Investigation the Impact of Workplace Discrimination on the Association between Disability and Illness and Mental Health by a Cohort of Workers

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18941
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
• Research Institution: University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
• Principal Investigator: Eguchi Hisashi 産業医科大学, 産業生態科学研究所, 教授 (50722146)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 障害者保健 / 合理的配慮 / 産業精神保健 / 職場

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of disability and its effect on the relationship between these factors and psychological stress and work engagement. To this end, a longitudinal study was conducted using a panel of an Internet research company to survey 500 workers with disabilities and 1500 general workers twice, six months apart. By comparing workers with disabilities and general workers, the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Subjective Discrimination Scale were examined, as well as the relationship between psychosocial factors in the workplace and psychological stress and work engagement. The results of this study were considered to contribute to examining the effectiveness of reasonable accommodation that is mandated to be provided to workers with disabilities and illnesses.

Free Research Field

産業保健

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

海外では、障害や疾病を抱える労働者を対象に、職域において、主観的差別が、障害と労働者の健康との関連に与える影響に関する研究の蓄積が進んでいるが、我が国ではほとんど行われていなかった。その理由としては、職域で使える信頼性・妥当性のある尺度が存在しなかったこと、障害や疾病を抱える労働者の心理的ストレスやウェルビーイングに　ついての関心が低かったこと、が考えられた。本研究課題により得られる結果は、障害や疾病を抱えた労働者に対して提供される合理的配慮の効果を障害や疾病を抱える労働者の主観的差別の程度から把握できるようになり、もって、障害を抱える労働者に対する産業保健活動をより進める契機となる。