Title
Residence-related factors and psychological distress among evacuees after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident: A cross-sectional study
Date Issued
24 November 2016
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Horikoshi N.
Iwasa H.
Kawakami N.
Suzuki Y.
Yasumura S.
Publisher(s)
BioMed Central Ltd.
Abstract
Background: Relocation following a disaster can impact the psychological well-being of evacuees. This study investigated the associations between residence-related factors and psychological distress among evacuees living in temporary housing after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Methods: Data from 525 participants living in temporary housing were collected. Associations between residence-related factors (frequent relocation, dissatisfaction with the residence, and plan to move to permanent housing) and psychological distress were measured. The psychological distress of evacuees was measured using the Japanese version of the 6-item Kessler scale (K6). We used a cut-off score of five to identify cases with psychological distress, the basis of Kessler's 6 items for psychological distress. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis (n=418) showed that frequent relocation (OR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.14-3.66, p=0.016) and dissatisfaction with the residence (OR=2.48, 95% CI: 1.60-3.83, p<0.001) was significantly associated with psychological distress. After stratifying by gender, dissatisfaction with the residence was associated with psychological distress, and a plan to move to permanent housing was significantly associated with psychological distress in women (OR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.03-3.63, p=0.041). Conclusions: Frequent relocation and dissatisfaction with the residence were associated with psychological distress among evacuees following the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Evacuees should be provided with comfortable living spaces, and steps should be taken to reduce repeated relocation of evacuees. Thus, particular attention should be paid to women with a plan to move to permanent housing within this context.
Volume
16
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Epidemiología
Psicología
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84997335772
PubMed ID
Source
BMC Psychiatry
ISSN of the container
1471244X
Sponsor(s)
This study was supported by the Study of the Health Effects of Radiation organized by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment (PI Kawakami N); and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C) (No. 26510011).
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus