[Research Announcement] Joint Nationwide Survey of 100,000 People by Tokai University School of Medicine and Japan Recovery Association Published in English Paper
The Japan Recovery Association and Tokai University School of Medicine have jointly published the results of a nationwide stress survey of 100,000 people in a medical journal. The proportion of highly stressed individuals exceeded previous estimates, with young adults, low-income groups, long working hours, and sleep deprivation identified as major factors. Stress is emphasized as a problem of living environment, not an individual issue.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 20:00
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The Japan Recovery Association (Secretariat: Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director: Hideki Katano) has announced the results of a new joint research project with Tokai University School of Medicine, based on its large-scale health epidemiological survey "Kokoro no Tairyoku Measurement" (Measurement of Mental Endurance). The findings were published in the medical journal "Tokai Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine (Vol.51, No.1, 2026)".
■ Research Background
In recent years, stress in Japan has become a significant social issue, with surveys by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reporting that many people feel stress daily. However, previous stress research has primarily focused on occupational settings (working individuals), and a large-scale assessment of the actual situation across the general population has been insufficient. Against this backdrop, this research was conducted using the large-scale health survey data "Kokoro no Tairyoku Measurement" held by the Japan Recovery Association, with the aim of clarifying the actual state of stress and coping behaviors among the general population throughout Japan.
■ Research Methods
This study was conducted as an online survey from April to July 2023, targeting 100,000 men and women aged 20 to 70 across Japan. In addition to basic attributes such as gender, age, household income, and occupation, the study used the "Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (29 items)" employed in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's stress check system to assess stress levels. Daily stress coping and recovery behaviors (157 items), as well as lifestyle habits such as sleep duration, working hours, and commuting time, were also analyzed. Individuals with a stress score of 77 or higher were defined as the "high-stress group," and factors influencing stress were extracted through statistical and logistic regression analyses.
■ Research Results
The results of this study revealed the following about the actual state of stress among Japanese people. First, the proportion of individuals judged to be in a high-stress state was 14.8% for men and 17.7% for women, exceeding the approximately 10% assumed in conventional occupational surveys. Notably, the proportion of high-stress individuals was higher among young adults in their 20s and 30s, suggesting a high psychological burden during their career formation period. Regarding the relationship with living environment, lower-income groups tended to have higher stress, and long working hours and long commuting times were also confirmed as factors increasing stress. Conversely, a negative correlation was observed with sleep and relaxation time, clearly indicating that sleep deprivation strongly contributes to increased stress.
As for daily stress coping behaviors, both men and women most frequently chose "sleep" and "bathing," reaffirming the importance of basic recovery behaviors. However, in the high-stress group, men uniquely engaged in behaviors like "osteopathic/massage treatments," while women often sought "a space to be alone (e.g., a restroom)." Furthermore, the analysis identified "sleep deprivation," "long working hours," and "low household income" as the three factors most significantly influencing high stress. These are suggested to be factors stemming from living environments and social structures that are difficult to resolve through individual effort alone.
■ Comment (Hideki Katano, Representative Director, Japan Recovery Association)
"What this survey revealed is that the essence of stress in Japanese people is not an 'individual problem' but a 'problem of the living environment.' In particular, sleep deprivation, long working hours, and lack of economic余裕 all deprive individuals of opportunities for recovery, leading to chronic fatigue and stress. This implies that stress can be significantly alleviated by improving the 'environment.' The 'Restology' we advocate is not just about resting, but about optimizing recovery according to one's physical and mental state. This research has scientifically substantiated its necessity. We intend to continue our activities in collaboration with companies and local governments, aiming to realize a society where everyone can recover appropriately and lead fulfilling lives."
