Researchers at Toho University, Shoin University, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital, Yokohama City Tobu Hospital, and others have shown that Brazilian high school students of Japanese descent who have immigrated to their home country may be suffering from mental health issues due to conflicts over their ethnic identity. This was revealed in joint research.
According to Toho University, the research group interviewed 25 Japanese-Brazilian high school students and 62 Japanese high school students living in the same area of Japan about their mental health, ethnic identity, and help-seeking behavior.
As a result, it was found that Japanese-Brazilian high school students living in Japan had significantly lower levels of mental health and ethnic identity than Japanese high school students.Moreover, it was also revealed that Japanese-Brazilian high school students living in Japan with lower ethnic identities tend to have lower levels of mental health and hesitate to seek help from family and friends when they are troubled.
The research group found that immigration to Japan caused conflicts in ethnic identity among Japanese-Brazilian high school students, making it difficult for them to feel a sense of belonging. is coming out.
The research group believes that it is necessary to create an environment in which foreigners living in Japan can easily seek help from those around them, and to support them in forming their identity during puberty and adolescence.