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Social capital as a shield against anxiety among displaced residents from Fukushima

Author

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  • Keiko Iwasaki

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Yasuyuki Sawada

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Daniel P. Aldrich

    (Northeastern University)

Abstract

The March 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan resulted in an increased risk of psychological distress among affected residents. We conducted original surveys of Futaba residents, a town in Fukushima where all of the residents were forced to evacuate from their homes due to radioactive contamination, obtaining 585 responses (a response rate of about 20%). Using this original data set, we investigate the role of social capital in maintaining mental health among the residents. First, we found the level of stress captured by the Kessler index (K6) to be unusually high compared both with people across Japan and with those who were displaced because of the earthquake and/or tsunami (but not the nuclear catastrophe). However, having high levels of social capital—captured by the number of neighbors from Futaba after displacement, participation in volunteer work after displacement, and participation in tea parties after displacement—plays an important role in reducing anxiety and distress among Futaba residents. Finally, we provide concrete recommendations for policy makers and NGOs to increase resilience among affected residents by strengthening social ties.

Suggested Citation

  • Keiko Iwasaki & Yasuyuki Sawada & Daniel P. Aldrich, 2017. "Social capital as a shield against anxiety among displaced residents from Fukushima," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 89(1), pages 405-421, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:89:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11069-017-2971-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-017-2971-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fraser, Timothy & Aldrich, Daniel P. & Page-Tan, Courtney, 2021. "Bowling alone or distancing together? The role of social capital in excess death rates from COVID19," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    2. Zhang, Wen & Tsuji, Taishi & Yokoyama, Meiko & Ide, Kazushige & Aida, Jun & Kawachi, Ichiro & Kondo, Katsunori, 2021. "Increased frequency of participation in civic associations and reduced depressive symptoms: Prospective study of older Japanese survivors of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    3. Tsz Wai Li & Tatia Mei-chun Lee & Robin Goodwin & Menachem Ben-Ezra & Li Liang & Huinan Liu & Wai Kai Hou, 2020. "Social Capital, Income Loss, and Psychobehavioral Responses amid COVID-19: A Population-Based Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-16, November.
    4. Jerónimo J Gonzalez-Bernal & Paula Rodríguez-Fernández & Mirian Santamaría-Peláez & Josefa González-Santos & Benito León-del-Barco & Luis A. Minguez & Raúl Soto-Cámara, 2021. "Life Satisfaction during Forced Social Distancing and Home Confinement Derived from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    5. Wen‐Chi Liao & Yilan Luo & Yajie Sun, 2022. "Information shock of disaster and hazard: Impact of Kaohsiung gas explosions and risk disclosure on the equalizing difference in the housing market," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 50(6), pages 1492-1531, November.
    6. Alan Kirschenbaum, 2021. "Reducing patient surge: community based social networks as first responders," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 108(1), pages 163-175, August.
    7. 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.
    8. Villalonga-Olives, E. & Wind, T.R. & Armand, A.O. & Yirefu, M. & Smith, R. & Aldrich, D.P., 2022. "Social-capital-based mental health interventions for refugees: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).

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