Social, Economic, and Ethico-Political Determinants of Psychosomatic Health Disparities: Equity and Fairness Under COVID-19 in Japan

Kobayashi, Masaya; Ishido, Hikari; Mizushima, Jiro; Ishikawa, Hirotaka

doi:10.3390/healthcare13121362

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Social, Economic, and Ethico-Political Determinants of Psychosomatic Health Disparities: Equity and Fairness Under COVID-19 in Japan

¹

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan

²

Graduate School of Global and Transdisciplinary Studies, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan

³

Graduate School of Humanities and Studies on Public Affairs, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Healthcare 2025, 13(12), 1362; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121362

Submission received: 31 January 2025 / Revised: 15 May 2025 / Accepted: 26 May 2025 / Published: 6 June 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social, Economic and Political Determinants of Health and Health Equity)

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Abstract

Introduction: This study examined how social, economic, and political factors influenced psychological and physical health disparity in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Using survey data from three surveys from 2020 to 2021, we identified significant associations between well-being and biological, economic, social, and ethico-political dimensions. Results: Key findings suggest that not only biological factors, but also social, economic, and political factors are essential for the psychosomatic health disparities in static and dynamic analysis. Discussion: This paper proposes the term psychosomatic health by proving the correlation between physical and psychological health disparities. Conclusion: Accordingly, communitarian intervention, the multi-dimensional and integrated policy that addresses not only economic needs but also social and political equity/fairness, is required.

Keywords: well-being; psychological health; socio-economic factors; positive psychology; fairness; justice; psychosomatic

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kobayashi, M.; Ishido, H.; Mizushima, J.; Ishikawa, H. Social, Economic, and Ethico-Political Determinants of Psychosomatic Health Disparities: Equity and Fairness Under COVID-19 in Japan. Healthcare 2025, 13, 1362. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121362

AMA Style

Kobayashi M, Ishido H, Mizushima J, Ishikawa H. Social, Economic, and Ethico-Political Determinants of Psychosomatic Health Disparities: Equity and Fairness Under COVID-19 in Japan. Healthcare. 2025; 13(12):1362. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121362

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kobayashi, Masaya, Hikari Ishido, Jiro Mizushima, and Hirotaka Ishikawa. 2025. "Social, Economic, and Ethico-Political Determinants of Psychosomatic Health Disparities: Equity and Fairness Under COVID-19 in Japan" Healthcare 13, no. 12: 1362. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121362

APA Style

Kobayashi, M., Ishido, H., Mizushima, J., & Ishikawa, H. (2025). Social, Economic, and Ethico-Political Determinants of Psychosomatic Health Disparities: Equity and Fairness Under COVID-19 in Japan. Healthcare, 13(12), 1362. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121362

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Social, Economic, and Ethico-Political Determinants of Psychosomatic Health Disparities: Equity and Fairness Under COVID-19 in Japan

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