The Change in Mental Health Status of Indonesian Health Care Migrant Worker in Japan
Abstract: Under the Japan –
Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement, more than 1,000 of Indonesian health
care workers have migrated to Japan. Social adjustment during the process of
migration is linked to mental health changes. This study aimed to figure out
the strongest predictor that influences the change in mental health status as a
result of migration. Baseline data were collected in Jakarta in 2013 during
pre-departure orientation. Follow-up study was conducted one year after the
study participants migrated to Japan in 2014. Using longitudinal design, this
study employed 92 participants consisting of nurse and certified care worker
candidates. The multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to figure out
the predictors that influence the change in mental health status. The
prediction model expected to explain 39.9% of the change in mental health
status, p value < 0.01, while sex (b = 0.201, p value < 0.05), economic conditions in pre-migration
(b = -0.200, p value < 0.05), and the socio cultural adaptation competency
(b = -0.238, p value < 0.05). This finding assumed that female candidates
and those who have economic constraint in pre-migration stage, and those who
have declining in socio-cultural adaptation competency tend to have lower
mental health one year after the migration.
Keywords: Candidate; certified
care worker; Japan – Indonesia
Author: Susiana Nugraha, Yuko
Hirano, Honda Sumihisha
Journal Code: jpkesmasgg170002
