Long-term Life Recovery Processes Among Survivors of the 1995 Kobe Earthquake: 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005 Life Recovery Social Survey Results

Abstract

This paper summarizes findings from life recovery surveys conducted in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005 among 1995 Kobe earthquake survivors. The 1999 survey (N=915) developed some of the key scales for the project, including life recovery, physical and psychological stress, family relations, and civic-mindedness. The 2001 study (N=1203) integrated 1999 study findings and those from 1999 grassroots assessment of life recovery, from which a seven critical element model of life recovery was constructed. The effects of these seven critical elements on life recovery were empirically tested and validated by general linear model (GLM) analysis. The 2003 (N=1203) and 2005 (N=1028) studies focused both on life recovery outcomes and on intervening life recovery processes. Structural equation modeling (SEM) identified causal links among recovery-promotion factors, recovery processes such as event impact stabilization, and event evaluation through community empowerment, and recovery outcomes. Event impact was a process through which impact caused by earthquake damage, loss, and/or stress was alleviated by housing, household finances, and stress management. Through event evaluation, social ties and community rebuilding efforts directly or indirectly facilitated the reframing of earthquake experiences into positive narratives. Research and policy implications of these findings are discussed in the end.

Current Status and Issues of Life Recovery Process Three Years After the Great East Japan Earthquake Questionnaire Based on Subjective Estimate of Victims Using Life Recovery Calendar Method

“…"Recovery" and "restoration" are used interchangeably in this paper. Tatsuki 2007, Hayashi 2007, and Tamura 2007 conducted social research targeting victims of the 1995 Kobe earthquake using the "life recovery" concept. This paper also uses the term "life recovery" because it involves social research on victims based on the same meaning [9][10][11].…”

“…Research by Tatsuki (2007) and Tamura (2007) measured individual recovery processes based on a life restoration scale and investigated causes of the observed value of the scale using seven elements critical to life recovery [9][10].…”

Psychological adaptation to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995: 16 years later victims still report lower levels of subjective well-being

“…A stratified 2-stage sampling method was employed. Sampling with probability proportional to size was performed on the Basic Resident Register (see Kimura, 2007;Tatsuki, 2007 for details). The survey was mailed to 3300 residents in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2011, respectively, and responses were considered valid if returned within 3 weeks.…”

Effects of Disaster Management Programs on Individuals' Preparedness in Mount Merapi

“…There are previous studies applying CB-SEM to disaster management, such as psychological recovery process (Tatsuki et al, 2004), people's perception on administrative and self-help measures (Hashiue et al, 2003), community involvement in environment improvement (Fukushima and Matsumoto, 2007), and effects of social capital on resilience of the community (Bhandari et al, 2010). These previous studies focus the specific scopes in disaster management.…”