scholarly journals The Fukushima Nuclear Accident Affected Mothers’ Depression but Not Maternal Confidence

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 139S-150S ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Goto ◽  
Evelyn J. Bromet ◽  
Misao Ota ◽  
Akira Ohtsuru ◽  
Seiji Yasumura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Maternal Confidence ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Nuclear Disaster ◽  
Radiation Contamination ◽  
Using Data

The Fukushima nuclear power plant accident caused widespread radiation contamination. Mothers of young children were at risk of negative emotional and mental health consequences. Using data from 2 independent prefecture-wide surveys of pregnant women, we examined the associations of disaster-related stressors with both maternal self-confidence and depressive symptoms. Two postal surveys were conducted targeting women who registered their pregnancies in Fukushima Prefecture (n = 6686 in 2012 and n = 6423 in 2013). The proportions of mothers with lower self-confidence in child rearing and with depressive symptoms were 53% and 25% in 2012 and 55% and 24% in 2013, respectively. After adjusting for maternal and infant characteristics, evacuation and concern about radiation were significantly associated with depressive symptoms but not lower maternal confidence, although these 2 outcomes were significantly associated. Mothers in Fukushima showed resilience in parenting, whereas their experiences and concerns in the aftermath of nuclear disaster were associated with depressive symptoms.

Distrust in government and its relationship with mental health after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402096812
Author(s):  
Maiko Fukasawa ◽  
Norito Kawakami ◽  
Maki Umeda ◽  
Tsuyoshi Akiyama ◽  
Naoko Horikoshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Residential Area ◽  
National Government ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant Accident ◽  
Fukushima Prefecture ◽  
The Government

Background: Distrust in authorities has negative effects on mental health. Aims: In this study, we aimed to explore whether the impact of distrust in government on mental health became stronger in the area heavily affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. Methods: We examined the effects of distrust in the national government on depressive symptoms three years after the accident among community residents in Fukushima prefecture using those in the Kanto area (the area surrounding Tokyo) as a control. A questionnaire survey was administered to a random sample of 1000 residents in Fukushima prefecture and 1650 residents in the Kanto area. Distrust in the national government was assessed using a four-point single-item scale. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The associations of residential area (i.e. living in Fukushima prefecture or in the Kanto area) and distrust in the national government with depressive symptoms were examined, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and disaster-related experiences using multivariate linear regression analyses. We used the interaction term of residential area and distrust in the government to explore the difference in the association between the respondents in Fukushima prefecture and those in the Kanto area. Results: Valid responses were obtained from 976 (36.8%) residents. Distrust in the government was associated with depressive symptoms and the association was stronger in Fukushima prefecture than in the Kanto area. Conclusion: The deleterious effects of distrust in the government on mental health may become more serious after a nuclear power plant accident and require careful attention during support activities in an affected area.

The Immediate Physical and Mental Health Crisis in Residents Proximal to the Evacuation Zone After Japan's Nuclear Disaster: An Observational Pilot Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaharu Tsubokura ◽  
Kazuo Hara ◽  
Tomoko Matsumura ◽  
Amina Sugimoto ◽  
Shuhei Nomura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Clinical Parameters ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Nuclear Disaster

AbstractObjectiveThe 2011 earthquake and Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan have had devastating effects on residents near the damaged nuclear power plant, but quantifying its effect on their health has been difficult.MethodsAmong the 564 residents of Iitate Village and Soma City who enrolled in this study, we evaluated the changes of clinical parameters in 155 participants who underwent annual health evaluations in the previous year and after the earthquake. Psychological distress was also measured by using patient health questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9).ResultsParticipants (median age, 64 years) showed significant post-disaster increases in body weight, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and triglyceride levels. PHQ-9 scores of 10 or greater were found in 12% of the subjects, indicating that a substantial number had major depression.ConclusionsThe findings in this study showed substantial deterioration in clinical parameters related to lifestyle diseases and the presence of general psychological distress among residents living near the damaged nuclear power plant after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster. In addition to controlling the levels of radiation exposure, aggressive management of immediate physical and mental health crisis for residents may be necessary in future nuclear accidents. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1–7)

scholarly journals Trajectories of Unsecured Debt across the Life Course and Mental Health at Midlife

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Ruining Sun ◽  
Jason N. Houle
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Debt Accumulation ◽  
Unsecured Debt ◽  
Trajectory Models ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Substantial Heterogeneity

In this paper, we contribute to a growing literature on debt and mental health and ask whether patterns of unsecured debt accumulation and repayment over two decades are associated with depressive symptoms at age 50. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1979 Cohort and group trajectory models, we have three key findings. First, we find substantial heterogeneity in debt trajectories across the life course. Second, respondents who report consistently high debt levels across the life course or who cycle in and out of high debt report significantly more depressive symptoms than respondents who hold consistently low levels of debt. These findings hold for both absolute and relative (debt-to-income) debt. Third, we find that the association between debt and depressive symptoms is strongest among respondents with less than a college degree, but we find less evidence for heterogeneity by race in this cohort.

