Goodwin, Robin, Sugiyama, Kemmyo, Sun, Shaojing, Aida, Jun and Ben-Ezra, Menachem (2020) Psychological distress after the Great East Japan Earthquake : two multilevel 6-year prospective analyses. British Journal of Psychiatry, 216 (3). pp. 144-150. doi:10.1192/bjp.2019.251 ISSN 0007-1250.

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Abstract

Background
The Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011 led to the relocation of 300 000 survivors. Studies following disasters focus primarily on data collected in the immediate aftermath and neglect the influence of wider community factors.

Aims
A three-level prospective study examining associations between survivors' psychological distress and individual- and social-level factors in the 6 years following a complex disaster.

Method
We drew on two multi-wave data collections in the 6 years after the earthquake, using residents from different forms of housing. Sample 1 included six waves of private-housing residents from 2011 to 2016 (n = 1084 per wave), sample 2 five waves of residents living in prefabricated housing from 2012 to 2016 (n = 1515 per wave). We analysed prospective associations between distress and time (level 1), pre-existing disorders and disaster experiences and behaviours (level 2) and city-wide measures of support and physical activity (level 3).

Results
Multilevel models with random coefficients demonstrated greater distress in earlier waves (samples 1 and 2 respectively, adjusted β = −15 and β = −0.16, P < 0.001), among female respondents (β = 0.58, P = 0.01 and β = 1.74, P = 0.001), in those with a previous psychiatric history (β = 2.76, β = 2.06, P < 0.001) with diminished levels of activity post-earthquake (β = 1.40, β = 1.51, P < 0.001) and those lacking in social support (β = 1.95, β = 1.51, P < 0.001). Support from spouses and friends was most protective of psychological health. City-level support was negatively associated with distress, but only among those in prefabricated housing.

Conclusions
Psychological distress diminished with time, but varied across gender, psychiatric history, housing, levels of activity and availability of social support. Practitioners should consider individual- and city-level factors when devising effective interventions.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QE Geology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Post-traumatic stress disorder, Earthquakes -- Psychological aspects, Disaster victims -- Psychological aspects, Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan, 2011, Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, Japan, 2011
Journal or Publication Title:	British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher:	Royal College of Psychiatrists
ISSN:	0007-1250
Official Date:	March 2020
Dates:	Date Event March 2020 Published 2 December 2019 Available 14 October 2019 Accepted
Volume:	216
Number:	3
Page Range:	pp. 144-150
DOI:	10.1192/bjp.2019.251
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Reuse Statement (publisher, data, author rights):	This article has been published in a revised form in British Journal of Psychiatry COPYRIGHT: © The Authors 2019 https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2019.251. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works.© The Authors 2019
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit:	15 October 2019
Date of first compliant Open Access:	2 June 2020
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:	Project/Grant ID RIOXX Funder Name Funder ID RPG-2016-188 Leverhulme Trust http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000275
Related URLs:	Publisher

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