English Translation and Validation of the Ikigai-9 in a UK Sample

Ikigai and probable anxiety among adults in Japan

BACKGROUND

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that has been equated with having a sense of purpose in life. It has previously been linked to better physical health, although, as yet, there has been comparatively little research on its association with mental health outcomes. This study examined the association between ikigai and anxiety in the Japanese general population.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from 3701 adults who participated in an online survey in 2023. Information on ikigai was obtained with a single-item question, while the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale was used to assess probable anxiety. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between the variables.

RESULTS

In a fully adjusted analysis, compared to those with ikigai, individuals who reported that they did not have ikigai had over twice the odds of anxiety (OR: 2.04, 95%CI: 1.36-3.06). In a sex-stratified analysis, an absence of ikigai was associated with higher odds of probable anxiety in both men and women. However, when the analysis was stratified by age, in the fully adjusted model, not having ikigai was associated with significantly higher odds of probable anxiety in adults aged 35-59 (OR: 2.97, 95%CI: 1.63-5.41) but not in those aged 18-34 (OR: 1.28, 95%CI: 0.64-2.54) or ≥ 60 years old (OR: 1.59, 95%CI: 0.52-4.87).

LIMITATIONS

This study used cross-sectional data obtained in an online survey.

CONCLUSION

An absence of ikigai is associated with higher odds of probable anxiety among Japanese men and women and middle-aged adults.

Ikigai (purpose in life) and quality of life in older adults in socially disadvantaged conditions within a rural Colombian context

INTRODUCTION

Purpose of life and quality of life are essential to the development of the overall well-being of older adults.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between ikigai (purpose in life), resilience, loneliness and negative emotions (anxiety, depression and stress) on quality of life in older adults of Afro-descendant and Amerindian descent in a rural area of the Colombian department of Córdoba.

METHODS

A non-experimental, descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional design was used for this study. The sample consisted of 100 older adults, men and women, with an average age (M=69, SD=6.6) of low socioeconomic stratum. The measurement instruments used were the IKIGAI-9 Life Purpose Scale, the BRCS Resilience Scale, the DASS-21 Scale (anxiety, depression and stress), the UCLA Brief Loneliness Scale and the CAPS-19 Quality of Life Scale.

RESULTS

Statistical analyses indicated that there was no significant association between gender and the psychological variables of the study, except for the resilience variable. The study psychological variables also showed both positive (resilience rs=0.686, p<0.001 and IKIGAI rs=0.507, p<0.001) and negative (anxiety, depression, stress rs=-0.528, p<0.001 and loneliness rs=-0.537, p<0.001) correlations with the quality-of-life variables.

CONCLUSIONS

This population of older adults predominantly reports a favorable state of resilience, life purpose, and acceptable quality of life despite facing significant economic, social, and educational inequalities, reassuring us of the resilience of the human spirit.

"It's always happy to see me": Exploring LOVOT robots as companions for older adults

Background

AI-enabled social robots present the potential to resolve the loneliness and social isolation of older adults in long-term care (LTC). There is limited research on how older adults perceive and make sense of these robots and how human-robot companionship is formed. This study investigated older adults' experiences using LOVOT, a social robot.

Methods

Using an ethnographic study design, we introduced LOVOT robots to a Canadian LTC home for four weekly interaction sessions. Thirty-six residents, seven family members and two healthcare staff participated. Data collection involved observational field notes and conversational interviews. The analysis was guided by ikigai, a Japanese well-being concept.

Findings

Reflexive thematic analysis identified four key themes. 1) Joy: The robot offers joy and excitement through interactions. 2) Acceptance: For older adults with mobility or cognitive impairments, LOVOT gives consistent positive responses, offering a sense of unconditional acceptance. 3) Creativity: The robot's non-verbal communication allows older adults to grow creative imagination, encouraging personal expression and expanding interaction possibilities. 4) "Not for me": Not all participants like the LOVOT robot.

Conclusion

AI-enabled social robots show potential in supporting the psychosocial needs of older adults, which have broader implications for LTC practices and future research directions. Future research should further explore the creative utility of social robots among LTC residents.

