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Longitudinal effects of disaster-related experiences on mental health among Fukushima nuclear plant workers: The Fukushima NEWS Project Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 April 2017

A. Ikeda ,
T. Tanigawa ,
H. Charvat ,
H. Wada ,
J. Shigemura  and
I. Kawachi
A. Ikeda
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
T. Tanigawa*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
H. Charvat
Affiliation:
Center for Public Health Sciences, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
H. Wada
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
J. Shigemura
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan
I. Kawachi
Affiliation:
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: T. Tanigawa, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Public Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The Fukushima Nuclear Energy Workers' Support (NEWS) Project Study previously showed that experiences related to the Fukushima nuclear disaster on 11 March 2011 had a great impact on psychological states, including post-traumatic stress response (PTSR) and general psychological distress (GPD), among the Fukushima nuclear plant workers. To determine the causal relationship between disaster-related experiences and levels of psychological states, we conducted a 3-year longitudinal study from 2011 to 2014.

Method

PTSR and GPD of the nuclear plant workers were assessed by annual questionnaires conducted from 2011 to 2014. The present study included a total of 1417 workers who provided an assessment at baseline (2011). A total of 4160 observations were used in the present analysis. The relationship between disaster-related experiences and psychological states over time was analysed using mixed-effects logistic regression models.

Results

A declining influence of disaster-related experiences on PTSR over time was found. However, the impact on PTSR remained significantly elevated even 3 years after the disaster in several categories of exposure including the experience of life-threatening danger, experiences of discrimination, the witnessing of plant explosion, the death of a colleague and home evacuation. The associations between GPD and disaster-related experiences showed similar effects.

Conclusions

The effects of disaster-related experiences on psychological states among the nuclear plant workers reduced over time, but remained significantly high even 3 years after the event.

Keywords

Disaster-related experienceslongitudinal studiesmental health
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 47 , Issue 11 , August 2017 , pp. 1936 - 1946
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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