay | 90 months and under | 26 | 23.21 | 1.67 | .00 |
n.s.
| 90 months and under | Winter | 25.65 | 2.46 | .03 |
n.s.
| |
91 months and above | 14 | 23.21 | 2.28 | Summer | 20.77 | 1.66 | |||||||
Season | Winter | 40 | 25.47 | 2.08 | .03 |
n.s.
| 91 months and above | Winter | 25.47 | 1.4 | |||
Summer | 20.96 | 1.4 | Summer | 20.96 |
Mood | Interpersonal behavior | Sleep | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
p-value | Chi-squared value | Regional comparisons |
p-value | Chi-squared value | Regional comparisons |
p-value | Chi-squared value | Regional comparisons | |
January | ** | 16.18 | UK < J, SA | ** | 21.7 | UK < J, SA | * | 14.62 | SA < UK, J |
February |
n.s.
| 11.69 | - | ** | 23.43 | SA < UK, NC, J | ** | 10.36 | SA < UK, J |
March |
n.s.
| 6.52 | - |
n.s.
| 10.88 | E < SA |
n.s.
| 1.97 | – |
April | * | 11.71 | SA < UK |
n.s.
| 2.16 |
–
|
n.s.
| 2.98 | – |
May | ** | 50.79 | J < UK; SA < UK, NC,J | ** | 25.23 | SA < UK, NC, J | ** | 10.39 | NC < J |
June | ** | 97.01 | J < UK,NC; SA < UK,NC | ** | 49.66 | J < UK, NC; SA < UK, NC | * | 14.77 | UK, NC < J |
July | ** | 104.48 | J < UK,NC; SA < UK,NC | ** | 28.37 | J < UK, NC; SA < UK, NC |
n.s.
| 8.12 | – |
August | ** | 46.81 | J < UK,NC; SA < UK,NC |
n.s.
| 3.86 | – | ** | 15.78 | – |
September |
n.s.
| 11.35 | – |
n.s.
| 7.65 | – |
n.s.
| 6.2 | – |
October | ** | 21.24 | UK, NC < J; SA < J |
n.s.
| 3.24 | – | * | 12.72 | J < NC |
November | ** | 44.83 | NC < UK; UK, NC < J; UK, N < SA |
n.s.
| 9.6 | J < UK |
n.s.
| 7.71 | – |
December | * | 13.97 | UK < J,SA |
n.s.
| 4.53 | – |
n.s.
| 5.66 | – |
Weight | Appetite | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
p-value | Chi-squared value | Regional comparisons |
p-value | Chi-squared value | Regional comparisons | |
January | ** | 22.20 | UK < J; SA < J | * | 13.52 | SA < J |
February |
n.s.
| 3.01 | – |
n.s.
| 0.73 | – |
March |
n.s.
| 1.82 | – |
n.s.
| 1.62 | – |
April | * | 13.30 | SA < UK |
n.s.
| 3.11 | – |
May | * | 11.94 | SA < NC, J | ** | 15.48 | SA < UK, NC, J |
June |
n.s.
| 3.71 | – |
n.s.
| 4.17 | – |
July |
n.s.
| 4.87 | – | ** | 22.43 | J < UK, NC |
August | * | 12.02 | UK < J | ** | 19.09 | J < UK |
September |
n.s.
| 1.09 | – |
n.s.
| 5.89 | – |
October |
n.s.
| 1.70 | – |
n.s.
| 11.07 | – |
November |
n.s.
| 0.41 | – |
n.s.
| 11.07 | – |
December |
n.s.
| 2.04 |
n.s.
| 1.57 | – |