■ Published Paper
This research has been published in the following academic journal:
Paper Title: Nationwide Online Stress Survey of 100,000 People in Japan
Journal: Tokai Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine
Volume and Pages: Vol.51, No.1, pp.13–22
Publication Year: 2026
Authors: Yuki Matsuki (Tokai University School of Medicine), Takashi Haruki (Japan Recovery Association), Kei Mizuno (Kobe University, etc.), Yasuyoshi Watanabe (Kobe University, etc.), Hideki Katano (Japan Recovery Association), Hideaki Matsuki (Tokai University, etc.)
Paper Location: http://mj-med-u-tokai.com/pdf/510104.pdf
【Japan Recovery Association
Keywords:
■ Research Background
In recent years, stress in Japan has become a significant social issue, with surveys by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reporting that many people feel stress daily. However, previous stress research has primarily focused on occupational settings (working individuals), and a large-scale assessment of the actual situation across the general population has been insufficient. Against this backdrop, this research was conducted using the large-scale health survey data "Kokoro no Tairyoku Measurement" held by the Japan Recovery Association, with the aim of clarifying the actual state of stress and coping behaviors among the general population throughout Japan.
■ Research Methods
This study was conducted as an online survey from April to July 2023, targeting 100,000 men and women aged 20 to 70 across Japan. In addition to basic attributes such as gender, age, household income, and occupation, the study used the "Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (29 items)" employed in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's stress check system to assess stress levels. Daily stress coping and recovery behaviors (157 items), as well as lifestyle habits such as sleep duration, working hours, and commuting time, were also analyzed. Individuals with a stress score of 77 or higher were defined as the "high-stress group," and factors influencing stress were extracted through statistical and logistic regression analyses.
■ Research Results
The results of this study revealed the following about the actual state of stress among Japanese people. First, the proportion of individuals judged to be in a high-stress state was 14.8% for men and 17.7% for women, exceeding the approximately 10% assumed in conventional occupational surveys. Notably, the proportion of high-stress individuals was higher among young adults in their 20s and 30s, suggesting a high psychological burden during their career formation period. Regarding the relationship with living environment, lower-income groups tended to have higher stress, and long working hours and long commuting times were also confirmed as factors increasing stress. Conversely, a negative correlation was observed with sleep and relaxation time, clearly indicating that sleep deprivation strongly contributes to increased stress.
As for daily stress coping behaviors, both men and women most frequently chose "sleep" and "bathing," reaffirming the importance of basic recovery behaviors. However, in the high-stress group, men uniquely engaged in behaviors like "osteopathic/massage treatments," while women often sought "a space to be alone (e.g., a restroom)." Furthermore, the analysis identified "sleep deprivation," "long working hours," and "low household income" as the three factors most significantly influencing high stress. These are suggested to be factors stemming from living environments and social structures that are difficult to resolve through individual effort alone.
■ Comment (Hideki Katano, Representative Director, Japan Recovery Association)
"What this survey revealed is that the essence of stress in Japanese people is not an 'individual problem' but a 'problem of the living environment.' In particular, sleep deprivation, long working hours, and lack of economic余裕 all deprive individuals of opportunities for recovery, leading to chronic fatigue and stress. This implies that stress can be significantly alleviated by improving the 'environment.' The 'Restology' we advocate is not just about resting, but about optimizing recovery according to one's physical and mental state. This research has scientifically substantiated its necessity. We intend to continue our activities in collaboration with companies and local governments, aiming to realize a society where everyone can recover appropriately and lead fulfilling lives."
■ Published Paper
This research has been published in the following academic journal:
Paper Title: Nationwide Online Stress Survey of 100,000 People in Japan
Journal: Tokai Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine
Volume and Pages: Vol.51, No.1, pp.13–22
Publication Year: 2026
Authors: Yuki Matsuki (Tokai University School of Medicine), Takashi Haruki (Japan Recovery Association), Kei Mizuno (Kobe University, etc.), Yasuyoshi Watanabe (Kobe University, etc.), Hideki Katano (Japan Recovery Association), Hideaki Matsuki (Tokai University, etc.)
Paper Location: http://mj-med-u-tokai.com/pdf/510104.pdf
【Japan Recovery Association
Keywords: