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Community-level social capital and cognitive decline after a natural disaster: A natural experiment from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

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  • Hikichi, Hiroyuki
  • Aida, Jun
  • Matsuyama, Yusuke
  • Tsuboya, Toru
  • Kondo, Katsunori
  • Kawachi, Ichiro

Abstract

We examined prospectively whether community-level social capital can mitigate the adverse effects of natural disaster on cognitive decline in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The baseline for our natural experimental study was established seven months before the disaster in a survey of older community-dwelling adults who lived in Iwanuma City, Japan, located 80 km west of the epicenter. Two and a half years after the disaster, we conducted a follow-up survey of survivors to gather information about their personal experiences during the disaster (n = 3560; 82.1% follow-up rate). Our primary outcome was the level of cognitive disability (measured on an 8-level scale) assessed within people's homes. Factor analysis established two subscales of community social capital: a cognitive dimension (perceptions of community social cohesion) and a structural dimension (informal socializing and social participation). The prevalence of cognitive decline at follow-up (11.5%) was three times higher than at baseline (4.2%). Our multiple membership multilevel model indicated that pre-versus post-disaster increases in community-level informal socializing and social participation were associated with lower risk of cognitive decline (coefficient = −0.12, 95% confidence interval: −0.20 to −0.04). In addition, social capital mitigated the risk of cognitive decline due to housing damage (interaction effect coefficient = −0.07, 95% confidence interval: −0.14 to −0.01). Community-level informal socializing and social participation buffers the impact of housing damage on cognitive decline in the aftermath of natural disaster. Relocating residents together with other community members may help to preserve community social capital and improve the cognitive resilience of older survivors.

Suggested Citation

  • Hikichi, Hiroyuki & Aida, Jun & Matsuyama, Yusuke & Tsuboya, Toru & Kondo, Katsunori & Kawachi, Ichiro, 2020. "Community-level social capital and cognitive decline after a natural disaster: A natural experiment from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:257:y:2020:i:c:s0277953618305537
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.09.057
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francisco Perales & Bernard Baffour & Francis Mitrou, 2015. "Ethnic Differences in the Quality of the Interview Process and Implications for Survey Analysis: The Case of Indigenous Australians," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.
    2. Eugene Y H Tang & Stephanie L Harrison & Linda Errington & Mark F Gordon & Pieter Jelle Visser & Gerald Novak & Carole Dufouil & Carol Brayne & Louise Robinson & Lenore J Launer & Blossom C M Stephan, 2015. "Current Developments in Dementia Risk Prediction Modelling: An Updated Systematic Review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-31, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Steven Stillman & Mirco Tonin, 2022. "Communities and testing for COVID-19," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(4), pages 617-625, June.
    2. Bertinelli, Luisito & Mahé, Clotilde & Strobl, Eric, 2023. "Earthquakes and mental health," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    3. Laurence, James & Kim, Harris Hyun-soo, 2021. "Individual and community social capital, mobility restrictions, and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multilevel analysis of a representative US survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    4. Eriko Miyama, 2023. "Regional Agriculture and Social Capital after Massive Natural Disasters: The Case of Miyagi Prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-15, July.
    5. Sabatini, Serena & Martyr, Anthony & Gamble, Laura D. & Jones, Ian R. & Collins, Rachel & Matthews, Fiona E. & Knapp, Martin & Thom, Jeanette M. & Henderson, Catherine & Victor, Christina & Pentecost,, 2023. "Are profiles of social, cultural, and economic capital related to living well with dementia? Longitudinal findings from the IDEAL programme," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    6. Seol A. Kwon & Sang Il Ryu, 2020. "What Role Do Disaster Victims Play as the Mainstream for Future Disaster Preparedness in Korea? Case Studies of Foundations Established by Disaster Victims," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-21, October.
    7. Fujihara, Satoko & Tsuji, Taishi & Nakagomi, Atsushi & Miyaguni, Yasuhiro & Hanazato, Masamichi & Muto, Go & Kondo, Katsunori, 2023. "Association of community-level social capital with dementia: A multilevel nine-year longitudinal study using data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).

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