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Neighborhood Ties Reduced Depressive Symptoms in Older Disaster Survivors: Iwanuma Study, a Natural Experiment

Author

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  • Yuri Sasaki

    (Department of International Health and Collaboration, National Institute of Public Health, Wako, Saitama 351-0197, Japan)

  • Taishi Tsuji

    (Department of Social Preventive Medical Sciences, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan)

  • Shihoko Koyama

    (Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka 541-8567, Japan)

  • Yukako Tani

    (Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan)

  • Tami Saito

    (Department of Social Science, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Moriokacho 7-430, Japan)

  • Katsunori Kondo

    (Department of Social Preventive Medical Sciences, Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
    Department of Gerontological Evaluation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Moriokacho 7-430, Japan
    Center for Well-Being and Society, Nihon Fukushi University, Aichi 470-3295, Japan)

  • Ichiro Kawachi

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Jun Aida

    (Department of International and Community Oral Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan)

Abstract

Objective : As most studies relating to mental health and disasters have employed cross-sectional or follow-up assessments about psychological health with post-disaster information, the association between changes in social ties and mental health remains unclear. We examined the relationship between the changes in survivor neighborhood ties and depressive symptoms before and after a natural disaster. Methods : Participants were 3567 individuals aged ≥65 years living in Iwanuma city who had responded to questionnaires by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study both predating the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and 2.5 years afterward. Changes in the depressive symptoms were assessed using the geriatric depression scale (GDS) at the baseline and follow-up survey. Changes in the neighborhood ties were assessed by asking the participants about their interactions with people in their neighborhood. Possible confounders were adjusted in a linear regression model. Results : Among the 3111 participants in this analysis, 1073 (34.5%) had increased GDS score after the disaster. There were 336 (10.8%) individuals who had neighborhood ties before the disaster, but had no ties afterward; their mean GDS score increased from 2.93 points in 2010 to 3.19 points in 2013. Among those who had not had ties before and after the disaster the mean GDS score remained almost stable, from 2.19 points in 2010 to 2.12 points in 2013. The participants with post-disaster ties were significantly less likely to have an increased GDS score compared with those who had not had ties before and after the disaster (β = −0.39; 95% confidence interval: −0.72, −0.06). Conclusions : Increased neighborhood ties after the disaster reduced the risk of depressive symptoms even when survivors suffered disaster damages. The study reinforces the importance of social capital in disaster recovery and suggests to local governments and local communities that fostering horizontal, neighborhood ties may improve disaster preparedness and mental health resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuri Sasaki & Taishi Tsuji & Shihoko Koyama & Yukako Tani & Tami Saito & Katsunori Kondo & Ichiro Kawachi & Jun Aida, 2020. "Neighborhood Ties Reduced Depressive Symptoms in Older Disaster Survivors: Iwanuma Study, a Natural Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-15, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:1:p:337-:d:304887
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Wanying Mao & Medard Adu & Ejemai Eboreime & Reham Shalaby & Nnamdi Nkire & Belinda Agyapong & Hannah Pazderka & Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Ernest Owusu & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Yanbo Zhang & Vincent I. O., 2022. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Wildfires: A Fifth-Year Postdisaster Evaluation among Residents of Fort McMurray," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Satomi Doi & Yuna Koyama & Yukako Tani & Hiroshi Murayama & Shigeru Inoue & Takeo Fujiwara & Yugo Shobugawa, 2021. "Do Social Ties Moderate the Association between Childhood Maltreatment and Gratitude in Older Adults? Results from the NEIGE Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-11, October.
    3. Yukako Tani & Takeo Fujiwara & Katsunori Kondo, 2023. "Associations of Cooking Skill with Social Relationships and Social Capital among Older Men and Women in Japan: Results from the JAGES," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-10, March.

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