Presentation Information
[SY-74-02]Worry about radiation and mental health after the Fukushima nuclear disaster
*Maiko Fukasawa (Fukushima Medical University(Japan))
Keywords:
nuclear disaster,posttraumatic stress symptoms,worry about radiation
The Fukushima nuclear power plant accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 increased worry about the adverse health effects of radiation and affected the mental health of community residents. Based on the results of a longitudinal survey of non-evacuee community residents in Fukushima conducted five to 10 years after the accident, its long-term effects on mental health were explored. Although worry about radiation has gradually decreased, some people still have worry more than 10 years after the accident. Concerning mental health, posttraumatic stress symptoms were persistent. In terms of worry about radiation, those who experienced traumatic events in the Great East Japan Earthquake had stronger worry than those who did not. As for posttraumatic stress symptoms, after adjusting for the experiences of traumatic events, distrust in the government was correlated. In addition, while those with larger social networks tended to recover, those with small social networks had retained their symptoms. Worry about radiation predicted later posttraumatic stress symptoms, however, while worry about radiation had decreased with time during the study period, posttraumatic stress symptoms had not. Such symptoms after the nuclear disaster may be strongly affected by the social factors including the personal relationships with people around one and trust in the government. Disruptions in a community stemmed from the differences in the risk perception of radiation among those around one or sense of inequality in compensation, and strong distrust in the government were characteristic factors after the nuclear disaster, which may have persistent adverse effects on the mental health of those affected. Furthermore, besides their personal experiences, societal attitude to the nuclear disaster might also affect their mental health.