Relationship between Ikigai and longitudinal changes in serum HDL cholesterol levels: the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS)

BACKGROUND

Having positive psychological well-being has been associated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), but no longitudinal study to date has examined the association between Ikigai and serum HDLC. Therefore, we examined the association between Ikigai and change in serum HDLC over time using a cohort dataset spanning 2010-2018.

METHODS

The study included 471 men and 776 women aged 40-74 years who underwent a cardiovascular examination in 2010 and were asked their levels of Ikigai. We combined "definitely yes" and "yes" as "with Ikigai" and recorded "a little" as "with a little Ikigai" and "no" as "without Ikigai". We measured serum HDLC using direct methods. The association between Ikigai and serum HDLC levels at baseline, and changes in this relationship during an eight-year period, were analyzed using linear mixed-effect models.

RESULTS

At the baseline, relative to those without Ikigai, women with Ikigai had higher serum HDLC (baseline difference in those with a little Ikigai = 7.52 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12 to 13.9 and in those with Ikigai = 8.11 mg/dl, 95% CI: 1.54 to 14.7). The difference in serum HDLC between women with and without Ikigai remained over the eight-year follow-up period. There were no similar Ikigai-associated differences in the serum HDLC of men.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with Ikigai showed differences in serum HDLC that were observed at baseline and persisted over time.

An Integrated Cognitive-Motivational Model of Ikigai (Purpose in Life) in the Workplace

In the Japanese philosophy of life, 'ikigai' broadly refers to having a 'reason for living', or a purpose in life. From a phenomenological and empirical viewpoint, ikigai is reported to increase human well-being and even life expectancy. However, it remains difficult to translate, define and formalize with regard to contemporary psychological theories. In this respect, the aim of this paper is twofold: to capture as accurately as possible what ikigai is, and to examine whether the concept applies to a professional context. We first offer a comprehensive overview of ikigai, bridge the gap between this specific body of literature and related psychological theoretical frameworks, such as those addressing motivation, well-being, and attention. On this basis, we conceptualize an integrated cognitive-motivational model of ikigai using an IPO (Input-Process-Output) framework: we organize dispositional or situational factors supposedly supporting ikigai as inputs, fueling the core process of ikigai (mainly built from motivational and attentional mechanisms), which produce outcomes (including well-being). A feedback loop completes the model and allows the process to maintain over time. This conceptual proposal is a first step towards applying and testing the model in professional contexts, in order to renew our approach of engagement, well-being, and performance at work as well as inspire workplace evolution.

Association of psychological factors with advanced-level functional competency: Findings from the Aichi workers' cohort study, 2002-2019

Objective

This study examined the longitudinal association of perceived stress, ikigai, and having someone one can count on in middle age with the advanced-level functional competency in older age, which is crucial for the maintenance of independent life among older adults. The issue is especially relevant in super-aged countries like contemporary Japan, where more and more older people live in a household consisting only of older people.

Methods

Data were collected in 2019 from a total of 1692 retirees of the Aichi Workers' Cohort Study participants in which baseline survey including psychological factors was conducted during their employment in 2002. Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence (JST-IC) was used to measure the advanced-level functional competency. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were obtained for having low JST-IC in later life by the degrees of psychological factors reported in the middle age adjusting for the presence of depressive mood in 2019.

Results

Those who were not sure about ikigai (OR: 2.02, 95 % CI: 1.33 to 3.08) and who have no one to count on (OR: 2.19, 95 % CI: 1.52 to 3.16) in the middle age were significantly associated with low JST-IC after retirement. Having much stress was significantly inversely associated with a low JST-IC (OR: 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.50 to 0.97).

Conclusion

Having ikigai and someone reliable, and stress during middle age might play a role in preventing impaired advanced-level functional competency. Improved ikigai and increased social interaction and support might improve functional competency. Further research might explore avenues for improving ikigai.

Sense of purpose interventions for depression and anxiety in youth: A scoping review and cross-cultural youth consultation

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of sense of purpose (SOP) interventions in preventing or reducing anxiety or depression in youth aged 14-24 years.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted of the academic (PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE) and grey literature. We also consulted two SOP experts and an Australian and Indian youth advisory group with lived experience of anxiety and/or depression. Consultations focused on the feasibility and acceptability of reviewed interventions.

