96% of Mothers Feel Fatigued Regularly! Sleep Aids and Massage Chairs Popular for Mother's Day Gifts

Fuji Medical Instruments Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka), a comprehensive manufacturer of health and beauty products, has announced the results of its "<Mother's Day Special> 16th Survey on Mothers' Fatigue and Relief Methods," conducted targeting women aged 20 and over who have children. This independent survey has been conducted annually since 2011.

Survey Results Summary

- (1) 96% of mothers regularly feel fatigued. - (2) A staggering 98% of mothers experience physical fatigue. - (3) The main cause of physical fatigue is "work." Over 70% of mothers suffer from "stiff neck and shoulders." - (4) "Work" is also the main cause of mental fatigue. Regarding interpersonal relationships, fatigue caused by "husbands" was the most common. - (5) To relieve fatigue, more than half of the respondents "get sleep," "eat their favorite foods," or "take a bath." - (6) Sleep aids and massage items are popular choices for Mother's Day gifts.

Survey Overview

- Survey Period: April 17, 2026 (Friday) to April 21, 2026 (Tuesday) - Target Audience: Women aged 20 and over who have children - Valid Responses: 292 (30s: 23, 40s: 77, 50s: 79, 60s: 87, 70s and over: 26) - Survey Area: Nationwide (Japan) - Survey Method: Web-based questionnaire administered to Fuji Medical Instruments newsletter subscribers and official LINE account followers.

* Some graph percentages may not total 100% due to rounding. * Please contact Fuji Medical Instruments when introducing the survey results. Use for promotional activities other than press relations is strictly prohibited.

Detailed Survey Results

### (1) 96% of mothers regularly feel fatigued

When all respondents were asked, "Do you regularly feel fatigued?", the results were: "feel tired every day" (64%), "sometimes feel tired" (32%), "rarely feel tired" (4%), and "never feel tired" (0%). Combining "feel tired every day" and "sometimes feel tired," 96% of the total respondents regularly feel fatigued, exceeding 90% of all mothers.

### (2) A staggering 98% of mothers experience physical fatigue

When those who answered "feel tired every day" or "sometimes feel tired" were asked, "Is that fatigue physical or mental?", 67% responded "both physical and mental fatigue," 31% responded "only physical fatigue," and 2% responded "only mental fatigue." Combining "both physical and mental" and "physical fatigue," the total reaches 98%, indicating that many mothers suffer from various physical ailments and concerns.

### (3) The main cause of physical fatigue is "work." Over 70% of mothers suffer from "stiff neck and shoulders."

When asked, "What is the main cause?" among those experiencing physical fatigue (including both physical and mental), the most common answer was "work" at 34%. This was followed by "physical condition" (25%), "housework" (22%), "childcare" (12%), and "nursing care" (5%).

When asked which parts of the body they feel fatigue or pain in, the most common responses were "stiff neck and shoulders" (76%), followed by "eye strain" (55%) and "lower back pain" (49%). "Stiff neck and shoulders" has ranked first for 16 consecutive times since the first survey, suggesting that many mothers have been suffering from this for years, regardless of age or occupation.

### (4) "Work" is also the main cause of mental fatigue. Regarding interpersonal relationships, fatigue caused by "husbands" was the most common.

When those who responded "mental fatigue" (including both physical and mental) were asked about its main cause, the number one response was "work" (32%), just like for physical fatigue. This is a 9-point increase compared to last year's survey ("work": 23%), indicating an increasing mental burden from work.

Furthermore, when those who cited "interpersonal relationships" (24%) as the second most common cause were asked who they felt fatigue from, the answers varied widely, including relatives, colleagues, and friends. However, "husband" was the response for more than half of them.

### (5) To relieve fatigue, more than half of the respondents "get sleep," "eat their favorite foods," or "take a bath."

When mothers who regularly feel tired were asked about their fatigue relief methods, the most common was "get sleep" at 63%. This was followed by "eat favorite foods" (60%) and "take a bath" (54%), all exceeding 50%.

### (6) Sleep aids and massage items are popular choices for Mother's Day gifts.

In response to the question asked of all respondents, "What would you be happy to receive as a Mother's Day gift? (Multiple answers allowed)," many respondents indicated that sleep aids and massage items were popular.