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Those Who Have Continuing Radiation Anxiety Show High Psychological Distress in Cases of High Post-Traumatic Stress: The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

Author

Listed:
  • Masatsugu Orui

    (Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
    Sendai City Mental Health and Welfare Center, Sendai 980-0845, Japan)

  • Chihiro Nakayama

    (Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

  • Nobuaki Moriyama

    (Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

  • Masaharu Tsubokura

    (Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

  • Kiyotaka Watanabe

    (Department of Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8606, Japan)

  • Takeo Nakayama

    (Department of Health Informatics, School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

  • Minoru Sugita

    (Toho University, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan)

  • Seiji Yasumura

    (Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan)

Abstract

Background: this cross-sectional study aimed to clarify the associations among media utilization, lifestyles, and the strong radiation anxiety that has persisted 9 years after the 2011 nuclear accident. Moreover, the relationships among psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, and strong radiation anxiety were examined. Methods: for the multivariate regression analysis, the independent variables were radiation anxiety at the time of the accident and the current status, categorized as “continuing/emerging strong radiation anxiety”. Media utilization (local, national, internet, and public broadcasts, and public relations information) and lifestyle variables (sleep quality, regular exercise, and drinking habits) were set as the dependent variables. Moreover, the psychological distress of residents with continuing/emerging strong radiation anxiety was examined by an analysis of covariance stratified by post-traumatic stress. Result: there was no significant association between lifestyle variables and media utilization, except for local media (OR: 0.435, 95% CI: 0.21–0.90). Conversely, significantly high psychological distress was confirmed among residents with continuing/emerging radiation anxiety. The K6 score, representing psychological distress, for those with higher post-traumatic stress was 12.63; for those with lower post-traumatic stress, it was 5.13 ( p = 0.004). Conclusions: residents with continuing/emerging strong radiation anxiety showed high psychological distress, which has been strengthened by higher post-traumatic stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Masatsugu Orui & Chihiro Nakayama & Nobuaki Moriyama & Masaharu Tsubokura & Kiyotaka Watanabe & Takeo Nakayama & Minoru Sugita & Seiji Yasumura, 2021. "Those Who Have Continuing Radiation Anxiety Show High Psychological Distress in Cases of High Post-Traumatic Stress: The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:12048-:d:680712
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Masatsugu Orui & Yuka Ueda & Yuriko Suzuki & Masaharu Maeda & Tetsuya Ohira & Hirooki Yabe & Seiji Yasumura, 2017. "The Relationship between Starting to Drink and Psychological Distress, Sleep Disturbance after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster: The Fukushima Health Management Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Masatsugu Orui & Satomi Nakajima & Yui Takebayashi & Akiko Ito & Maho Momoi & Masaharu Maeda & Seiji Yasumura & Hitoshi Ohto, 2018. "Mental Health Recovery of Evacuees and Residents from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident after Seven Years—Contribution of Social Network and a Desirable Lifestyle," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Masatsugu Orui & Maiko Fukasawa & Naoko Horikoshi & Yuriko Suzuki & Norito Kawakami, 2020. "Development and Evaluation of a Gatekeeper Training Program Regarding Anxiety about Radiation Health Effects Following a Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Single-Arm Intervention Pilot Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-15, June.
    4. Hajime Iwasa & Yuriko Suzuki & Tetsuya Shiga & Masaharu Maeda & Hirooki Yabe & Seiji Yasumura, 2016. "Psychometric Evaluation of the Japanese Version of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist in Community Dwellers Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Incident," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(2), pages 21582440166, June.
    5. Masatsugu Orui & Chihiro Nakayama & Yujiro Kuroda & Nobuaki Moriyama & Hajime Iwasa & Teruko Horiuchi & Takeo Nakayama & Minoru Sugita & Seiji Yasumura, 2020. "The Association between Utilization of Media Information and Current Health Anxiety Among the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster Evacuees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-12, June.
    6. Masatsugu Orui & Chihiro Nakayama & Nobuaki Moriyama & Masaharu Tsubokura & Kiyotaka Watanabe & Takeo Nakayama & Minoru Sugita & Seiji Yasumura, 2020. "Current Psychological Distress, Post-traumatic Stress, and Radiation Health Anxiety Remain High for Those Who Have Rebuilt Permanent Homes Following the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Masatsugu Orui & Yuriko Suzuki & Aya Goto & Seiji Yasumura, 2017. "Factors Associated with Maintaining the Mental Health of Employees after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Findings from Companies Located in the Evacuation Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
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