RESULTS

The search identified 25 studies reporting on 4408 participants from six countries (64.0 % of studies in the US). Multi-component interventions targeting several SOP components (i.e., value clarification, goal setting, gratitude enhancement) reported, on average, moderate reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms in youth. Interventions were generally more effective at reducing depression than anxiety symptoms. In terms of sub-populations or groups, there was some evidence for greater intervention effectiveness among youth with prior therapy experience, extraverted personalities, and those with already elevated anxiety/depression symptoms. Youth advisors and experts opined that group interventions were most acceptable to young people.

LIMITATIONS

This review was limited to a recent 10-year timeframe and publications in English, potentially excluding relevant studies published prior to 2011 or in other languages.

CONCLUSIONS

Fostering SOP can lead to better psychological wellbeing in youth. Potential harms resulting from interventions can occur without adequate consideration for a person's readiness for purpose discovery, environmental barriers, and familial and cultural settings. Further research in more diverse populations is required to determine who benefits and in what contexts.

Understanding the Connection Among Ikigai, Well-Being, and Home Robot Acceptance in Japanese Older Adults: Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Ikigai (meaning or purpose in life) is a concept understood by most older adults in Japan. The term has also garnered international attention, with recent academic attempts to map it to concepts in the Western well-being literature. In addition, efforts to use social and home robots to increase well-being have grown; however, they have mostly focused on hedonic well-being (eg, increasing happiness and decreasing loneliness) rather than eudaimonic well-being (eg, fostering meaning or purpose in life).

OBJECTIVE

First, we explored how Japanese older adults experience ikigai and relate these to concepts in the Western well-being literature. Second, we investigated how a home robot meant to promote ikigai is perceived by older adults.

METHODS

We used a mixed methods research design-including 20 interviews with older adults, a survey of 50 older adults, and 10 interviews with family caregivers. For interviews, we asked questions about older adults' sources of ikigai, happiness, and social support, along with their perception of the robot (QT). For surveys, a number of well-being scales were used, including 2 ikigai scales-ikigai-9 and K-1-and 6 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scales, measuring meaning and purpose, positive affect, satisfaction with participation in social roles, satisfaction with participation in discretionary social activities, companionship, and emotional support. Questions related to the perception and desired adoption of the robot and older adults' health status were also included.

RESULTS

Our results suggest that health is older adults' most common source of ikigai. Additionally, although self-rated health correlated moderately with ikigai and other well-being measures, reported physical limitation did not. As opposed to social roles (work and family), we found that ikigai is more strongly related to satisfaction with discretionary social activities (leisure, hobbies, and friends) for older adults. Moreover, we found that older adults' sources of ikigai included the eudaimonic aspects of vitality, positive relations with others, contribution, accomplishment, purpose, and personal growth, with the first 3 being most common, and the hedonic aspects of positive affect, life satisfaction, and lack of negative affect, with the first 2 being most common. However, the concept of ikigai was most related to eudaimonic well-being, specifically meaning in life, along the dimension of significance. Finally, we found that Japanese older adults have high expectations of a home robot for well-being, mentioning that it should support them in a multitude of ways before they would likely adopt it. However, we report that those with the highest levels of meaning, and satisfaction with their leisure life and friendships, may be most likely to adopt it.

CONCLUSIONS

We outline several ways to improve the robot to increase its acceptance, such as improving its voice, adding functional features, and designing it to support multiple aspects of well-being.

Work and Family Conflicts, Depression, and "Ikigai": A Mediation Analysis in a Cross-cultural Study Between Japanese and Egyptian Civil Workers

BACKGROUND

Total work-family conflicts (TWFCs) could associate with mental health, and having ikigai (a purpose of life) may mediate this association.

METHODS

In a cross-cultural study of 4,792 Japanese Aichi Workers' Cohort study participants and 3,109 Egyptian civil workers, the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) questionnaire measured TWFCs and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) 11-item scale measured depression. We used logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of having depression and a high-ikigai across levels of TWFCs (low, moderate, and high), and the PROCESS macro of Hayes to test the mediation effect.

