This May 13, 2020 file photo taken in Osaka Prefecture shows a newborn baby wearing a face shield, amid continuing worries about the coronavirus. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Mothers raising children are feeling more stress due to the coronavirus pandemic than men or women without kids as the health crisis has limited their opportunity to go out and chat with other mothers, according to a private survey released Monday.

       Of the 5,640 people in their 20s to 70s covered in the poll by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co., 65.3 percent said they are feeling stressed, with 59.2 percent of them being men and 71.3 percent women. Among women with one or more children, the ratio stood higher at 73.8 percent.

       Asked about the cause of their stress, with multiple answers allowed, 62.9 percent of respondents cited "restrictions on outings" while 54.9 percent said they are "worried about infection."

       Among mothers, 59.0 percent said it is stressful that they "have less chance to meet people," higher than the 47.3 percent who felt the same among respondents as a whole.

       The results "showed that we are approaching the limits of restraint in our lives," said Yuichi Kodama, a chief economist at the company. For full-time housewives, the situation "tends to be more stressful than for those who go out for work."

       The online survey was conducted between July 14 and 27.

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