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       SENDAI -- A research team at Tohoku University has found that a "disruption of core beliefs" occurred among the Japanese population amid the coronavirus pandemic, and that levels of this disruption had a bearing on the severity of psychological distress, including depression and anxiety.

       The team, including Tohoku University assistant professor Izumi Matsudaira, commented, "It is implied that the spread of COVID-19 forced people to reexamine their lifestyles."

       Disruption of fundamental values apparently tends to be reported upon the discovery of a serious illness, or during other unexpected events. The research team carried out an online survey in July 2020 targeting 1,196 individuals. In addition to the disruption of core beliefs, the questionnaire asked people about their sense of achievement and psychological burden surrounding cooperation with anti-infection measures during the COVID-19 state of emergency in April and May 2020, as well as the stress they felt in connection with the spread of the coronavirus itself.

       Analysis of the results showed that the weight of the burden stemming from coronavirus prevention measures and severity of stress over the spread of infections were associated with the levels of psychological distress experienced among people, as well as the degree to which their core beliefs were disrupted. A similar study conducted in the United States last year did not find a correlation between the burden of preventative measures and the disruption of core beliefs. The Tohoku University team says these were results unique to the population of Japan.

       Meanwhile, it was also found that though the sense of achievement surrounding cooperation with anti-infection measures was linked to the disruption of core beliefs, it was not associated with psychological distress. Researchers accordingly concluded that some respondents accepted the situation under the pandemic without much hardship. Moving forward, the team is set to examine the different ways in which personality traits impact people's perceptions of situations.

       Matsudaira said, "We found that situations where people inevitably had to change their daily lifestyles influenced an essential part of their consciousness, leading to depression and anxiety. In the battle against infectious diseases, it is important to consider the changes that occur in the human psyche."

       (Japanese original by Yudai Hiraka, Sendai Bureau)

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