RESULTS

The prevalence of high TWFCs, depression, and having a high ikigai were 17.9%, 39.4%, and 70.1% in Japanese women, 10.5%, 26.8%, and 70.1% in Japanese men, 23.7%, 58.2%, and 24.7% in Egyptian women, and 19.1%, 38.9%, and 36.9% in Egyptian men, respectively. Compared with participants with low TWFCs, the multivariable ORs of depression in Japanese women and men with high TWFCs were 4.11 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.99-5.65) and 5.42 (95% CI, 4.18-7.02), and those in Egyptian women and men were 4.43 (95% CI, 3.30-5.95) and 4.79 (95% CI, 3.53-6.48), respectively. The respective ORs of having a high-ikigai were 0.46 (95% CI, 0.33-0.64) and 0.40 (95% CI, 0.31-0.52) in Japanese women and men and were 0.34 (95% CI, 0.24-0.48) and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.20-0.39) in Egyptian women and men. No interaction between TWFCs and country was observed for the associations with depression or ikigai. Ikigai mediated (up to 18%) the associations between the TWFCs and depression, especially in Egyptian civil workers.

CONCLUSION

TWFCs were associated with depression, and having low ikigai mediated these associations in Japanese and Egyptian civil workers.

Making Meaning Together: Co-designing a Social Robot for Older Adults with Ikigai Experts

A sense of meaning and purpose in life-known in Japan as one's ikigai-can lead to better health outcomes, an improved sense of well-being, and longer life as people age. The design of socially assistive robots, however, has so far focused largely on the more hedonic aims of supporting positive affect and happiness through interactions with robots. To explore how social robots might be able to support people's ikigai, we performed (1) in-depth interviews with 12 'ikigai experts' who formally support and/or study older adults (OAs)' ikigai and (2) 5 co-design workshop sessions with 10 such experts. Our interview findings show that expert practitioners define ikigai in a holistic way in their everyday experience and practice, incorporating physical, social, and mental activities that relate not only to the individual and their behaviors, but also to their relationships with other people and to their connection with the broader community (3 levels of ikigai). Our co-design workshops showed that ikigai experts were overall positive towards the use of social robots to support OAs' ikigai, particularly in the roles of an information-provider and social enabler that connects OAs to other people and activities in their communities. They also point out areas of potential risk, including the need to maintain OAs' independence, relationships with others, and privacy, which should be considered in design. This research is the first to explore the co-design of social robots that can support people's sense of ikigai-meaning and purpose-as they age.

Finding ikigai: How robots can support meaning in later life

Previous research in human-robot interaction has explored using robots to increase objective and hedonic aspects of well-being and quality of life, but there is no literature on how robots might be used to support eudaimonic aspects of well-being (such as meaning in life). A sense of meaning has been shown to positively affect health and longevity. We frame our study around the Japanese concept of ikigai, which is widely used with Japanese older adults to enhance their everyday lives, and is closely related to the concept of eudaimonic well-being (EWB) known in Western countries. Using a mixed-methods and exploratory approach, including interviews with 17 older adults and the collection of 100 survey responses, we explored how older adults in the US experience a sense of meaning, and if and how a social robot could be used to help foster this sense. We find that meaning for older adults is often obtained by helping others, through family connections, and/or through activities of daily life, and that sources of meaning often differ based on the older adults’ living situation. Assessing how meaning compares to happiness and social connection, we highlight general similarities and differences, and also find that living situation influences older adults’ sources of happiness, desire for social connection, and barriers to well-being, in addition to companionship and happiness having a weaker correlation with meaning for those who live alone than for those who live with others. Additionally, we evaluated initial perceptions of a social robot (QT) meant to enhance ikigai and overall well-being, finding mostly positive perceptions, though those who live alone also reported being less willing to adopt a social robot into their homes. Using both data collected on older adults’ meaning and the potential use of QT to support meaning, we make several design recommendations with regards to using robots to enhance ikigai, such as by prompting daily reflecting, enhancing family bonds, and suggesting new experiences and volunteer opportunities.