Role of nurses in a nuclear disaster: experience in the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident

2013 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Noto ◽  
C. Kitamiya ◽  
C. Itaki ◽  
M. Urushizaka ◽  
R. Kidachi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant Accident ◽  
Nuclear Disaster ◽  
Disaster Experience

Psychological status of chernobyl nuclear power plant operators after the nuclear disaster

1993 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor S. Koscheyev ◽  
Vladimir K. Martens ◽  
Alexander A. Kosenkov ◽  
Michael A. Lartzev ◽  
Gloria R. Leon
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Nuclear Disaster

scholarly journals Mental Health Consequences and Social Issues After the Fukushima Disaster

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 36S-46S ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaharu Maeda ◽  
Misari Oe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Nuclear Disaster ◽  
Psychosocial Consequences ◽  
Physical Diseases ◽  
Chronic Anxiety

The Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent nuclear power plant accident caused multidimensional and long-term effects on the mental health condition of people living in Fukushima. In this article, focusing on the influence of the nuclear disaster, we present an overview of studies regarding the psychosocial consequences of people in Fukushima. Studies revealed that the experiences of the explosions at the plant as well as the tsunami are deeply embedded in their memory, leading to posttraumatic responses. Chronic physical diseases, worries about livelihood, lost jobs, lost social ties, and concerns about compensation were also associated with posttraumatic responses. Furthermore, the radioactive fallout brought chronic anxiety regarding physical risks of radiation exposure to people, especially young mothers. People often have different opinions about the radiation risk and their own future plans, resulting in a reduction in the resilience that communities and families had before the disaster. In addition, such weakened community resilience may produce a significant increase in disaster-related suicide in Fukushima. Specific social issues, such as “radiation stigma” among the public and self-stigma among evacuees, that are never seen with other natural disasters also increased in Fukushima.

scholarly journals Childhood correlates of adult positive mental well-being in three British longitudinal studies

2020 ◽  
pp. jech-2019-213709
Author(s):  
Natasha Wood ◽  
Rebecca Hardy ◽  
David Bann ◽  
Catharine Gale ◽  
Mai Stafford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Parental Mental Health ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Childhood Environment ◽  
Instrument Measuring ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Mental Well Being

BackgroundPrevious evidence has shown how experiences within childhood, such as parenting and socioeconomic conditions, are associated later on in life with adult mental well-being. However, these studies tend to focus on childhood experiences in isolation, and fewer studies have investigated how multiple aspects of the childhood environment, including both socioeconomic and psychosocial aspects, are associated with adult positive mental well-being. Using data from three British birth cohort studies, we investigated how prospective measures of the childhood environment up to the age of 16 years were associated with midlife adult mental well-being and whether similar associations were replicated across different generations.MethodsChildhood environment comprised socioeconomic circumstances, psychosocial factors (child-rearing and parenting, family instability) and parental health. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, a validated instrument measuring both hedonic and eudaemonic aspects of well-being, was administered in mid-life. We modelled associations between childhood environment domains and well-being.ResultsDespite changes in social context in all three studies, poorer quality parent–child relationships and poor parental mental health were strongly and independently associated with poorer adult mental well-being. Socioeconomic circumstances were also associated with adult mental well-being, but the association was weaker than for the measures of parenting or parental mental health.ConclusionThese findings confirm that parenting and parental mental health, as well as socioeconomic circumstances, are important for adult mental well-being. Interventions in early childhood aimed at reducing socioeconomic adversity and offering support to parents might be warranted, to enhance adult mental well-being later on in the life course.

My Nuclear Nightmare

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoto Kan
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Tsunami Waves ◽  
Tokyo Metropolitan Area ◽  
Nuclear Disaster ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
Day By Day

On March 11, 2011, a massive undersea earthquake off Japan's coast triggered devastating tsunami waves that in turn caused meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Ranked with Chernobyl as the worst nuclear disaster in history, Fukushima will have lasting consequences for generations. Until 3.11, Japan's Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, had supported the use of nuclear power. His position would undergo a radical change, however, as Kan watched the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 Power Plant unfold and came to understand the potential for the physical, economic, and political destruction of Japan. This book offers a fascinating day-by-day account of the Prime Minister's actions in the harrowing week after the earthquake struck. He records the anguished decisions he had to make as the scale of destruction became clear and the threat of nuclear catastrophe loomed ever larger—decisions made on the basis of information that was often unreliable. For example, frustrated by the lack of clarity from the executives at Tepco, the company that owned the power plant, Kan decided to visit Fukushima himself, despite the risks, so he could talk to the plant's manager and find out what was really happening on the ground. As the text details, a combination of extremely good fortune and hard work just barely prevented a total meltdown of all of Fukushima's reactor units, which would have necessitated the evacuation of the thirty million residents of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area.

Parental Death and Mid-adulthood Depressive Symptoms: The Importance of Life Course Stage and Parent’s Gender

2021 ◽  
pp. 002214652110611
Author(s):  
Christina Kamis ◽  
Allison Stolte ◽  
Molly Copeland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Parental Death ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Parental Bereavement ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Using Data

Traditional theories of grief suggest that individuals experience short-term increases in depressive symptoms following the death of a parent. However, growing evidence indicates that effects of parental bereavement may persist. Situating the short- and long-term effects of parental death within the life course perspective, we assess the combined influence of time since loss and life course stage at bereavement on mental health for maternal and paternal death. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 11,877) to examine biological parental death from childhood to mid-adulthood, we find that those who experience recent maternal or paternal death have heightened depressive symptoms. Furthermore, those who experience maternal death in childhood or paternal death in young adulthood exhibit long-term consequences for mental health. Our findings underscore the theoretical importance of early life course stages and parent’s gender when determining whether depressive symptoms persist following parental bereavement.

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