Worries and Mental Health of Japanese Graduate Students: Statistical Analysis Focusing on Gender Differences and Examination of Support Measures

In this study, I analyze the state and factors of worry and the mental health of Japanese graduate students. Data were sourced from a student survey of one Japanese university in 2015, and a secondary analysis was performed. Multiple regression （ OLS ） analysis where the dependent variable was worry was performed. The independent variables were, gender, age, courses, research field, satisfaction with own research results, economic situation, prospect of future employment, and family situation such as marriage and children. As a result, even when controlling other variables, women’s worries tended to be worse than men. In addition, graduate students’ worries were worse when satisfaction with their own research results were worse, the subjective economic situation was difficult, and the prospect of future employment was worse. Finally, quantile regression （QR） analysis where the dependent variable was mental health was performed. As a result, in the QR analysis targeting the 75th percentile, female dummy and subjective economic situation were statistically significant. For the 90th percentile, female dummy, satisfaction with own research results and subjective economic situation were statistically significant. From this analysis, worry and mental health tended to be worse in women among graduate students, as other studies had reported. In addition, it was found that graduate students’ identities are strongly rooted in their own research. Therefore, along with the provision of social and financial support, research support is considered to be effective in improving the worries and mental health of graduate students.