Effects of Shinrin-Yoku Retreat on Mental Health: a Pilot Study in Fukushima, Japan

Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) is a cost-effective healing practice that has recently attracted the interest of social scientists who have attributed it, in part, to mental health benefits. Japanese university students suffer from high rates of mental health problems, and the number of suicides remains high despite the total number of suicides in Japan decreasing. Effective mental health approaches which increase mental wellbeing and self-compassion, and reduce associated deficits, such as loneliness, are sought after for Japanese students; however, healthful treatment has not been identified to date. Accordingly, this pre-post-pilot study evaluated the levels of mental wellbeing, self-compassion, and loneliness among 25 Japanese undergraduate students who participated in a three-day shinrin-yoku retreat in Fukushima. Measurements were taken prior, straight after, and two weeks post-intervention. One-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis revealed that the mean scores of self-compassion, common humanity, and mindfulness increased statistically significantly from pre-retreat to follow-up. The mean scores of mental wellbeing and loneliness did not statistically significantly change. The positive effects on self-compassion indicate that shinrin-yoku retreat should be evaluated within a larger sample and in a shorter time frame to establish optimal shinrin-yoku parameters in this arena.

Intergenerational Theater Workshops as Unique Recreational Activities among Older Adults in Japanese Care Facilities: A Qualitatively Driven Mixed-Methods Multiple-Case Study Design

Intergenerational theater activities have been recently employed in recreation for older adults. We held a series of four intergenerational theater workshops in two older adults' care facilities in Japan and sought the experiences of older participants, younger participants, and the facility managers. With a qualitatively driven mixed-methods multiple-case study design, we obtained data from field observation, interviews with participants, and preworkshop and postworkshop changes on a well-being scale (Ikigai-9) among older participants, and the results of the two sites were compared. "Immediate effects" were seen in older adults because they responded actively and demonstrated surprising faculties during the workshop. Facility staff members and younger participants received "extended effects" because they gained new ideas regarding the remaining skills of older participants and a sense of reuniting with old neighbors through the exercise. In the Ikigai-9 scale, the items measuring "present happiness" significantly improved at Site 1 but not at Site 2. Better results at Site 1 might have been caused by the lower care needs of participants and the inclusion of children. Less support from facility staff members during the activities also might have promoted the voluntary participation of older adults. Involving children and engaging the facility staff in preparation could enhance the quality of activities.

Research on the Analysis of Correlation Factors of English Translation Ability Improvement Based on Deep Neural Network

This paper adopts the algorithm of the deep neural network to conduct in-depth research and analysis on the factors associated with the improvement of English translation ability. This study focuses on text complexity, adding discourse complexity features in addition to focusing on lexical and syntactic dimensions, exploring the application of neural network algorithm in the construction of text complexity grading model based on feature optimization, and examining the performance and generalization ability of the model. The rationality of the grading of the material is verified. After determining the model input features and training corpus, different classification algorithms were used to build the models and compare their performance. Meanwhile, compared with the models constructed based on common traditional readability formulas and other single-dimensional features, the models constructed based on the feature set of this study have significant advantages, with 20 to 30 percentage points higher in each performance evaluation index. The pseudo-parallel corpus is constructed, back translation is performed after obtaining the pseudo-parallel corpus, and finally, the data migration effect is measured and recorded on the low-resource Chinese-English parallel corpus and Tibetan-Chinese parallel corpus, and the cycle continues until the model performance is no longer improved. The low-resource neural machine translation model based on model migration learning improved 3.97 and 2.64 BLEU values in the low-resource English translation task, respectively, and reduced the training time; based on this, the data migration learning method further improved 2.26 and 2.52 BLEU values.

The relationship between physical activity and polypharmacy with Ikigai in a population

The aim: The Japanese word “ikigai” indicates “something to live for” and “having a purpose in life”. Ikigai or well-being, has been associated with many positive outcomes in the physical and mental health of elderly people. In this study, the relationship between ikigai and level of physical activity and polypharmacy was examined in a Turkish population. Material and methods: Both telephonic interviews and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 307 participants (59.2 % women) who completed the Ikigai-9 Turkey Scale and provided demographic information. Results: Correlations between groups (polypharmacy vs. non-polypharmacy) were analyzed with an independent t-test and analysis of variance. The means of the ikigai scores were statistically significant in the polypharmacy (24.04±8.72) and non-polypharmacy 32.64±7.53) groups (p<0.05). The number of drugs used was negatively correlated with duration of exercise per week (1.32±1.82, correlation coefficient = 0.538, p<0.05). Conclusions: The level of ikigai was negatively correlated with polypharmacy and positively correlated with duration of physical activity. An individual’s ikigai should be assessed by healthcare providers to maximize positive outcomes later in life

Can Ikigai Predict Anxiety, Depression, and Well-being?

