Mental health and disaster related attitudes among Japanese after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster

Palgi, Yuval; Ben–Ezra, Menachem; Aviel, Or; Dubiner, Yonit; Baruch, Evelyn; Soffer, Yechiel; Shrira, Amit

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.01.028

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…One benefit of continued monitoring and research on the mental and physical health of these three catastrophes is that the work itself symbolizes the long-term compassion and caring of investigators, including for future generations. Although longitudinal cohort studies with appropriate comparison groups will ultimately produce the most useful data on incident health consequences (Svendsen et al 2012), volunteer studies and convenience sampling designs (e.g., Ben-Ezra et al 2012, 2013; Kyutoku et al 2012; Palgi et al 2012) may also have a favorable effect on morale and provide clues for epidemiologic research to pursue.…”

Section: Comment and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional Consequences of Nuclear Power Plant Disasters

Bromet¹

2014

Health Physics

126

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The emotional consequences of nuclear power plant disasters include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and medically unexplained somatic symptoms. These effects are often long term and associated with fears about developing cancer. Research on disasters involving radiation, particularly evidence from Chernobyl, indicates that mothers of young children and cleanup workers are the highest risk groups. The emotional consequences occur independently of the actual exposure received. In contrast, studies of children raised in the shadows of the Three Mile Island (TMI) and Chernobyl accidents suggest that although their self-rated health is less satisfactory than that of their peers, their emotional, academic, and psychosocial development is comparable. The importance of the psychological impact is underscored by its chronicity and by several studies showing that poor mental health is associated with physical health conditions, early mortality, disability, and over-utilization of medical services. Given the established increase in mental health problems following TMI and Chernobyl, it is likely that the same pattern will occur in residents and evacuees affected by the Fukushima meltdowns. Preliminary data from Fukushima indeed suggest that workers and mothers of young children are at risk of depression, anxiety, psychosomatic, and post-traumatic symptoms both as a direct result of their fears about radiation exposure and an indirect result of societal stigma. Thus, it is important that nonmental health providers learn to recognize and manage psychological symptoms and that medical programs be designed to reduce stigma and alleviate psychological suffering by integrating psychiatric and medical treatment within the walls of their clinics.

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Section: Comment and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional Consequences of Nuclear Power Plant Disasters

Bromet¹

2014

Health Physics

126

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“…The attitude section consisted of eight questions regarding the guardian’s attitude towards radiation. Six yes/no questions measured the awareness and caution exercised by each guardian living in an area with low dose radiation, and two multiple choices questions measured the guardian’s level of cautiousness and concern towards radiation [ 28 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Roles of children and their parents in the reduction of radiation risk after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

et al. 2017

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IntroductionOn March 11, 2011, Japan experienced its largest recorded earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0. The resulting tsunami caused massive damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant reactors, and the surrounding environment was contaminated with radioactive materials. During this period, some residents were exposed to high levels of radiation (up to 5 millisieverts [mSv]), but since then, many residents have been exposed to low levels of radiation (<1 mSv). This study was conducted to assess the effects of lifestyle and attitude factors on external radiation exposure among Fukushima residents.MethodsThis community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Nihonmatsu City of the Fukushima Prefecture from May to July 2014. The population survey targeted 6,884 children between the ages of 0–15 years, and a personal radiation badge and questionnaire were administered to each of the residences. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the impact of lifestyle and attitude factors on external radiation dose.ResultsThe study participants (population size [n] = 4,571) had an additional mean radiation dose of 0.65 mSv/year, which is small as compared to the mean radiation dose 6 months after the disaster (1.5 mSv/year), in 2012 (1.5 mSv/year), and in 2013 (1.0 mSv/year). External radiation doses statistically varied by socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Participants living in wooden residences (p-value<0.001) and within 100 meters of a forest (p = 0.001) had higher radiation exposure. Conversely, participants with a cautious attitude towards radiation had lower radiation exposure (beta [b] = -0.124, p = 0.003).ConclusionHaving a cautious attitude towards radiation and being aware of exposure risks proved to be significant in the reduction of external radiation dose. Therefore, in the event of future radiation disasters, attitudes towards and awareness of radiation should be considered in the reduction of exposure risk and implementation of radiation protection.

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“…At this juncture, the relevant case studies on possible intergenerational transference of trauma in the nuclear disaster context are on Chernobyl, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. A recent study of the grandchildren of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors revealed that they are more vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorders in the wake of the Fukushima accident than those who had no grandparents who lived in Hiroshima or Nagasaki (Palgi et al 2012 ). This study would be a good springboard to generate conceptualizations of intergenerational transmissions of traumatic experiences that take into account the specifi c cultural, historical, and social context surrounding the Fukushima accident.…”

Section: Project Na9/17: "Strengthening Research Cooperation In Radiamentioning

confidence: 99%