Changes in Subjective Sleep,Physical Condition,and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic:A Nationwide Survey in Japan

This study aimed to investigate how people’s subjective health changed after the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.This survey was conducted in May 2021 as a nationwide online self-reported survey in Japan.The respondents indicated how their sleep,physical condition,and mental state altered after the pandemic.Furthermore,they answered questionnaires about their intention to get vaccinated,the means of gathering information,etc.A logistic regression analysis was performed.Of the 2,573 responses,there was a decline of approximately 13.6%,14.0%,and 23.8%in subjective sleep,physical condition,and mental health after the pandemic,respectively.The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that regarding sleep,the affected group was younger,got vaccinated against influenza annually,had lower income,experienced poor sleep quality in the past month,and had worse physical and psychiatric symptoms than before the pandemic.Concerning the physical condition,the affected group lived alone,witnessed deficient sleep quality in the past month,and had deteriorated mental health status than before the COVID-19 pandemic.In terms of mental status,the affected group was younger,females,had access to more sources of information,and experienced worse sleep and physical conditions than the unchanged or improved group(p<0.05).Each group indicated an association with the background factors,confirming that the subjective sleep,physical condition,and mental state affected each other.From a preventive perspective,the results of this study suggested that factors such as youth,gender,sleep quality,pregnancy,reduced income,and greater access to information,may be necessary for physical and mental support.The above-mentioned factors should be considered in light of community life and approached accordingly.

Effect of educational intervention on attitudes toward the concept of criminal responsibility

AIM To evaluate the effect of educational intervention on individuals' knowledge of and attitudes toward forensic mental health.METHODS We conducted a questionnaire regarding attitudes toward various ideas about forensic mental health. The respondents attended a 1-h seminar regarding forensic mental health after answering the questionnaire. On completion of the seminar, the respondents answered another questionnaire containing many of the same questions as contained in the pre-seminar questionnaire.RESULTS A total of 86 individuals attended the seminar, and 78 responded to the questionnaire. Only 13(18.8%) participants were supportive of the concept of criminal responsibility initially, and there was a statistically significant increase in those who became more supportive after the seminar, with 22(33%) being supportive after the seminar(Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that participants who were skeptical about forensic mental systems and those with fewer opportunities to see media reports regarding psychiatry were likely to become supportive of criminal responsibility after the intervention.CONCLUSION These results suggest that public attitudes toward criminal responsibility and mental health can be influenced via educational interventions.