The Japanese construct of ikigai reflects a sense of having 'purpose in life' or a 'reason for living and has been associated with a variety of positive health outcomes. However, to date little research into ikigai exists within Western populations. This study explored the predictive power of ikigai for measures of well-being, depression, and anxiety in an adult Western population. Ninety-four participants (70% female) responded to an online survey. After accounting for the covariates of sex, age, employment status, and student status, multiple hierarchical regression indicated that ikigai positively predicted well-being and negatively predicted depression. While on its own, ikigai negatively predicted anxiety; this was not the case after accounting for the aforementioned covariates. The findings support the importance for investigating ikigai in the West and the need for further exploration of ikigai as a potential means of bringing about benefit in mental well-being.

Association between healthy lifestyle practices and life purpose among a highly health-literate cohort: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The national health promotion program in the twenty-first century Japan (HJ21) correlates life purpose with disease prevention, facilitating the adoption of healthy lifestyles. However, the influence of clustered healthy lifestyle practices on life purpose, within the context of this national health campaign remains uninvestigated. This study assessed the association between such practices and life purpose, in line with the HJ21.

METHODS

We performed a nationwide cross-sectional survey on certified specialists in health management. Participants' demographic information, lifestyle, and purpose in life were measured using a validated tool. The cohort was median-split into two groups based on their clustered health-related lifestyle score. The values for health-related lifestyle and purpose were compared between the two groups and the correlation between health-related lifestyle and purpose in life was measured.

RESULTS

Data from 4820 participants were analyzed. The higher-scoring health-related lifestyle group showed a significantly higher life purpose than the lower group (35.3 vs 31.4; t = 23.6, p < 0.001). There was a significant association between the scores of clustered healthy lifestyle practices and life purpose (r = 0.401, p < 0.001). The higher-scoring health-related lifestyle group achieved a higher life purpose than the lower-scoring group. This association between healthy lifestyle practices and life purpose denotes a positive and linear relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that individuals who have a better health-related lifestyle gain a higher sense of life purpose. In other words, a healthy lifestyle predicts a purpose in life. Our findings posit that examining the causal relationship between healthy lifestyle and purpose in life may be a more efficient approach toward health promotion.

Cross-cultural comparison of mental health between Japanese and Dutch workers: relationships with mental health shame, self-compassion, work engagement and motivation

Purpose

The primary purpose of this descriptive study was to compare the levels of, and relationships among mental health problems, mental health shame, self-compassion, work engagement and work motivation between workers in Japan (collectivistic and success-driven culture) and the Netherlands (individualistic and quality-oriented culture).

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional design, where convenience samples of 165 Japanese and 160 Dutch workers completed self-report measures about mental health problems, shame, self-compassion, engagement and motivation, was used. Welch t-tests, correlation and regression analyses were conducted to compare (1) the levels of these variables, (2) relationships among these variables and (3) predictors of mental health problems, between the two groups.

Findings

Dutch workers had higher levels of mental health problems, work engagement and intrinsic motivation, and lower levels of shame and amotivation than Japanese workers. Mental health problems were associated with shame in both samples. Mental health problems were negatively predicted by self-compassion in Japanese, and by work engagement in Dutch employees.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study relates to exploring differences in work mental health between those two culturally contrasting countries. Our findings highlight potential cultural differences such as survey responding (Japanese acquiescent responding vs Dutch self-enhancement) and cultural emphases (Japanese shame vs Dutch quality of life). Job crafting, mindfulness and enhancing ikigai (meaningfulness in life) may be helpful to protect mental health in these workers, relating to self-compassion and work engagement. Findings from this study would be particularly useful to employers, managers and staff in human resources who work with cross-cultural workforce.